TheGooner

Hopefully my European players dump their life savings on bet365 in the next few weeks (or whenever this thing starts). That is all I am asking for.

It should be noted that ESPN announcers had traditionally mocked soccer. Now, I am all in favor of mocking the most boring sport on earth, but it is funny how interested they have suddenly become. Though I don't remember paying adamant attention to the 2006 World Cup, I certainly don't remember it being nearly this hyped.

Originally Posted by jdwanchalk

Hopefully my European players dump their life savings on bet365 in the next few weeks (or whenever this thing starts). That is all I am asking for.

It should be noted that ESPN announcers had traditionally mocked soccer. Now, I am all in favor of mocking the most boring sport on earth, but it is funny how interested they have suddenly become. Though I don't remember paying adamant to the 2006 World Cup, I certainly don't remember it being nearly this hyped.

Yeah, so boring that the World Cup get more viewers than any other event on earth afaik - billions of viewers.

I agree that the media coverage is bigger than we need, but there is a reason for that. Soccer sells! Even in the USA! Try buying NFL apparel in any other country of the world - you won't find many.

I like soccer and American Football. There is nothing wrong with that. The interesting thing is that the USA borrowed the name "football" from the most popular sport of the world, and it seems it worked

Yep - I suspect for most US sports fans the only saving grace for the World cup in that at least it's only played for every FOUR years.

For the rest of us - this IS football - and we'd just like the action to FINALLY begin. Stop the talking and the trite analysis. Just let us see that action.

Mind you - I'm the same with Baseball and Hockey. The regular season seems pointless as a non-partisan viewer as it's obvious that the players barely try past picking up their paycheck and the fans look bored for 90% of the games.

But I can watch the finals in passing with some interest.

I like how non US soccer advocates always try to start arguments, and end arguments, with "Soccer is the most popular anywhere OMG!!!111!!"

I don't care, most of those countries have GDP's of $12.

Soccer is a boring sport, they score once in a blue moon, and people just jog up and down the field the whole time. It's like a cross country run, but with a ball. Of course, maybe marathons are also popular to watch in these countries.

Oh, wait, you people are the ones who enjoy watching people ride in bikes up and down a hill. Woo! EXCITEMENT I CAN BARELY HANDLE!!!

PS-Baseball, football, hockey, and often times even basketball are indeed quite boring, just not nearly as boring as soccer. I maintain that good forms of racing, non asphalt, are the most exciting events to watch (in person). Only people who knock it are usually those who never went.

Originally Posted by jdwanchalk

I like how non US soccer advocates always try to start arguments, and end arguments, with "Soccer is the most popular anywhere OMG!!!111!!"

I don't care, most of those countries have GDP's of $12.

Yeah, England, Netherlands, Germany, Japan, China - they really suck at the economy.

If you say soccer is the most boring sport, it is just your opinion, and it means nothing to everyone else. Most people in the world disagree so I tend to think that this opinion is personal, and not a concept.

The beauty of sports is that you have several options you can choose from. Of course it is impossible to like everyone that exists. Poker is one example, some people think it is boring and repetitive.

I, for example, love soccer and love American Football. I even went to a American Football game in Brazil! (they suck by the way) Racing: I went to two events and found that boring. Driving is great, but watching cards from far away? nah

Calm down man, relax and enjoy not watching soccer!

I just love watching all the fake injuries and then bringing out that stupid stretcher, than the player comes back right away.

World Cup Soccer is far from boring. Watching cars go in circles (Nascar) takes the cake for that.

The key word was most, Marcelo. Most. I never said that every country who likes soccer just sucks as a whole. You like soccer because it was what you were brought up on, just like the other foreigners. I don't care a ton about sports I was brought up on, but I can identify boring, and running up and down a field is damn boring.

If more people would escape the defined sports that they are supposed to like, people wouldn't give two shits about gay players like Cristiano Rinaldo (or however the hell its spelled) and their moron friends like Zidane.

Tom, I didn't say Nascar was good, in fact I particularly noted non-asphalt.


I just came here to argue though, so someone please reply, otherwise my fun is over.

Something is bad becasue its more popular in countries with lower GDP's ..... worst arguement ever but also one of the funniest.

Will keep the discussion going so you have fun.

The problem in arguments happens when one part implies that he is more intelligent or special than others.

When you say that most of the countries have low GDP's, or that I like soccer because I was brought up on, you imply that your country is great, you are smarter and everything else.

Please, I don't leave among monkeys and crocodiles. I am a physician and webdesigner and I live in the 6th or 7th economy of the world. I was not brought up on anything.

You could say that americans like Baseball because this was brought up on them? (because the game is really boring imo lol)

Obviously the intent was to mock, never implied it was the reason why soccer sucks. It's just one reason of many why the "It's so popular" argument is stupid.

Edit: Doovde.

Most sports are cheap to play, like volley, baseball, and they are not as popular. So the reason soocer is popular is what, brainwash?

No other options. These people are born to play soccer, soccer, soccer. In the US, kids play soccer, baseball, football, basketball...naturally soccer gets weeded out as kids get older because it sucks.

