Why isn't Soccer popular in America?

[Bloodshot Scott]

because your shit at it

Well, it's just that not many Americans play the sport. But if we did, we'd probably kick everyone's ass. Like 1% of the population plays puck and we still were only a goal away from gold last year. And I personally know Thomas Tapeh (Eagles RB) and he was the best soccer player in my area and was maybe better at soccer than he was football. He was the most dominant player I had ever seen or played with, and some of players I played with were pretty fucking good. He would have surely went to the MLS. The NFL money was more lucrative.

I don't take your post serious, and you shouldn't either Vlad, because I jest with the Canadians and the Europeans as well. No biggie.

 

[Lungzyn]

Well, it's just that not many Americans play the sport. But if we did, we'd probably kick everyone's ass. Like 1% of the population plays puck and we still were only a goal away from gold last year. And I personally know Thomas Tapeh (Eagles RB) and he was the best soccer player in my area and was maybe better at soccer than he was football. He was the most dominant player I had ever seen or played with, and some of players I played with were pretty fucking good. He would have surely went to the MLS. The NFL money was more lucrative.

I don't take your post serious, and you shouldn't either Vlad, because I jest with the Canadians and the Europeans as well. No biggie.

Not many Americans as a percentage of the population play those sports, but since the US is the third most populous country in the world (1st in the West), it means that you still end up having way more players than other countries.
It was mentioned before in here that the USA has more registered soccer players than any other country. Also they easily have the second highest number of ice hockey players, behind Canada.
Having a gigantic pool of potential talent combined with the money and infrastructure to support them are great things to have. The USA could probably be number 1 in almost any sport they wanted to if they devoted the majority of their resources to it like they do with 'The Big Four'. As of now, soccer isnt really ingrained in the culture though.
I guess this is a rehash of a previous post :anonymous

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

Well, it's just that not many Americans play the sport. But if we did, we'd probably kick everyone's ass. Like 1% of the population plays puck and we still were only a goal away from gold last year. And I personally know Thomas Tapeh (Eagles RB) and he was the best soccer player in my area and was maybe better at soccer than he was football. He was the most dominant player I had ever seen or played with, and some of players I played with were pretty fucking good. He would have surely went to the MLS. The NFL money was more lucrative.

I don't take your post serious, and you shouldn't either Vlad, because I jest with the Canadians and the Europeans as well. No biggie.

I didn't neg rep him Bloody. You know I don't like people taking shots at my country though. No matter what it's about.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Not many Americans as a percentage of the population play those sports, but since the US is the third most populous country in the world (1st in the West), it means that you still end up having way more players than other countries.
It was mentioned before in here that the USA has more registered soccer players than any other country. Also they easily have the second highest number of ice hockey players, behind Canada.
Having a gigantic pool of potential talent combined with the money and infrastructure to support them are great things to have. The USA could probably be number 1 in almost any sport they wanted to if they devoted the majority of their resources to it like they do with 'The Big Four'. As of now, soccer isnt really ingrained in the culture though.
I guess this is a rehash of a previous post :anonymous

Your point is taken, but...that only means that there are more multi-sport athletes. Take Joe Mauer for example: he was all-state in like fucking three sports for christsakes. He was scouted by NFL teams. There is another chap at Cretin right now with similar credentials (NHL and MLB or NFL, I can't remember). I guess when the chips are down, Americans, again, go for lucrative ("big four") over something they may even be better at (like Thomas). :2 cents:

 

[Terry Sleeper]

To answer the original question: watching 22 grown men kick an inflated leather sphere around a piece of turf IS a bit sad, isn't it?

(Mind you, so is American football.)

Sadder still is people paying to go and watch 22 grown men . . . etc., whether in the flesh or on TV.

(You asked.)

 

[roronoa3000]

To answer the original question: watching 22 grown men kick an inflated leather sphere around a piece of turf IS a bit sad, isn't it?




(You asked.)

Fixed

 

[Straight Shooter]

Hmm. Are we talking about commercials in-game or during broadcast? Because I gotta tell ya...I watched quite a few World Cup matches and I don't recall seeing too many commercial cutaways during the actual match play...

I have no doubt they stuffed a shitload of commercials during the halftime break...

