Thank Goodness For REAL Football

[genghiskhan]

Actually, I don't have the exact numbers, but for NFL overtimes, winner of the coin toss is something close to 50/50 to win the game. It's pretty even. There's nothing wrong with it in my opinion. A lot of people seem to erroneously think there's some huge advantage to winning the coin toss but in reality it just isn't true.

 

[BlueStar22]

First of all, this shouldn't be in this section, but since we're discussing this, I'll give you a soccer player's point of view. I'd like to see half of the people typing run up and down a field for 120 minutes (90 for regulation plus 30 for overtime) and keep going after that. Your body gives out.

exactly... preach!

 

[littlewebs]

They're professionals in the World Cup final, the biggest game of their career.

Let them play until someone scores. If that takes 91m or 180m should be of little consequence, eventually someone will score if they're as tired as everyone claims.

Ah but the goalies aren't really that tired. So scoring is still difficult.

 

[Kobal]

exactly... preach!

Some people didn't really understand the game and they labeled the sport sucks.

 

[burmafrd]

As regards the world cup all I care about is A) that it is over.
B) the frogs got cooked again (heh, heh)

 

[RCowboyFan]

This is the first year I have ever watched the World Cup. All I can say is I have never seen more whining and people faking injuries in my entire life.

Last time I will ever watch it.

After 94 world cup, this is the first time again, I watched that many soccer games. I used to be big time, World Cup Soccer fanatic when I was little kid ( 80s).

But since moving to US, haven't been much of a soccer fan. The whole world cup to me was dissappointing in how many games were decided on Penalty kicks, especially in elimination rounds.

But it did whet my sports appetite a little bit, only to remind me how much I love Football (NFL) in general.

 

[superpunk]

Ya gotta love how the biggest game, on the biggest stage, played only once every four years - ends in a scenario where the goalkeeper has to guess where opposing PK'ers are going to place the ball.

Imagine the super bowl being played once every four years, and Vinatieri-Akers squaring off to kick FGs to decide the outcome.

Lame.

(I actually really liked watching the world cup, tho.)

 

[gbrittain]

Ya gotta love how the biggest game, on the biggest stage, played only once every four years - ends in a scenario where the goalkeeper has to guess where opposing PK'ers are going to place the ball.

Imagine the super bowl being played once every four years, and Vinatieri-Akers squaring off to kick FGs to decide the outcome.

Lame.

(I actually really liked watching the world cup, tho.)

Yeah, I just do not get it. I can think of several ways to end a game better than ending it with penalty kicks.

But hey, if it makes soccer fans happy so be it. No matter what, football will always reign supreme in the US and that is the way it should be.

 

[burmafrd]

I laugh at those that keep claiming soccer is going to be big in the us. My question for those that say this: Do you ever see kids playing pickup soccer, like we did with baseball, basketball, football? In a vacant lot, on the street?
You do not see this because while the kids LIKE soccer, and if the parents put them into a league they will play soccer, they do not LOVE soccer. Its not a PASSION to them. Thats why they lose interest as they grow older. For 15 years now people have been saying wait untill the kids that are playing now grow up and watch soccer grow. It has not happened and it will not.

 

[lspain1]

How many World Cup matches reached the 90 minute mark at nil-nil? Those matches reminded me of the phrase 'much ado about nothing.' Also, the number of red cards issued on flat out dives by the opposing player also seemed telling to me (although Zidane certainly deserved his). All in all, the NFL seems superior in every way to me as a spectator sport.

 

[AsthmaField]

it preserves sudden death, does not extend the game, but eliminates the coin toss. He proposes that they go to a system of "Dueling Kickoffs" where BOTH teams have kickoffs to start the OT. The team that advances the ball the FURTHEST, though, would retain posession at the point to which they advanced the ball.

I like that idea a lot. I wish they'd implement it in the NFL. Better than a coin toss, that's for sure. Can you imagine how exciting it would be when the other team had returned their kickoff to the 38 yard line and you knew Tyson Thompson had to get past the 38 in order for us to keep the ball? Knowing that if he does, Dallas would have good starting field position and would likely win the game... if he doesn't the reverse holds true and the other team will likely win? That would be exciting and rely on the team's skills instead of on a coin flip.

 

[gbrittain]

I laugh at those that keep claiming soccer is going to be big in the us. My question for those that say this: Do you ever see kids playing pickup soccer, like we did with baseball, basketball, football? In a vacant lot, on the street?
You do not see this because while the kids LIKE soccer, and if the parents put them into a league they will play soccer, they do not LOVE soccer. Its not a PASSION to them. Thats why they lose interest as they grow older. For 15 years now people have been saying wait untill the kids that are playing now grow up and watch soccer grow. It has not happened and it will not.

There are several reasons why soccer will never be big in the US.

I am not trying to be mean or disrespectful when I say this:

I know so many kids who are playing soccer only because their parents will not allow them to play football, baseball, and basketball (specially football) due to injury concerns.

If that is the decision the parents make, I can understand and support their right to make that decision for their kids.

