Cowboys stadium

[UKCowboysFan]

Cool site my friend.

I looked through the English grounds and worked out I had actually visited over 40 of those watching my team play, and have been to quite a few you don't have on there.

Would be great to see an NFL section, as I've only ever been to 3 NFL stadiums. Two of which aren't used anymore, and the thrid is in it's last year.

 

[reddyuta]

popular adjective

1: of or relating to the general public 2: suitable to the majority: as a: adapted to or indicative of the understanding and taste of the majority b: suited to the means of the majority : inexpensive 3: frequently encountered or widely accepted 4: commonly liked or approved

There can be no debate. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and is played extensively by males and females alike throughout many countries and cultures. It has existed in some crude form or fashion for hundreds of years as far back as the Roman Empire. The British eventually established formal rules for the sport in the mid 1800’s and due to their worldwide influence at that time (e.g. the British Empire), soccer spread throughout Europe and even into parts of South America, Africa and Asia by the turn of the 19th century. It’s fans live amongst a populace of billions.

By comparison, American football’s roots also began in the mid 1800’s, as rugby, and the rules remained more rugby like until the 1900’s. It wasn’t even really formalized into a true, organized, league-type sport at the professional level until the 1920’s, with rules which are basically employed today. Baseball’s popularity over football dominated the country until as late as the early 1970’s. It’s only been nearly 40 years since football became the most popular American sport, in a country which numbers in the several hundred million. There's a BIG gulf between billions and millions.

So, is soccer more popular than football? Of course it is. The sheer number of fans who follow the sport make it a moot argument and that will always be the case. The demise of NFL Europe provided evidence to that effect. However, I would pose the question, “Which is the better overall sport athletically”? That opinion, shared by soccer and football fans alike on that topic, would be more interesting for me personally.

"Me?" I don’t believe that the two sports are comparable beyond the physical exertion of the players during games; and even then, I would give the edge to football players over soccer players. The athletic play and coaching involved in American football is far more complex than that of soccer.

If there was anything which soccer players performed better at athletically over football players, I would have to say it’s those corner penalty kicks over that of field goals attempted by placekickers. Unless someone can block a field goal attempt at the line of scrimmage, placekickers’ FG attempts are unimpeded between his foot and the goalposts (unless you’re Mike Vanderjagt, of course). A soccer player attempting one of those corner penalty kicks has to bend his or her kick to the front of the goal AND through a goalkeeper. That’s a skill set that most American football kickers can’t top… unless (I'll bet) it’s Mat McBriar, that is…

I think rugby kickers would make excellent NFL kickers since they seem to hit it farther and from impossible angles -I wonder why we havent seen that.

 

[Shady12]

Hockey has flopping?

Oh heck yes it does. But maybe you were being sarcastic if so, don't bother reading..lol. There's even a penalty for it in hockey- diving. It's quite an art form, although most players at least don't have a lot of respect for the floppers..getting caught doing it and called for it is considered embarassing. Imagine the flopping possibilities in a sport where players are hacked and tripped with sticks. A player touches you with their stick and you dramatically snap your neck and fall trying to draw a penalty. Sometimes a ref will call both, say, tripping, AND diving. That will happen if the ref sees a legitimate trip but the player being tripped is obviously trying to embellish it to make sure a penalty is called.

 

[UKCowboysFan]

popular adjective


So, is soccer more popular than football? Of course it is. The sheer number of fans who follow the sport make it a moot argument and that will always be the case. The demise of NFL Europe provided evidence to that effect. However, I would pose the question, “Which is the better overall sport athletically”? That opinion, shared by soccer and football fans alike on that topic, would be more interesting for me personally.

"Me?" I don’t believe that the two sports are comparable beyond the physical exertion of the players during games; and even then, I would give the edge to football players over soccer players. The athletic play and coaching involved in American football is far more complex than that of soccer.

If you used athletics (Track & Field) as a tool to compare the two.

Football would be like the Sprints (more explosive) and the throwing events (more technical and strength related).


Soccer is more like long distance running, whereby great endurance is required. These guys play 90 mins with only one break at the half.

Both sports require their own unique ball skills. I guess the main difference is that soccer players are required to be more multi talented, where as football players can (generally) specialise in one position.


One other thing with soccer is that as it is generally a very low scoring game (imagine football as 1 pt for a TD and no FG's or XP's), a single mistake can easily be the difference between winning & losing. This means the players (although fatigued) have to keep their concentration to the very end of the game.


For me, I love both sports but having grown up with soccer it will always have the edge.

The other thing that give's it the edge is the fact that we can unite as a country behind our national team.