For the record I am more of a fan of Hockey than Baseball, and I would rather see Hockey get back on ESPN than its present excommunication on Versus with a couple of NBC games...if we gotta give fucking Poker the boot to get Hockey back...I say we do that.

I will make the hard-to-prove statement that there is more cellphone action by "fans" occuring during baseball than any other Pro sport....this means people aren't engaged with the action...and that could prove fatal :eek:

There were no commercials during the actual game. I agree that they loaded the halftime show with commercials but thats fine with me.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

There were no commercials during the actual game. I agree that they loaded the halftime show with commercials but thats fine with me.

YES! Precisley. It is good because, god damnit, you CAN sit down and watch a COMPETITION for chrysakes and not have to deal with that bulk of bullshit commercialism (or commerials - whatever you want to label "it".) I am a bit partial because I played the game and understand how ultimately fun it was to play, so the game is a big factor in my life regardless. I don't need to watch a game of anything for more than a couple hours (minus great games).

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

Yesterday I went to a friend's house and we watched an Arsenal game. It was very uneventful and passed by quickly.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Yesterday I went to a friend's house and we watched an Arsenal game. It was very uneventful and passed by quickly.

Don't really know what to say, but I think that, again, experience with the game (however remote it might be) breeds acceptance. Christ, you of all people should know what it's like to hear your national sport smeared. It is consitently smeered by everyone but it still has a following in the States. i actually am offended by that shit because my state is the "hockey state," (for good reason), as if that's some sort of bitch shit. Fuck that. We still throw 'bows over off Arcade Ave. :glugglug:

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

Don't really know what to say, but I think that, again, experience with the game (however remote it might be) breeds acceptance. Christ, you of all people should know what it's like to hear your national sport smeared. It is consitently smeered by everyone but it still has a following in the States. i actually am offended by that shit because my state is the "hockey state," (for good reason), as if that's some sort of bitch shit. Fuck that. We still throw 'bows over off Arcade Ave. :glugglug:

I am experienced with the game, and I'd rather watch a game of soccer (if it is Arsenal or Toronto, that is) than baseball or something (Unless it is Toronto, of course), but I just found the game to be rather boring. Which is kind of distressing because it is the Champions League. Regarding hockey, I take solace in the fact that it is part of the "Big Four" leagues in the States and I leave it at that. Besides, I know hockey is better, so it works out. :glugglug:

 

[Straight Shooter]

I am experienced with the game, and I'd rather watch a game of soccer (if it is Arsenal or Toronto, that is) than baseball or something (Unless it is Toronto, of course), but I just found the game to be rather boring. Which is kind of distressing because it is the Champions League. Regarding hockey, I take solace in the fact that it is part of the "Big Four" leagues in the States and I leave it at that. Besides, I know hockey is better, so it works out. :glugglug:

The Champions League is boring right now because it's the early stages of the tournament. Turn in later when the knock-out stage starts and the big clubs go up against each other.

I don't know if there is such as thing as the "Big Four". I believe there is a "Big Three", which is the NFL, NBA, and MLB.

 

[hk727]

I highly recommend this book - Soccernomics. It also explains why England is shit.
http://www.amazon.com/Soccernomics-Australia-Turkey-Iraq-Are-Destined/dp/1568584253

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

I don't know if there is such as thing as the "Big Four". I believe there is a "Big Three", which is the NFL, NBA, and MLB.

Hey.

Shut up soccer boy.

:tongue:

 

[titsrock]

Yesterday I went to a friend's house and we watched an Arsenal game. It was very uneventful and passed by quickly.

:nono: Yes that game was a snoozer, but that was because Arsenal was missing four of it's best players because of injury. How would the Patriots do without Tom Brady/Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Vince Wilfork? Or the Lakers without Kobe and Pau?

You should watch Arsenal v Chelsea this weekend :bowdown::bowdown::bowdown: The Goons will get Fabregas back and it will be...Action GALORE my friend....:hatsoff:

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

:nono: Yes that game was a snoozer, but that was because Arsenal was missing four of it's best players because of injury. How would the Patriots do without Tom Brady/Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Vince Wilfork? Or the Lakers without Kobe and Pau?