JD is obviously a youngster - cetainly under 25 - and has yet to develop the maturity to enjoy a fine sport that doesn't have ad breaks every five minutes so that he can safely go into the kitchen and fry up another cheese-steak or flapjack!

Never mind JD - you'll grow up soon - and start to appreciate the finer things in life mate !


Like all sports - the further up the levels you go - the more closely balanced the event can be - and when a game is close then the tactical battles are very interesting for the experienced watcher ... but probably very boring for the novice.

Football is a battle of tactics, strategy, spirit and determination as much as skill, and always offers the underdog a chance while the scores remain close.

The best example I can give you JD is probably when a "perfect game" is pitched in baseball. The scoring and hits are non-existant - and yet every out in the late innings are intense - and the post-match media coverage is high.

So it is with football. A 5-0 blowout game will lose viewers by halftime. But when the result is in doubt - and the consequences are high - then viewer interest is maintain.

JD you talk complete shit and most of the time but in this case i had to say something.

Champions league final gets more viewers than the nfl superbowl fact. This england vs usa game will get over 70mill viewers from the uk fact. world cup is more popular than the olympics fact.

Why can't americans realise that they like in a fish bowl across the pacific? They're the only ones that play "baseball", the only one that plays "football", and every day peolpe like you become isolated from cosmopolitan society.

We gave you beckham to kickstart your shitty domestic leagues. be greatful.

Cross country+ball=soccer

Cross country=boring
Kicking a ball=boring
Soccer=boring

Sounds like JD = boring (and rather myopic too !)

LOL soccer.

LOL JD.. man you have not got a clue here your all USA cool very patriotic should join the marines and be a general for your next war then go to recruit! Jump outside your fishbowl for a sec.. Its a good game and I can assure you, you will see more money from your USA players in this word cup than your "European/rest of the world ones" because we know what were betting on.. Big place is America n have good sports but to say all we have to do is play football is insulting!!

My thoughts on this world cup are im sickened my country got cheated by the French, put us/my nation and MANY others in this part of the “sea” of teams (countries) in your group see who comes top…. I see Spain, Brazil to win, England the semis outside bet would be Holland n I like Serbia for doing alright maybe semis..

Not sure why you all argue about these silly sports at all... surely every true gent knows that Cricket is the best sport by far, psychological warfare over 5 days to get a draw - awsome.

Here is a fun list of the top 10 sports FYI, not sure how accurate it is, though this is the widely cited one... surprise for me was field hockey.

1) Football: 3.3-3.5 billion fans (Europe, Africa, Asia, Americas, etc.)
2) Cricket: 2-3 billion fans (India, UK, Pakistan, Asia, Australia, etc.)
3) Field hockey: 2-2.2 billion fans (Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia)
4) Tennis: Around 1 billion fans (Europe, Americas, Asia)
5) Volleyball: Around 900 million fans (Asia, Europe, Americas, Australia)
6) Table tennis: Around 900 million fans (Asia, Europe, Africa, Americas)
7) Baseball: Around 500 million fans (US, Japan, Cuba, Dominican Republic)
8) Golf: Around 400 million fans (US, Canada, Europe)
9) Gridiron (American football): 390-410 million fans (US mainly)
10) Basketball: Not more than 400 million fans (US, Canada mainly)

That list can't be right. Unless they counted the parents of every High School field hockey player as a fan.

Basketball, US and Canada? It's way more popular overseas in countries like Greece than it is in Canada, those European countries love it.

Actually, this whole list seems to be out of whack. I don't really care though, so whatever.


But anyway, this should be noted...

Basketball, football, baseball, and most forms of racing are VERY new in relation to soccer. Beyond this, they are seldom introduced to non-US children.

Soccer IS introduced to US children, and virtually every friend of mine played on a team at one point or another. However, everyone loses interest in soccer as they learn other sports. If European (and whatever other areas) children were familiar with basketball, football, baseball as much as they are with soccer, it would inevitably thin out the popularity.

People hate change. Soccer has been around forever overseas, they never tried (had) anything else besides cricket and rugby, so it never was overtaken or had its popularity diminished.

Note: I can 100% respect both Cricket and Rugby, as they both look interesting/fun to watch and play. Soccer, however, can be mildly fun to play, and is incredibly boring to watch.

Baseball is only slightly better to watch than soccer, I never disputed that. It's the long season and build up until the playoffs that makes it great.

Basketball is infinitely better to watch than soccer. There is a lot of action, lots of creativity, and it requires much more than a strong leg and endurance.

Football can be boring, and is drawn out. However, there is certainly a ton more to be interested in than in a soccer game. Long, exciting, breakout plays that happen with regularity. Steady progress up and down a field. Soccer is just slowly running around the middle of the field with mundane change of possessions every second that seldom lead to a score.

I can take a non biased view of all of these sports and accurately assess them. Soccer fans, on the other hand, say "SOCCCCCERR!!!! WOO!!! RINALDO!!!!" and never take a time to consider the superior beauty in other games around the world.

Also, pokerworx, I would never join the Marines, that would be the day I go to war for a corrupt country. I was arguing sports (which also happen to be relative to geographical locations). I was not in anyway implying that America is some great, magical land, and that our primary sports are therefore better.