Why most Americans don't like soccer.
- Thread starter dabears32
- Start date
If you think soccer is slow, try the Eton Wall Game:
"The game lasts up to an hour, with two halves of 30 minutes each. Many games end 0-0. Scoring goals (nine points) is very rare; they occur about once every 10 years and there has been no goals scored in the St. Andrew Day game since 1909."
"The game lasts up to an hour, with two halves of 30 minutes each. Many games end 0-0. Scoring goals (nine points) is very rare; they occur about once every 10 years and there has been no goals scored in the St. Andrew Day game since 1909."
"This is an extremely poor statistical argument, for the record."
Why? I posted earlier that MLS per game attendance is essentially the same as NBA and NHL per game attendance.
A couple of posters said they thought percentage of capacity would be a better comparison. So I poked around and found that information.
Why? I posted earlier that MLS per game attendance is essentially the same as NBA and NHL per game attendance.
A couple of posters said they thought percentage of capacity would be a better comparison. So I poked around and found that information.
It seems like soccer players are soft and not competitive. That has always been the case at my high school and the small college I went to for a year. It seems as if it is not a big deal to win or lose to them, just as long as they get to play soccer. They are soft and uncompetitve because from a young age they are told it is ok to tie, lose, not win, etc., because both teams can get together after the game and eat the popsicles together as friends that their mommys brought them in their soccermom fans.
That is why I don't like soccer. It teaches kids to be non-competitive, passive, mentally weak, and soft.
That is why I don't like soccer. It teaches kids to be non-competitive, passive, mentally weak, and soft.
I actually enjoyed Soldier Field more when they played there in terms of ease of getting to the game, things to do before and after the game, etc. That being said Toyota Park is a an enjoyable venue to watch a game. In some ways it reminds me of some of the grounds around Europe, but I suppose that was taken into consideration when they constructed it. From the NW burbs, it has been no problem (1 hr) to a major issue (2+ hrs) to get to depending on traffic, etc. There's nothing to do in the area before or after a game IMO.
Fitting for Chicago, the crowds have a very large Latin and Polish presence.
It sounds like you are only familiar with rec soccer. Compare that with rec baseball or any other rec sport and you will see the same thing. In larger urban areas select soccer is equally as competitive, and arguably more competitive than other equally popular select sports.
"Fitting for Chicago, the crowds have a very large Latin and Polish presence."
I think that is great. Is it marketed heavily to those groups? I get from Seattle to Chicago now and then, so hopefully I will make it to a game. I also have family in Columbus, and hope to get to a game there too.
The Sounders play downtown, which is great for the same reasons you describe re Soldier Field. I am looking forward to Portland and Vancouver coming into the league. Portland plays downtown too (USL).
Sounders play at Portland this week in US Open Cup. Last time they played, there were apparently a fair amount of fights between fans. Hopefully, that aspect of soccer doesn't catch on here. I've been to a couple of stadiums in England that had a pretty heavy vibe outside. At least the fans are passionate, though.
I think that is great. Is it marketed heavily to those groups? I get from Seattle to Chicago now and then, so hopefully I will make it to a game. I also have family in Columbus, and hope to get to a game there too.
The Sounders play downtown, which is great for the same reasons you describe re Soldier Field. I am looking forward to Portland and Vancouver coming into the league. Portland plays downtown too (USL).
Sounders play at Portland this week in US Open Cup. Last time they played, there were apparently a fair amount of fights between fans. Hopefully, that aspect of soccer doesn't catch on here. I've been to a couple of stadiums in England that had a pretty heavy vibe outside. At least the fans are passionate, though.
Funny - nobody ever seemed to be of the opinion that soccer sucked during Luther College's annual "naked soccer" event...
Yeah, the millions and millions of imigrants from soccer playing countries that came to the U.S. over the course of our history couldn't do it, but the next round of imigrants will most certainly turn the tide for the sport!
Soccer supporters sound like a broken record if you listen long enough. Pele was the great savior of the sport in this country back in the 70s-80s, yet here the soccer fans are yet again telling us that Americans are going to pull their heads out of the sand and realize what all the rest of the world already kinows!!!! Nonsense. The vast majority of Americans do not care about soccer, and they have good reasons for not liking it. If you like soccer, good for you. Go have fun with it. Why do you feel the need to proselytize to everybody else?
What a bunch of BS! It sure doesn't feel good when you're in goal and the ball goes by you. It sure doesn't feel good when you're playing striker and you miss a wide open shot. It sure doesn't feel good when you're playing defense and you let a faster stronger player get by you who scores a goal. it sure doesn't feel good when you are carded leading to a free kick or penalty kick resulting in a goal. It sure doesn't feel good getting a high kick, elbow, or head to the face/back of head or a boot strike to your legs or even worse.