 

[the kid 05]

First off, football as it is properly known, only to 95% of the planet of course

No one runs around 20 miles a match, more like 9 on the average.

It is an athlete's sport, for sure...There's flopping like there is in every professional sport, unfortunately...Basically, players trying to bait the officials into awarding them an advantage...NBA is heading to a higher level in that regard, IMHO, and NOT in a good way.

Just came back from the Euro 2008 and boring wouldn't enter into it...Best tournament I saw for football, ever.

And one of the advantages it has over American Professional football is that there isn't the unbelievable amount of time wasting going on...Anyone who has ever been to see the Cowboys play must have been in for quite a shock to see how many TV timeouts, interruptions of play and general sitting around seeing nothing happen for stretches of the game.

Oh i know how popular the game of soccer/football is

20 is what i read, guess the ol sayin is right

I would love to go to the Euro tourny just because of the atomphere and to cheer for my heritage (which i do from home)

The Boys/Bears game this year at chicago didn't have many stretching time outs but the damn tv breaks were enough to make me go mad, I couldn't complain though me and my best friend went and seen it behind the end zone and saw the boys whoop my home teams *** I shall love that game forever cuz i called EVERRYONE in my phonebook to rub it in :laugh2:

 

[LeonDixson]

I just can't get into soccer. Something is wrong with the rules when a "receiver" who outruns the defense and takes in a pass is called offsides because he outran everyone. Weak!!!

 

[Shady12]

Both of these sports have some of the greatest athletes. I'll say this though, football has to be the most complicated sport in existence. You have to memorize hundreds of plays, be able to read and adapt to things both before and during a snap..I can't think of another sport with near the complications.

As far as greatest athletes, hockey players have to be up there, considering they not only have to deal with handling the puck with a stick only for the most part, but doing it on ice, in skates, moving at much higher speeds than someone on foot.

 

[Shady12]

I just can't get into soccer. Something is wrong with the rules when a "receiver" who outruns the defense and takes in a pass is called offsides because he outran everyone. Weak!!!

You have to have some structure to a game. There is also off-sides in hockey..if there wasn't it would really suck, there'd be no structure to the sport and it would be a lot sloppier as well.

 

[DallasEast]

I think rugby kickers would make excellent NFL kickers since they seem to hit it farther and from impossible angles -I wonder why we havent seen that.

Good question! Maybe it's question of timing for the kickers. A placekicker has to be accurate and get the kick off shortly after the ball is snapped. That's a skill which could be taught to most soccer players, but maybe not for all.

If you used athletics (Track & Field) as a tool to compare the two.

Football would be like the Sprints (more explosive) and the throwing events (more technical and strength related).

Soccer is more like long distance running, whereby great endurance is required. These guys play 90 mins with only one break at the half.

If both sports were noncontact, I could see comparing the two, but both are not. American football certainly is FAR from being noncontact. The enormous physical wear-and-tear which a football player endures during the violent collisions of blocking and tackling in a game must be included with the running aspect.

Both sports require their own unique ball skills. I guess the main difference is that soccer players are required to be more multi talented, where as football players can (generally) specialise in one position.

All soccer players on the field must be talented enough to directionally kick or bounce a circular ball, which is very aerodynamically shaped even though it remains on the ground for the vast majority of a game, using various parts of their bodies. That is impressive. However, you're incorrect about it being a 'specialized one position' in football.

Quarterbacks must throw an oval-shaped ball to designated areas of the field based on pre-reads and after-reads of defensive alignments and/or personnel each and every play. Footballs are nicely aerodynamic, but only if they are thrown perfectly.

Wide receivers must have excellent hand, eye and body coordination in order to just have a chance to catch the ball. Additionally, they must have firm hands and strong arms to retain the ball upon reception.

Placekickers and punters' ball skills are not even questionable in this particular discussion, imo. They directionally and accurately kick (again) an oval shaped ball extremely high and long. If a soccer player even attempted to do the same with a similar shaped ball, scoring would practically be nil.

One other thing with soccer is that as it is generally a very low scoring game (imagine football as 1 pt for a TD and no FG's or XP's), a single mistake can easily be the difference between winning & losing. This means the players (although fatigued) have to keep their concentration to the very end of the game.

For me, low scoring is acceptable for a sport like baseball. The reward for a run crossing the plate matches that of the sporadic pace of the game. Soccer is such a perpetually moving sport that I would think that points made would be 'more gracious'. However, it's one point per goal. Seems like a lot of work for practically no benefit. Of course, if your opponent also works as hard or harder for less, it all evens out, I guess...

