Is soccer un-American?

[Maurepas]

...the US has a team that made it to the world cup, doesn't it?

How is the sport un-American if they have a team that actually makes it to the World Cup?

So that also means Jamaica is a power house in bobsled because they made it to the Winter Olympics.

I-I don't think the Winter Olympics works the same way, I'm pretty sure you just have to show up,

[Dustistan]

It's not a genuine world championship unless only Good Honest Freedom-Loving American teams play. I mean really, how can you have teams from other countries in a world championship? It just doesn't make sense. Thus soccer is un-American.

Well in World cup not all countries play but only the 32 selected by unknown criteria

I don't understand why crap country like Honduras plays and not country like China or India who are better at soccer

China and India played in the Asian league, Honduras in the

China passed through the first round by beating Myanmar twice, 7-0 and 4-0. This put them in a group of 4 teams, Australia, China, Iraq and Qatar. They beat Australia once, but that was their only win. They ended up at the bottom of the group of four, and the two teams at the top (Australia and Qatar) went to South Africa. India was beaten by Lebanon 4-1 and 2-2 in the first round, and didn't progress further.

Honduras reached the world cup by first defeating Puerto Rico 4-0, 2-2, then coming first in their group of four (Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica, Canada), then coming third in a group of 6 teams that had finished first or second in their groups of 4.

[South Norwega]

China passed through the first round by beating Myanmar twice, 7-0 and 4-0. This put them in a group of 4 teams, Australia, China, Iraq and Qatar. They beat Australia once, but that was their only win. They ended up at the bottom of the group of four, and the two teams at the top (Australia and Qatar) went to South Africa. India was beaten by Lebanon 4-1 and 2-2 in the first round, and didn't progress further.

Qatar didn't get through AFC qualifying...

They made it to the final stage, but fell through.

[Risottia]

...the US has a team that made it to the world cup, doesn't it?

...yes, and also they aren't performing that bad. Btw, in the '30s the US side even won a medal iirc (2nd or 3rd place).

[Willman]

I think the more important question is, why do you care?

[SD_Film Artists]

The world cup of the sport actually involves other nations, so yes it is unAmerican.

[Blouman Empire]

It's not a genuine world championship unless only Good Honest Freedom-Loving American teams play. I mean really, how can you have teams from other countries in a world championship? It just doesn't make sense. Thus soccer is un-American.

Well in World cup not all countries play but only the 32 selected by unknown criteria

I don't understand why crap country like Honduras plays and not country like China or India who are better at soccer

China and India played in the Asian league, Honduras in the

China passed through the first round by beating Myanmar twice, 7-0 and 4-0. This put them in a group of 4 teams, Australia, China, Iraq and Qatar. They beat Australia once, but that was their only win. They ended up at the bottom of the group of four, and the two teams at the top (Australia and Qatar) went to South Africa. India was beaten by Lebanon 4-1 and 2-2 in the first round, and didn't progress further.

Honduras reached the world cup by first defeating Puerto Rico 4-0, 2-2, then coming first in their group of four (Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica, Canada), then coming third in a group of 6 teams that had finished first or second in their groups of 4.

There is no point explaining it to him, he thinks that some how have a large population means you will be good at soccer.

[Blouman Empire]

There are people who still follow baseball?

No, I don't, I have a hard time staying interested in anything where I can get up and leave for 20 minutes, come back, and nothing's changed,

Really, that fact has been the major reason for baseball's decline in the US, not so great for tv audiences.

Really? I love watching baseball on the TV.

I can do it as I go off to sleep or while posting on NSG at the same time.

Yeeeah, that's kinda the problem actually,

Well I watch those games at 1 in the morning

[Risottia]

Well in World cup not all countries play but only the 32 selected by unknown criteria

In the World Cup ALL countries are allowed. What you're watching now is the World Cup FINALS. The qualifying rounds go for about two years before the finals, and they're part of the World Cup.

I don't understand why crap country like Honduras plays and not country like China or India who are better at soccer

Actually it's not like China or India have any significant soccer tradition.

[EvilDarkMagicians]

Actually the world cup is more American than English. The Americans have been in it from the start and English only joined in 1950

Source?

[Georgism]

Actually the world cup is more American than English. The Americans have been in it from the start and English only joined in 1950

Source?

It's true, we weren't happy about those foreigners taking over our sport.

Whereas the USA played one of the first WC matches in 1928 (?) and beat Belgium 3-0, IIRC.

[Londim]

In The Week, soccer has been accused of being un-American. I think it is not un-American; it's as important as NASCAR (America) as it is to bowling (rest of world. I swear). It came along a bit too late -- what with football which doesn't even make sense why it's called that because only 1/10 of the time, maximum at a football game is spent kicking a football.
What do you think?

Just the idea that after playing a sport for 90 minutes, a game can end 0-0. Both teams might as well have SAT on the field for 90 minutes.

Also, too many games end in draws. After 90 minutes plus of playing, there should either be a clear winner or some sort of overtime.

Some of the best ever games I've watched have ended in draws after 90 minutes. Go watch the Liverpool vs AC Milan Champions League Final as one of the best matches of recent times.

Though technically that didn't end in a draw it went through to overtime then penalties.

It's why I said after 90 minutes of playing.