You should watch Arsenal v Chelsea this weekend :bowdown::bowdown::bowdown: The Goons will get Fabregas back and it will be...Action GALORE my friend....:hatsoff:

You just named two sports teams that I really don't care about. Besides, if it isn't the Dolphins, the NFL is boring all the time.

I actually looked up the schedule for Premier League in Canada, but alas, the next Arsenal game they're showing is in November I think, and it is at 4:30 in the morning. Just ranting here, but having a favourite team makes the sport a lot more enjoyable when I occasionally watch it. If I didn't like Arsenal I wouldn't be able to sit through a game.

 

[titsrock]

We're talking total commercial time. According to Nielson, the breakup of the commercials is about 25 first half, 50 half time, and 25 second half. The average amount of time is roughly 1/4 of a 90 minute game. Compare that to the roughly 15% of a full length MLB game. Also consider the fact that unlike every other major sport in America, MLB is the only one that doesn't force timeouts, therefore if the games were shortened, so too would the commercial time. This is untrue of the others.

I don't think you're willing to acknowledge that there are no commercial breaks during the game action of Professional Soccer. There are plenty of commercials pre and post game because (especially during the World Cup) ABC ran a 30 minute pregame show (and a post game show after every US match).

There are so many commercial breaks during Major League baseball that it is horrendous. It would help baseball if pitching changes were limited and if pitchers were limited with throws-to-first.

Based on my anecdotal attendance evidence...people who attend football and Hockey are MUCH more into the sport than the hot dog eatin' iPhone fartin' baseball crowd. I think that's why we don't get so many shots of the audience anymore...people are on their phones or there are a lot of empty seats now :thefinger

 

[titsrock]

You just named two sports teams that I really don't care about. Besides, if it isn't the Dolphins, the NFL is boring all the time.

I actually looked up the schedule for Premier League in Canada, but alas, the next Arsenal game they're showing is in November I think, and it is at 4:30 in the morning. Just ranting here, but having a favourite team makes the sport a lot more enjoyable when I occasionally watch it. If I didn't like Arsenal I wouldn't be able to sit through a game.

November That will not do....

I watch Arsenal games and Premier League on Fox Soccer Channel which is (I think) a joint Los Angeles/Canada network? I can't believe you wouldn't get Fox Soccer Channel up there?

You know about justin tv right?

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

November That will not do....

I watch Arsenal games and Premier League on Fox Soccer Channel which is (I think) a joint Los Angeles/Canada network? I can't believe you wouldn't get Fox Soccer Channel up there?

You know about justin tv right?

Of course, but my drive to watch isn't quite strong enough that I'll look around for it. If it's on at a decent time, I'll watch, but I don't really want to look around the internet for it. I don't know if I get Fox Sports, I'll have to look it up.

 

[shayd]

I don't think you're willing to acknowledge that there are no commercial breaks during the game action of Professional Soccer. There are plenty of commercials pre and post game because (especially during the World Cup) ABC ran a 30 minute pregame show (and a post game show after every US match).

Uh, ESPN's coverage of the World Cup did, in fact, break for commercials. I suppose you could objurgate, but Nielson, in releasing the ratings and commercial times for the World Cup, would wonder were the hell you're watching it.

There are so many commercial breaks during Major League baseball that it is horrendous. It would help baseball if pitching changes were limited and if pitchers were limited with throws-to-first.

Certainly anecdotally there are. It's all contingent on the length of the game, and baseball tends to be the sport that has the longest lasting contests. I seem to recall something from ESPN a couple of years ago claiming the amount of commercials shown in a baseball game is roughly half that of the NFL. Christ, the NFL has a designated guy who walks onto the field to signal a TV timeout at least 5 times a game.

Based on my anecdotal attendance evidence...people who attend football and Hockey are MUCH more into the sport than the hot dog eatin' iPhone fartin' baseball crowd. I think that's why we don't get so many shots of the audience anymore...people are on their phones or there are a lot of empty seats now :thefinger

Look, we get it, you don't like baseball, and because of steroids, or really whatever arbitrary reason, you express it here. The problem is, the numbers don't back your statements, and unless you're watching an Oakland Athletics, Florida Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, or Toronto Blue Jays game, people are still coming out to the park. What they do there is really irrelevant, as if they're willing to spend their money to do nothing, chances are they'll do it again.