Your opinion/perception of soccer

[Irresponsible]

Originally Posted by clones_jer

Jordan made Nike ... so its six of one half a dozen of the other.

"Six of one, half gallon of the other," as my secretary says.

[clones_jer]

Originally Posted by Irresponsible

"Six of one, half gallon of the other," as my secretary says.

there's a guy here at work that always screws up the expression: "getting my *** chewed out" says "getting my *** ate out"

As in, "Boy my boss really ate my *** out for missing the meeting yesterday" ...

its horrifying

[BKLYNCyclone]

Originally Posted by cybsball20

Soccer overall is boring... Too much going backwards and not enough offense. We have shot clocks, play clocks, etc. for a resaon, we like scoring. In soccer teams are content to get one goal and hold the ball for the rest of the game... BORING.

US could easily be one of the best in the world, but Soccer gets the leftovers after most (not all, so don't kill me soccer fans) of the best athletes choose other sports.

A baseball player calling soccer boring??? Don't get me wrong, I like baseball, I'm just surprised that a baseball player would even go there.

[aconngemini]

Originally Posted by clones_jer

Here's a link to the story similar to the one I've read in the past:

Jordan Brand History (from www.kicksbrand.com) - rec.sport.disc | Google Groups

And I was way off ... he only signed with Nike for 2.5 M over 5 years ... seems like chump change by todays standards.

500,000 per year is nothing, even back then. Nike got a hell of a deal.

[soccercy]

Originally Posted by clones_jer

Soccer is Iowa is limited to the bigger towns. In small town / rural Iowa it either:
A) doesn't exist
B) is the sport you play until you start flag football in 3rd grade

In Cedar Rapids there seems to be quite a following, and I assume all the 4A high schools have it ... not sure how far down it goes ... 3A may have it, definately not many if any 2A schools. Just not enough kids to go around and soccer loses in the four sport setup most schools here use:

football/volleyball/CC
basketball/wrestling
track & field
baseball/softball

Now you just aren't paying attention, there are 144 schools with soccer as of last year, more adding this year, and now that a third class is being added, even more small schools will have reason to add soccer. Almost every community has a soccer club, even the small towns.

[ajk4st8]

Soccer is pretty easy to add.

You already have the field. Buy a couple balls, some uniforms, and some goals.

CHEAP.

[intrepid27]

If it ever cathes on in America TV networks will drive rule changes to "shorten the game" and "increase the scoring" in the name of making it more fan friendly. Face it media $ drive sports in America and I don't see it ever being a major media draw. All other sports (even baseball) have more excitement and drama than a soccer match. I may be wrong but it will have to change in order to compete in America. Ever see a pro soccer player selling nike shoes on TV? I rest my case.

[CycloneWarrior]

the only time it's fun to watch is right in the last couple minutes of a close game, where they have a bigger sence of urgency, otherwise it's a chick sport, no offence

[CTAClone]

Originally Posted by intrepid27

If it ever cathes on in America TV networks will drive rule changes to "shorten the game" and "increase the scoring" in the name of making it more fan friendly. Face it media $ drive sports in America and I don't see it ever being a major media draw. All other sports (even baseball) have more excitement and drama than a soccer match. I may be wrong but it will have to change in order to compete in America. Ever see a pro soccer player selling nike shoes on TV? I rest my case.

Not in America no. Look beyond our borders and you'll see pro soccer players endorsing everything. Even American born players.

And I highly doubt they'll change the rules of soccer just for the American audience. I really think Futsal (indoor soccer) could catch on in the states. It's very fast paced and has a ton of scoring in it. I posted a youtube earlier in the thread for people to check it out. Just search under Futsal on youtube if you wanna see what it's all about.

[CTAClone]

Originally Posted by CycloneWarrior

the only time it's fun to watch is right in the last couple minutes of a close game, where they have a bigger sence of urgency, otherwise it's a chick sport, no offence

No offense taken. But why do you think it's a chick sport?

Jer thought I was being overly dramatic earlier because I said people were always ripping on soccer, when I quoted someone saying they should make soccer fields into parking lots. I'm fine with people not liking soccer, I'm just curious about the thinking and reasoning behind it and why they hate it and feel the need to rip on the sport.

[clones_jer]

Originally Posted by CTAClone

No offense taken. But why do you think it's a chick sport?

Jer thought I was being overly dramatic earlier because I said people were always ripping on soccer, when I quoted someone saying they should make soccer fields into parking lots. I'm fine with people not liking soccer, I'm just curious about the thinking and reasoning behind it and why they hate it and feel the need to rip on the sport.

CycloneWarrior can't spell the word "offense" ... not the type of guy that you need to debate with anyway.

[djkent01]

I tired of reading all the posts so forgive me if I'm repetititve. I'll just say two things:

1 - Both of my kids played select soccer growing up. The carryover to other sports in terms of skills is amazing. My son "won" the footwork drills for his baseball team and earned the starting 2nd base position based on his ability to turn the double play. My daughter had the greatest ability to receive a pass on the perimeter and drive to the basket of anybody on her team (which eventually won the IA state championship). All attributed, IMO, to skills learned in soccer.

2 - Soccer is a game of vision. Although I disagree to a large extent, a huge soccer fan once commented to me that soccer is the only sport that is played in all four directions, including going backwards. A soccer player must be aware of where every person is on the field and place the ball accordingly. The game is played by maintaining possession and looking for opportunities.

So, soccer clearly develops vision and spacing skills. More importantly, it works on setting up attacks and maintaining possession. Every American sport is based on punching the other guy in the mouth and scoring now. IMO, American's are simply not patient enough to follow and watch those opportunities develop.

[spk123]

Originally Posted by intrepid27

If it ever cathes on in America TV networks will drive rule changes to "shorten the game" and "increase the scoring" in the name of making it more fan friendly. Face it media $ drive sports in America and I don't see it ever being a major media draw. All other sports (even baseball) have more excitement and drama than a soccer match. I may be wrong but it will have to change in order to compete in America. Ever see a pro soccer player selling nike shoes on TV? I rest my case.

I beg to differ re: the rule changes. When MLS first started in the US, they tried all sorts of things to make the game "more exciting" and palatable to American fans, including having a countdown clock (apparently the whole clock counting up-thing confused people...) and ensuring that there would be no tie games by ending games with a shootout or golden-goal overtime if the game was tied after regulation. But ultimately fans wanted the game played as it was throughout the rest of the world.

Granted, soccer in general (and MLS in particular) has hardly "caught on" in mainstream American culture, but it has grown significantly over the past 10+ years, and I really doubt that significant rule changes to make the game more "exciting" to Americans will occur based on previous failures to do so.

And there are plenty of Nike soccer ads - Nike has been one of the biggest advertisers and promoters of the sport in the States.

[cybsball20]

Originally Posted by CTAClone

Who can name this guy and a movie he was in? Care to call him a sissy?

Some guys in South Dakota did more than that... They kicked is ***!

[alzzzzzzzz]

Originally Posted by ajk4st8

Football also requires... blocking, running, tackling, catching, throwing, kicking.... and so on.

Soccer is running and kicking.

Sorry, but you are incorrect...Defenders block opponents from getting the ball. There are tackles, it is legs only. Throwing occurs after out-of-bounds and Goalies catch.