[Teinohikira]

soccer's un-American, Baseball and Football is where it's at!

[The Cat-Tribe]

In The Week, soccer has been accused of being un-American. I think it is not un-American; it's as important as NASCAR (America) as it is to bowling (rest of world. I swear). It came along a bit too late -- what with football which doesn't even make sense why it's called that because only 1/10 of the time, maximum at a football game is spent kicking a football.
What do you think?

Just the idea that after playing a sport for 90 minutes, a game can end 0-0. Both teams might as well have SAT on the field for 90 minutes.

Also, too many games end in draws. After 90 minutes plus of playing, there should either be a clear winner or some sort of overtime.

As I fan of several (mostly American) sports, I disagree.

Setting aside the provisions for extra time and (if necessary) penalty kicks in knockout games, football games could be decided at any minute of the game by a goal.

Basketball games, in contrast, are often decided almost entirely in the 4th quarter or even last few minutes. Why even play the first parts of the game.

American football is not quite as bad, but is not unusual for the 60-minutes of playing time come down to the final 2 minutes of the game.

Because I often watch sports using a DVR, it is not uncommon for me to fast-forward through the early parts of a basketball or American football game to the "decisive" parts of the game. With football (or soccer games), the entire game could be decisive at any moment.

[Honourable Angels]

I say, cricket is truly the most riveting sport, I do enjoy watching a good game of cricket. That's a game which takes skill and determination.

[Blouman Empire]

Nothing to see here move along

[EvilDarkMagicians]

I say, cricket is truly the most riveting sport, I do enjoy watching a good game of cricket. That's a game which takes skill and determination.

I can't help but fall asleep when my grandfather insist we watch cricket.

[Sdaeriji]

In an ideal world (that I was dictator for life), I'd have anyone who claimed soccer was boring but was a fan of baseball or cricket declared mentally unstable and have them committed.

[Ifreann]

Judged in terms of character building, nothing is better than cricket. Persistence, talent, innovation and bloody-mindedness all earn their proper rewards, and one will always be led by a captain with a public school education.

And what an education it was.

[Minnysota]

There really is no such thing as "un-American". Different people in the country that call themselves true patriots, will always say activities from different cultures are "un-American". But the fact is, America is made up of a variety of cultures, and they all hold each other together. Saying something is "un-American" is ignorant.

[Honourable Angels]

Judged in terms of character building, nothing is better than cricket. Persistence, talent, innovation and bloody-mindedness all earn their proper rewards, and one will always be led by a captain with a public school education.

And what an education it was.

Coming from a public school myself, I can tell you it's bloody worth it. My best memories are from those old school days...Just the sheer arrogance you have, even though you're about 14. Makes some very fun occasions arise.

by EvilDarkMagicians » 21 Jun Mon, 2010 1:21 pm

Honourable Angels wrote:
I say, cricket is truly the most riveting sport, I do enjoy watching a good game of cricket. That's a game which takes skill and determination.

I can't help but fall asleep when my grandfather insist we watch cricket.

Then you aren't doing it right D; you need more Indian Premier League and/or 20/20 matches and/or Ashes.

[The Cat-Tribe]

soccer's un-American, Baseball and Football is where it's at!

Everyone is entitled to their personal preferences and I don't see much more merit to arguing about one sport being better than another than I do arguing whether chocolate ice cream is better than vanilla ice cream.

That said. I love American football -- college, but especially the NFL. Baseball, however, has no appeal. Among other things, there are so many breaks in the action!!

[The Cat-Tribe]

Soccer's 0-0, 1-1 or 1-0 outcomes don't sit well with Americans, who like to think that work accomplishes something...

soccer is a European sport because it is all about death and despair. Americans would never invent a sport where the better you get the less you score....

Even the strong chance that any given game will end in a tie makes it attractive for parents reluctant to impart life's difficult lessons to young kids....

Soccer is truly Seinfeldesque, a game about nothing...


In short, a powerful component of character building is missing from youth soccer, an important component of character is missing from pro soccer, and a sense of purposefulness is missing from the entire sport.

Meh.

Don't play much sports, let alone football, do you?

And Brazil (among many other examples) would be rather surprised to learn they are Europeans infatuated with death and despair and unable to score at football.

[The blessed Chris]

Judged in terms of character building, nothing is better than cricket. Persistence, talent, innovation and bloody-mindedness all earn their proper rewards, and one will always be led by a captain with a public school education.

And what an education it was.

Coming from a public school myself, I can tell you it's bloody worth it. My best memories are from those old school days...Just the sheer arrogance you have, even though you're about 14. Makes some very fun occasions arise.

by EvilDarkMagicians » 21 Jun Mon, 2010 1:21 pm

Honourable Angels wrote:
I say, cricket is truly the most riveting sport, I do enjoy watching a good game of cricket. That's a game which takes skill and determination.

I can't help but fall asleep when my grandfather insist we watch cricket.

Then you aren't doing it right D; you need more Indian Premier League and/or 20/20 matches and/or Ashes.

I heartily agree on Public Schools; the only British institution that could claim to be "the envy of the world".

[EvilDarkMagicians]

Then you aren't doing it right D; you need more Indian Premier League and/or 20/20 matches and/or Ashes.

Watched all of them. Just doesn't do it for me.

The only thing I like watching is Tennis or gymnastics.