For me, I love both sports but having grown up with soccer it will always have the edge.

The other thing that give's it the edge is the fact that we can unite as a country behind our national team.

The one advantage which the average American football fan has over the average world soccer fan is more exposure to both sports, even though soccer still hasn't become as popular in this country as it is has throughout the world. The same cannot be said vice versa, even with the opportunity of European fans to experience NFL Europe, for example.

I will not even attempt to debate the fanaticism which soccer fans have for their sport. American football fans love their sport to a certain point. On the other hand, world soccer fans have exhibited fanatic behavior for their teams which has ended with hundreds of thousands of injuries and deaths just in the past half century. Yep, in that concept of identifying with a favorite team, there's no debate whatsoever. Soccer wins by a landslide.

 

[Hostile]

Oh heck yes it does. But maybe you were being sarcastic if so, don't bother reading..lol. There's even a penalty for it in hockey- diving. It's quite an art form, although most players at least don't have a lot of respect for the floppers..getting caught doing it and called for it is considered embarassing. Imagine the flopping possibilities in a sport where players are hacked and tripped with sticks. A player touches you with their stick and you dramatically snap your neck and fall trying to draw a penalty. Sometimes a ref will call both, say, tripping, AND diving. That will happen if the ref sees a legitimate trip but the player being tripped is obviously trying to embellish it to make sure a penalty is called.

I should have added a smiley. I was.

I don't see the hockey players writhing on the ice though. Basketball has a lop of flopping too. It just isn't the same. It is beyond sickening to watch the soccer players acting like their legs are broken only to be perfectly fine once the penalty is awarded.

Give me Emmitt Smith actually playing with a separated shoulder and carrying his team to the division crown over that garbage any day of the week. I would rather watch women's softball than soccer.

 

[tomson75]

I just can't get into soccer. Something is wrong with the rules when a "receiver" who outruns the defense and takes in a pass is called offsides because he outran everyone. Weak!!!

That makes no sense whatsoever. Cherry-picking isn't allowed in football or hockey, either.

 

[Shady12]

I should have added a smiley. I was.

I don't see the hockey players writhing on the ice though. Basketball has a lop of flopping too. It just isn't the same. It is beyond sickening to watch the soccer players acting like their legs are broken only to be perfectly fine once the penalty is awarded.

Give me Emmitt Smith actually playing with a separated shoulder and carrying his team to the division crown over that garbage any day of the week. I would rather watch women's softball than soccer.

I agree, it's pretty ridiculous. And agree on the Emmitt point. But that junk alone wouldn't keep my from liking a sport. If I didn't like it already though like you it would make me hate it even more. I'm doing a lot of defending of soccer..but I'm not even that big a fan. But when I do watch I like it. I watched the Turkey-Czech game a couple weeks ago, one of the more exciting sporting events I've seen. Shows how soccer isn't predictable and you get up by a goal or two you can still lose.. I think the Czechs were up by at least two about 3/4's through the game and the Turks came back. Course is was even more fun because I was watching it with someone who is full-blooded Czech and thought they had it sewn up.

One of the things to me that makes soccer, and to a larger extent for me, hockey, so exciting is the goals. There is nothing in football or any other sport that compares to the excitement of when a goal is scored (if you are a fan of one of the teams). They are more rare and can sometimes come out of nowhere. But when you see the play developing and then it happens..well there's nothing more rewarding. Nothing beats that instantaneous rush.

My favorite sports quote is "A goal is a sound the crowd makes." The opening line from the book Zamboni Rodeo by Jason Cohen. It encapsulates for me why I love hockey. He wrote it while following the 1997-1998 Austin Ice Bats for the season.

Excerpt-

A goal is a sound the crowd makes.

It can happen any time, in any part of the rink- wood, flesh and vulcanized rubber whooshing at 90 miles an hour, too fast to comprehend completely- but the fans can always spot a developing play. The puck is knocked loose and there's a hopeful, hesitating murmur: Aah-aaah-aaaaah... Is a defenseman out of position? Will a long pass give a winger the jump? Is there time, space, opportunity? The volume rises: Mmmhhh!

And more often than not it ends there, with a whiff or a save or a muff or a miss, 8,000 people choking out their disappointment: Ohhh...! That's what you get for loving a game where so much of the really great action revolves around the times that someone doesn't score.

Until somebody does. Goals are all the more exciting for their scarcity...

 

[DallasEast]

I just can't get into soccer. Something is wrong with the rules when a "receiver" who outruns the defense and takes in a pass is called offsides because he outran everyone. Weak!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_3IFEHd6Io

 

[LeonDixson]

That makes no sense whatsoever. Cherry-picking isn't allowed in football or hockey, either.