I also realize that what I said does not apply to all kids playing soccer, but it is true in many instances.

I have no scientific data to back up my claim other than conversations I have had with other parents.

So yeah, I do not see a passion for soccer like I see for the other American mainstays.

 

[RCowboyFan]

There are several reasons why soccer will never be big in the US.

I am not trying to be mean or disrespectful when I say this:

I know so many kids who are playing soccer only because their parents will not allow them to play football, baseball, and basketball (specially football) due to injury concerns.

If that is the decision the parents make, I can understand and support their right to make that decision for their kids.

I also realize that what I said does not apply to all kids playing soccer, but it is true in many instances.

I have no scientific data to back up my claim other than conversations I have had with other parents.

So yeah, I do not see a passion for soccer like I see for the other American mainstays.

I got two girls and older girl plays soccer. And main reason is for excersize really. Though I have played Soccer from little kid to college, I was more into playing the sport than really watching, other than world cup games.

Soccer will never be big in USA, much like Cricket never will be either, because, the way the sport is played. Soccer, with no intervals and not much scoring, is not attractive to US. Cricket, due to its length of a game, will never be big either, although it has more action than a normal Baseball game.

Plus both games are considered more gentlemanly games, where you are supposed to respect your opponent and play clean games, cricket more so than soccer, but soccer fans are not gentlemanly obviously

In US we cherish competitive, take no prisoners type of games, IMO. Thats one of the reasons that Football is such a passion in US. And thats why Baseball seems to be sinking more and more in ratings etc. Anyway thats my opinion.

 

[gbrittain]

I got two girls and older girl plays soccer. And main reason is for excersize really. Though I have played Soccer from little kid to college, I was more into playing the sport than really watching, other than world cup games.

Soccer will never be big in USA, much like Cricket never will be either, because, the way the sport is played. Soccer, with no intervals and not much scoring, is not attractive to US. Cricket, due to its length of a game, will never be big either, although it has more action than a normal Baseball game.

Plus both games are considered more gentlemanly games, where you are supposed to respect your opponent and play clean games, cricket more so than soccer, but soccer fans are not gentlemanly obviously

In US we cherish competitive, take no prisoners type of games, IMO. Thats one of the reasons that Football is such a passion in US. And thats why Baseball seems to be sinking more and more in ratings etc. Anyway thats my opinion.

Good post. I did not grow up in the US either. I grew up playing soccer and loved playing the game. Much like you, I do not get a big kick out of watching it on TV.

 

[Richmond Cowboy]

I consider myself lucky to be in the minority on this board. Not only have I loved the Cowboys since childhood and am an avid fan but I also love soccer. I thoroughly enjoyed the world cup even more so since my favorite team Italy won. For a couple of weeks during the group stage I was able to watch world cup soccer every day followed by the NBA playoffs at night, I even dabbled in the Stanley cup finals. All this knowing that training camp is just around the corner. It is quite obvious that soccer will never be as popular here in the US as in the rest of the world but that's why god created satellite dishes and sports packages.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Real football is played with pads and a oblong ball

 

[SultanOfSix]

I love football and I am a fan of the World Cup. I hate the flops and the acting, and too much of it is done. I also hate determining a game in penalty kick shootouts. You play until someone scores and not leave it up to some of the best kickers in the game striking a ball from 15 yards out at 80 mph, hoping that the goalie "guesses" right or the kicker misses the goal.

It's a crap shoot almost entirely determined by luck because the skill is equal at that level and doesn't rely on what makes the game great in the first place: team play.

 

[TobiasEagle77]

It's time to get froggy.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I love football and I am a fan of the World Cup. I hate the flops and the acting, and too much of it is done. I also hate determining a game in penalty kick shootouts. You play until someone scores and not leave it up to some of the best kickers in the game striking a ball from 15 yards out at 80 mph, hoping that the goalie "guesses" right or the kicker misses the goal.

It's a crap shoot almost entirely determined by luck because the skill is equal at that level and doesn't rely on what makes the game great in the first place: team play.

Is that any worse than watching Billy Cundiff line up for a 40 yd fg?

 

[RCowboyFan]

I love football and I am a fan of the World Cup. I hate the flops and the acting, and too much of it is done. I also hate determining a game in penalty kick shootouts. You play until someone scores and not leave it up to some of the best kickers in the game striking a ball from 15 yards out at 80 mph, hoping that the goalie "guesses" right or the kicker misses the goal.

It's a crap shoot almost entirely determined by luck because the skill is equal at that level and doesn't rely on what makes the game great in the first place: team play.

For the most part true, but when you have players like Ronaldo/Zidane/Maradonna at their prime, it certainly tilts the game in a teams favor big time.

Either way, the game lacks the intense emotional nature of Football and the tactics/game planning football needs. I think the reason Football has less chance of making it as world game is that its expensive game to play really and needs lots of time/physical dedication. And not to mention the mental fortitude it takes to play football overcoming physical injuries.

Heck the first time I saw football, I thought why the heck are people so into a game, that is built on beating up each other