Is soccer un-American?

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I cannot see how soccer is not American. I think any sport has a potential to take a country by storm if properly promoted.

[Cosmopoles]

Yes, because it doesn't stop every two minutes so you can go refresh your snacks and booze.

[EvilDarkMagicians]

Yes, because it doesn't stop every two minutes so you can go refresh your snacks and booze.

Another good reason to promote soccer in the u.s. It could help the obesity levels.

[Gun Manufacturers]

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?

The clock runs the wrong way (compared to other sports like basketball, football, hockey, etc), it never stops (so even after the 90 minutes is up, the players are still playing), and there's the chance the game will end in a tie.

That's why it's un-American.

[The blessed Chris]

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.

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.

[The Cat-Tribe]

...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?

Especially, as the U.S. Women’s National Team has won 2 World Cups and taken Gold at 3 of the 4 last Summer Olympics. (But, unfortunately, only a small minority here or worldwide care about women's football).

Our Men's Team took Third in the first World Cup in 1930!!

[Juristonia]

It's funny to see that the better America gets at it, the less soccer gets seen as a wimpy sport.
"It sucks cause we can't do it!"

[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?

Especially, as the U.S. Women’s National Team has won 2 World Cups and taken Gold at 3 of the 4 last Summer Olympics. (But, unfortunately, only a small minority here or worldwide care about women's football).

Our Men's Team took Third in the first World Cup in 1930!!

There are women's national teams?

[Maurepas]

It's funny to see that the better America gets at it, the less soccer gets seen as a wimpy sport.
"It sucks cause we can't do it!"

That's not the standard for everybody?

[Ifreann]

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.

I rather think it teaches kids something about the real world. One can never rest on one's laurels and expect to retain any kind of title in football. However good you may be, there is always someone right behind you. How perfectly capitalist. No amount of hard work can put you beyond the competition, because they are working hard too.

[Zeppy]

Communist games are not allowed in America.

I mean TEAMWORK?

WTF?

Commies, the whole lot of them.

Wrestling is the true free American sport. Nothing more American then two muscled men with only a leotard on fighting for the ultimate goal of domination and submission.

....wat was the question again?

[Exilia and Colonies]

It's funny to see that the better America gets at it, the less soccer gets seen as a wimpy sport.
"It sucks cause we can't do it!"

That's not the standard for everybody?

Of course not. See England's passion for cricket for example.

[Qwcasd]

Soccer is as un-American as anything that ends in -ism

[Kirby J]

Soccer is as un-American as anything that ends in -ism

Capitalism?

[Qwcasd]

Communist games are not allowed in America.

I mean TEAMWORK?

WTF?

Commies, the whole lot of them.

Wrestling is the true free American sport. Nothing more American then two muscled men with only a leotard on fighting for the ultimate goal of domination and submission.

....wat was the question again?

Two hot, sweaty men... after watching each other get weighed in naked.

[Londim]

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

Do you even understand how the sport works? The teams are not selected, they all play through qualifying stages, competing with each other to get to the Finals. The 32 teams who survived the qualifying process go to the World Cup Finals.

India does not have a good soccer team at all. There is not even a proper professional league in the country.

[Emothica]

Yes and no. Most Americans hate soccor, but when the World Cup comes around every American seems to go into sports bars, get really drunk, and see the US team lose or tie a game. Then after the World Cup is over, everything goes back to normal and starts hateing soccor again. We're a pretty messed up country.

[Caninope]

Glenn Beck says its unAmerican so it must be.

That is not my view, I am just stating a little sarcasm. I think its the most American sport after baseball and football.

Baseball?

You mean guys in tights hitting balls with sticks?

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Glenn Beck says its unAmerican so it must be.

That is not my view, I am just stating a little sarcasm. I think its the most American sport after baseball and football.

Baseball?

You mean guys in tights hitting balls with sticks?

No. Baseball.

Guys in tights hitting balls with sticks would be a lot more interesting.

[Ghomora]

of course it isnt..but the idea that such a stupid qustion was posed, says volumes about your idea of america..

[Caninope]

Glenn Beck says its unAmerican so it must be.

That is not my view, I am just stating a little sarcasm. I think its the most American sport after baseball and football.

Baseball?

You mean guys in tights hitting balls with sticks?

No. Baseball.

Guys in tights hitting balls with sticks would be a lot more interesting.

*tries to keep a straight face*

[The Andromeda Islands]

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.

[BrightonBurg]

No. it;s been played in the U.S for years,it will just never be as popular as say baseball or NFL Football. I like soccer,and am native born..

[Ifreann]

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.

What's the problem with a draw? Can two teams not be evenly matched?

[Maurepas]

Communist games are not allowed in America.

I mean TEAMWORK?

WTF?

Commies, the whole lot of them.

Wrestling is the true free American sport. Nothing more American then two muscled men with only a leotard on fighting for the ultimate goal of domination and submission.

....wat was the question again?

I think you may have us confused with Greece,

when we do it, it is generally predetermined, so it's more like a dance, ;P