Sure it does. Why do you think speed is valued in WRs? If they can outrun the entire defense they are rewarded for it. They aren't penalized because they didn't slow up enough to let a certain number of defenders stay between them and the goal.

I understood the comment above about needing structure to the game, but I don't understand your cherry-picking comment. Are you talking about WRs setting picks against defenders not being allowed?

 

[tomson75]

Sure it does. Why do you think speed is valued in WRs? If they can outrun the entire defense they are rewarded for it. They aren't penalized because they didn't slow up enough to let a certain number of defenders stay between them and the goal.

I understood the comment above about needing structure to the game, but I don't understand your cherry-picking comment. Are you talking about WRs setting picks against defenders not being allowed?

Do you let the wide receivers stand behind the safety before the ball is snapped?

You can still outrun defenders and not be called offsides in soccer, you just have to wait until the ball is passed, or put in play....just like you have to wait for the ball to be snapped in football. Without the offsides rule, you'd have a striker standing next to the goalie the whole game, cherry-picking.

 

[Torn_ACL]

Anyone who watched Euro Cup knows that soccer is one hell of a sport. There's a reason it's the most popular sport (by a MILE) in the world. If you've never played the sport you wouldn't understand. Watch an EPL match or any international match. They are incredible.

Football is great too, by the way.

 

[DallasEast]

Anyone who watched Euro Cup knows that soccer is one hell of a sport. There's a reason it's the most popular sport (by a MILE) in the world. If you've never played the sport you wouldn't understand. Watch an EPL match or any international match. They are incredible.

Football is great too, by the way.

Is anyone questioning soccer's overwhelming popularity?

 

[tomson75]

Anyone who watched Euro Cup knows that soccer is one hell of a sport. There's a reason it's the most popular sport (by a MILE) in the world. If you've never played the sport you wouldn't understand. Watch an EPL match or any international match. They are incredible.

Football is great too, by the way.

I agree for the most part. I played at Div 2 level for a year before I lost interest. I should have played college football instead.

Sadly, I can see where most people have no love for soccer in the states. The play has become embarrassing to the sport. The level of flopping has become unbearable. It's being taught at a very early stage. I for one, refused to partake in the practice, and it cost me on the field. Unfortunately, its part of the sport now. My father was a captain of a national championship soccer team, and he won't even watch the sport now.

There are exceptions to the rule, of course, if you know where to look/watch. There is some good play in europe obviously. Some college games can be entertaining too....I highly recommend anyone in the maryland area go check out a Army vs. Navy soccer match. It's usually old-school, and bloody.

 

[LeonDixson]

Do you let the wide receivers stand behind the safety before the ball is snapped?

You can still outrun defenders and not be called offsides in soccer, you just have to wait until the ball is passed, or put in play....just like you have to wait for the ball to be snapped in football. Without the offsides rule, you'd have a striker standing next to the goalie the whole game, cherry-picking.

I see what you're saying but the analogy is bad. The WR can't move until the ball is snapped, but he can sure as heck run by the receivers before the ball is passed. He is allowed to get free and clear, not make sure one of the safteys is there to help sombody else out who is stationed at the goal line the entire game to prevent scoring.

The soccer team that would have a guy just standing next to the goalie waiting to cherry-pick the entire game would essentially be playing the rest of the field with one less player than the other team. That would seem like a disadvantage to me. Sort of like a hockey team playing with a player in the penalty box. Besides, the other team could put a defender on that player if they wanted to.

 

[DallasEast]

Do you let the wide receivers stand behind the safety before the ball is snapped?

You can still outrun defenders and not be called offsides in soccer, you just have to wait until the ball is passed, or put in play....just like you have to wait for the ball to be snapped in football. Without the offsides rule, you'd have a striker standing next to the goalie the whole game, cherry-picking.

I certainly do not know a lot about soccer, but I am curious.

Before the ball is snapped in football, the wide receivers must always line up with their team at or near the line of scrimmage. The opposing team's defense is between them and the endzone. If the wide receivers get behind the safeties, they will have done so by running patterns, utilizing their speed, etc.

Now, please correct me if I'm wrong, but don't strikers or forwards, who are the team member who receive the ball to score like football wide receivers, always position themselves in the area of the field closest to the opponent's goal? What I guess I'm asking is, do they have to work through the other team's players before they can put themselves in position to score? Or are they already positioned at or near where they are supposed to be already--which is behind the other team's 'defense'--near the goal they're trying to net the ball?