This whole soccer thing and its place in America is simple to me. It is the easiest sport to "play" and it is the cheapest sport to play. Kids play soccer here first because basically they just go out there, run around and eventually kick a ball every once in a while. Other sports are too complex for little kids to play. As kids grow up, they are more intrigued with other sports because to most people they are more fun to play. That's it. There the reasons.
Now, the reason the "rest" of the world loves soccer is also easy. Its because its the cheapest sport to play. All people need in third world countries is a ball and a field. They got that, they can play soccer. They don't have the resources to play other sports.
Basically that sums it up.
Now, the reason the "rest" of the world loves soccer is also easy. Its because its the cheapest sport to play. All people need in third world countries is a ball and a field. They got that, they can play soccer. They don't have the resources to play other sports.
Basically that sums it up.
So hatters sure do sound a lot like that same broken record! So you know that a vast majority of Americans do not care about soccer? Source?
Pele, Beckenbauer, and the other stars of the North American Soccer League did great things to lead to the overall improvement of the sport in this country. Yeah, their league couldn't make it, but it provided some important lessons to MLS in terms of do's and don'ts and it also helped lead the way to a hugely successful youth program and the 1994 FIFA World Cup. It didn't and hasn't happened over night, similar to the origins of any sports league, but to deny that it hasn't or isn't happening or to deny the possibility that it may happen just makes you look silly!
So, England, Germany, France, Spain and Portugal are third world countries now? Soccer may be easy to play, but it can take a lifetime to master. When I was a kid, we sometimes got a stick and an old can and marked out some crude 'bases.' We also would take a stick and a rock and play hockey on a frozen pond or creek.
My eyes and ears. Oh yeah, and the fact that people stop playing soccer in this country when they get to middle school, same way they did when I was a kid, and same way they did when my parents where kids.
I find it very odd that you label me a hater. I have said nothing negative about the sport. I've simply said that it isn't, and most likely never will be, popular in the U.S. A bit reactionary on your part, don't you think? I have said that I don't like the governing body, but have made it very clear that it wasn't an indictment of the sport itself.
As far as looking silly; ignoring history and defending an argument that has proven over decades (centuries?) to be wrong kind of sounds like a good description of silly to me. But you keep on preaching, maybe somebody is listening.......
As an aside, I play several sports that will never be mainstream in this country. Somehow I manage to have fun without speaking down to those that don't like/understand the games. It's enough for me to get exercise and enjoy the comradery of others that enjoy the same sports. I don't need other people's validation to feel good about myself.
I don't know what pansy high school and small college you went to, but the 3rd grade girls around here sure don't have that attitude. The outdoor league my daughter plays in (AYSO) doesn't keep score or standings (though there is no possible way to keep the kids from doing it in their own mind). Their philosophy is that at this age, we are developing skills and awareness of the game.
In the long run, dominating everyone is bad for your development, therefore teams are as balanced as they can be made (though never perfect) and everyone participates. It's not to promote ties, or feeling good. Steel sharpens steel as they say. Cutting paper dulls steel.
Press 1 now to disagree with this post in Spanish. Press 2 now to disagree with this post in English.
To all soccer lovers: Soccer is a great game, just like baseball, basketball, football, hockey, etc. It is not a lesser sport than any of the others I mentioned, it is just different. It is vastly misunderstood by the majority of the US population, but like all sports, is not for everyone.
To all soccer haters: Soccer is a great game, just like baseball, basketball, football, hockey, etc. It is not a lesser sport than any of the others I mentioned, it is just different. It is vastly misunderstood by the majority of the US population, but like all sports, is not for everyone. There are definitely people who understand soccer and dislike it for reasons of their own. That does not make those people wrong or ignorant. Personal preference.
I love soccer, and I personally think that the best way to understand it is to try to play it. It is, by far, the hardest sport I have played (though I never played hockey). Would you enjoy watching baseball if you had never played it? I think not.
To all soccer haters: Soccer is a great game, just like baseball, basketball, football, hockey, etc. It is not a lesser sport than any of the others I mentioned, it is just different. It is vastly misunderstood by the majority of the US population, but like all sports, is not for everyone. There are definitely people who understand soccer and dislike it for reasons of their own. That does not make those people wrong or ignorant. Personal preference.
I love soccer, and I personally think that the best way to understand it is to try to play it. It is, by far, the hardest sport I have played (though I never played hockey). Would you enjoy watching baseball if you had never played it? I think not.
I'm sure this may happen in some communities but it is not the case in the communities in my area. The rise of soccer was the biggest bit of hype I have ever seen.
The parents who support it do so because they want their kids who can't compete in other sports to get some recognition. I know this isn't true everywhere, but far and away the better athletes do not play soccer in this area.
The only thing that is hurting baseball and softball is parents' inability to make time for their kids. They are too consumed with their own lives and interests. They don't like their summers taken up with softball and baseball games.
No it's not. You can't compare a sport that has 6 games a week to a sport that only has 1 game a week. The sport with only 1 game on a weekend should have much higher attendance all things else being equal.
