Topic: Soccer ( Football ) vs. American sports
MsCarmen's photo
Sat 02/07/09 07:16 AM


Rugby is more fun to watch than American football.

Rugby and US football are games played by men with funny shaped balls. :wink: bigsmile :banana:
laugh

raiderfan_32's photo
Sat 02/07/09 10:27 AM
Edited by raiderfan_32 on Sat 02/07/09 10:47 AM
"American" Football was developed in the late part of the 19th century because people were dissatisfied with the way the game was being played. Adaptations from Australian Rules football and soccer, began to shape the modern game of football and inception of what Sal Palantonio of ESPN says are uniquely American ideals are responsible for the game known today in America simply as football.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Football-Explains-America-Paolantonio/dp/1600780466/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234030962&sr=1-1


no photo
Sat 02/07/09 10:34 AM
soccer is the best by far.

no photo
Sat 02/07/09 04:02 PM
Edited by Unknow on Sat 02/07/09 04:02 PM
I'm surprised no one has mention the television aspect.


Soccer is similar to hockey in the sense that it is not as TV friendly as the other major North American sports. The speed, and in hockey's case power, of the game is lost on television. Plus there is not enough chance for commercials, thus television networks are lukewarm to the game.

Lack of TV exposure on the major networks in the U.S.A is A MAJOR OBSTACLE towards increasing soccer's popularity here.

transientmind's photo
Sat 02/07/09 05:53 PM
Edited by transientmind on Sat 02/07/09 05:54 PM
The real reason I haven't gotten into rugby is because it doesn't get coverage.
Well, that and I don't own a TV.

Please tell me that the rugby camera men/producers don't home in on butt-shots.
I got so tired of them cutting from the play at hand to some fat guy's ass in tights.
I just don't swing that way.

JustAGuy2112's photo
Sat 02/07/09 06:13 PM

I'm surprised no one has mention the television aspect.


Soccer is similar to hockey in the sense that it is not as TV friendly as the other major North American sports. The speed, and in hockey's case power, of the game is lost on television. Plus there is not enough chance for commercials, thus television networks are lukewarm to the game.

Lack of TV exposure on the major networks in the U.S.A is A MAJOR OBSTACLE towards increasing soccer's popularity here.


But even when soccer is on one of the major networks....the ratings are terrible.

no photo
Sat 02/07/09 06:20 PM


I'm surprised no one has mention the television aspect.


Soccer is similar to hockey in the sense that it is not as TV friendly as the other major North American sports. The speed, and in hockey's case power, of the game is lost on television. Plus there is not enough chance for commercials, thus television networks are lukewarm to the game.

Lack of TV exposure on the major networks in the U.S.A is A MAJOR OBSTACLE towards increasing soccer's popularity here.


But even when soccer is on one of the major networks....the ratings are terrible.


How often is it on? Cetainly not enough to promote the sport. Plus the speed and scope of the game is absolutely lost on TV

JustAGuy2112's photo
Sat 02/07/09 06:29 PM



I'm surprised no one has mention the television aspect.


Soccer is similar to hockey in the sense that it is not as TV friendly as the other major North American sports. The speed, and in hockey's case power, of the game is lost on television. Plus there is not enough chance for commercials, thus television networks are lukewarm to the game.

Lack of TV exposure on the major networks in the U.S.A is A MAJOR OBSTACLE towards increasing soccer's popularity here.


But even when soccer is on one of the major networks....the ratings are terrible.


How often is it on? Cetainly not enough to promote the sport. Plus the speed and scope of the game is absolutely lost on TV


MLS is on ESPN on a regular basis.

The Premier Leagues are shown regularly on Fox Sports Net.

no photo
Sat 02/07/09 07:20 PM
Edited by singmesweet on Sat 02/07/09 07:21 PM

I'm surprised no one has mention the television aspect.


Soccer is similar to hockey in the sense that it is not as TV friendly as the other major North American sports. The speed, and in hockey's case power, of the game is lost on television. Plus there is not enough chance for commercials, thus television networks are lukewarm to the game.

Lack of TV exposure on the major networks in the U.S.A is A MAJOR OBSTACLE towards increasing soccer's popularity here.


If I had the choice of watching American football on tv or soccer and hockey, I'd absolutely pick soccer and hockey.

JustAGuy2112's photo
Sat 02/07/09 07:30 PM
Baseball, Hockey, Football, Soccer.

in that order....lol

no photo
Sat 02/07/09 07:31 PM

Baseball, Hockey, Football, Soccer.

in that order....lol


Baseball is the hardest for me to watch. In person or on TV. Too slow :tongue:.

JustAGuy2112's photo
Sat 02/07/09 08:58 PM


Baseball, Hockey, Football, Soccer.

in that order....lol


Baseball is the hardest for me to watch. In person or on TV. Too slow :tongue:.


It helps when you can really get into the strategy involved.

spkeck's photo
Sun 02/08/09 01:44 AM
i love soccer and was glad to see my columbus crew win the pathetic league they call major league soccer.

for good soccer- the africa cup, eurocup this past year were amazing

JustAGuy2112's photo
Sun 02/08/09 09:35 PM
Most of the games I see come from one of the European Premier leagues.

Lynann's photo
Mon 02/09/09 12:48 PM
Lack of scoring might be a factor. That's a boring as the cheap high scoring in basketball.

The coverage might be another.

I've watched a few games with soccer crazed friends and the large field with televisions inability to capture it well might be a factor as well.

I am a hockey fan and find similarities in both games. Still soccer leaves me cold while the pace of even a very low scoring hockey game keeps my attention much better.




pillsbury601's photo
Tue 02/10/09 08:17 PM
Soccer has alot of popularity in America today. Alot of the public high schools have added it to there sports programs that were once football dominent. It's just that soccer does not and never will have the impact that American football does. There just isn't enough about the game to get excited about unless you are a student of the game and can truly understand ever aspect of what goes on. It will come around eventually but not anytime soon and even when it does it will never be able to surpass American football just because of the WOW factor.

Dan99's photo
Wed 02/11/09 08:12 AM
David Beckham went to the states to try boost the game there, i dont know if he had any impact or not?

Im on the side arguing for football(though we are only debating why it isnt too popular over there), yet i dont follow it all that closely myself. It would be good to hear from a die-hard soccer fan. I do love to follow England though, and you can beat a European Cup or a World Cup for excitement. It gets so passionate on and off the pitch, the best part of the country grinds to a halt.

Maybe what the American sports lack is international competition like this. At least i am not aware of anything you have which would compare on this level.

no photo
Wed 02/11/09 08:18 AM
I know that when David Beckham's team played DC United, the ticket sales were much higher than they have been in the past.

JustAGuy2112's photo
Wed 02/11/09 09:22 AM

I know that when David Beckham's team played DC United, the ticket sales were much higher than they have been in the past.


Ah but even Beckham is now looking to get out of that monster contract he got with the L.A. Galaxy so that he can stay in Europe and play for AC Milan.

no photo
Wed 02/11/09 09:47 AM
All sports are great especially when it comes to the finals. If one understands the rules and gets to know the players then it is alot more fun to watch.

I have known people to criticize a sport and say it is boring then when I ask how the game is played they couldn't explain it to me.

I then explained how it works and after a few watches their attitudes change and enjoy the sport.

So many great sports. Here is one not many know about

Slingball http://slingball.com/index.html