A new, insidious threat to our society......

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

So, some idiots watch a game because they think it's cool to do so. What about the superbowl? I just pulled some fictional statistics from out of my butt that show that 20% of the people that watch it on TV like the game, 60% watch it for the ads, 10% for the half time show and 10% have lost their remote control down the back of the sofa. People watch stuff for all kinds of dumb reasons, hipster and otherwise.

 

[mb82]

All I can say is at least they are watching. Better then the people who claim it is not a sport and refuse to watch. So a sport where you are not subbed in, where you run for 10+ miles a game and have to have enough eye foot coordination to make a small ball go into the upper corner of a goal from 50-60 yards.

Off topic, anyone notice American sports always rely on eye hand coordination primarily( with some eye foot for running)? Wonder why?

 

[Reno_eNVy]

I've been playing soccer since I was 4 years old and I'm an avid supporter of LA Galaxy and the US Men's and Women's National Teams... also too old to be a hipster.

But soccer is on the rise in the US. Last season MLS was 3rd in overall average attendance, beating out NHL and NBA.

You're next, baseball....



EDIT: But the d-bags living in the US supporting only European soccer are infuriating. We have a word for them in American soccer: "Eurosnobs"

 

[Goofynewfie]

[quote="CreamyGoodness",]
Personally, I would prefer viewing windows at yoga classes... but then I'm a freak...[/quote]

Person who invented yoga pants.....
F***ing genius

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

love soccer.

You been doing some sneaky evolving during the last few years?

 

[CGVT]

Soccer: Sport of the future. Always has been. Always will be.

 

[cincybrewer]

Love soccer. Played it my entire life, and at a D1 college. Can't believe people think soccer is boring then turn around and watch a baseball game or golf. Even football and basketball, which I love, has so many timeouts and stoppages it's mind-numbing....That said, I can't bring myself to watch MLS. IMO it's a crappy version of soccer and doesn't represent "the beautiful game" in the least. Hopefully it becomes better but I still think youth soccer in the US is the problem because it doesn't stress the correct fundamentals.

As for hipsters, they are quite annoying, but if they want to pretend to like soccer, I'm fine with it. Better than pretending not to like soccer because you "think" you are too macho for it. Chances are most who don't like soccer aren't in good enough condition to play it for 10 minutes, much less 90 minutes.

 

[shecky]

You been doing some sneaky evolving during the last few years?

Ha, you noticed.

Sure have. My kids love soccer, particularly my obsessed older one, and the game takes up large portions of our lives now. God help me, I made a point to learn the game and now I'm enamored with it.

Spain-Portugal in about 90 minutes.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I made a point to learn the game and now I'm enamored with it.

Ya know, that's the only thing that bugs me about the whole "USA hates s*ccer" thing, the way people knock it without really watching it properly. If someone doesn't want to watch it, fine, but don't knock it without learning a little about it. If you still don't like it, then that's fine too! It seems to me that a good proportion of the s*ccer bashers do it out of some kind of xenophobia. That nasty foreign sport trying to get my kids into the back of it's van.....

 

[rappyfreak]

I'm in Latin America so I love soccer, my country sucks ass big time in soccer so we watch a lot of spanish liga games. Rooting for Spain today of course, I need to see Cristiano Gaynaldo lose, hey btw I think he is the culprit of all the damn hipsters liking soccer....

 

[Homercidal]

Chances are most who don't like soccer aren't in good enough condition to play it for 10 minutes, much less 90 minutes.

That's not a terribly indicative indictment. Chances are most PEOPLE can't play several Pro sports for 10 minutes straight. Of course, you *could* jog up and down the pitch and call it playing soccer. Most people could do that.

But if you mean could most people run around like pro soccer players for 10 minutes? Maybe, maybe not.

I'd like to see any professional soccer player try and keep up with an NHL team for 2 minutes on the ice...

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Ya know, that's the only thing that bugs me about the whole "USA hates s*ccer" thing, the way people knock it without really watching it properly. If someone doesn't want to watch it, fine, but don't knock it without learning a little about it. If you still don't like it, then that's fine too! It seems to me that a good proportion of the s*ccer bashers do it out of some kind of xenophobia.

This.

I got SWMBO to start watching soccer during World Cup 2010... like, really watching it and not having it on in background with me yelling at the TV. The day I got her to wake up early and start drinking for the 8am USA vs Algeria match was the day I knew she was hooked. My efforts were also VASTLY aided by Landon Donovan's miraculous goal that helped them win their group. She has also become an avid Galaxy supporter (all that took was one trip to a live match to sing, chant, and drink with the supporter club... that will change anybody) and can actually break down plays now as if she'd been playing her whole life.



And speaking of "The Goal That Shook America" here's the video of reactions from across the country. The bar I was at looked very similar.... just hazier since I'm not drunk now. The stressed and depressed faces suddenly perked up from the breakaway, an instantaneous moment of disbelief at the save, followed by a nuclear explosion of excitement when LD put it away. I still get chills thinking about that moment.




There are a lot of good parts (like the crowd in NYC blocking the street because they're watching the match on a TV in a store) and some really funny ones (like dude at 3:25) but the best part is that it shows support for American soccer all over the country from youngins who don't look like they are old enough to be at the bar to the elderly... the sport is most certainly alive and well here.

 

[cincybrewer]

That's not a terribly indicative indictment. Chances are most PEOPLE can't play several Pro sports for 10 minutes straight. Of course, you *could* jog up and down the pitch and call it playing soccer. Most people could do that.

But if you mean could most people run around like pro soccer players for 10 minutes? Maybe, maybe not.

well yea, you could jog up and down the pitch and call it playing soccer. of course it would be nothing like playing soccer. but you are probably right, most couldn't play sports for 10 minutes straight. luckily for them that would never happen in basketball, football, baseball, or hockey because of all the timeouts.

I'd like to see any professional soccer player try and keep up with an NHL team for 2 minutes on the ice...

if you are talking from a conditioning and athletic standpoint, it'd be easy for pro soccer players...very easy. obviously from a skill level they'd get crushed. i've played pretty much every sport for a large part of my life and there is no question in my mind that soccer players across the board are the best conditioned athletes.


@Reno: thanks for the video. that brought back a great memory.

 

[Lurkmoar]

"Soccer? No sorry that is what ******** call it" Everything else is lame compared to Australian rules football If you have not seen it you are really missing out. I love hockey fast paced and has fights too. I loved basketball but then I got sick of the timer lying to me at the end of the game. It says 5 minutes left, by why does it take 45 minutes to finish the dame game( I really do know why it is really boring)

/end semirant

 

[Punity]

I love that goal.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I'm in Latin America so I love soccer, my country sucks ass big time in soccer so we watch a lot of spanish liga games. Rooting for Spain today of course, I need to see Cristiano Gaynaldo lose, hey btw I think he is the culprit of all the damn hipsters liking soccer....

So, you were rooting for Spain that day......Who are you rooting for today? :cross:

I'd like to see Spain win this again. Their recent international successes have been long, long overdue.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Oh yes, and don't get me started on the idiots that think they can differentiate the game from American football, and make themselves look smarter by calling it "Futbol" It's not a South American game, dammit!!

 

[rappyfreak]

I sure rooted for Spain, always have, always will. Did you watch the game? They played beautifully!

 

[Henry22]

I dont know how you could ever say Soccer is more boring than baseball. That sport has to be the most boring sport ever conceived by man, but thats just my opinion. To the person who said americans who only care about european soccer its because it is so much more fun/interesting/entertaining to watch and besides people on the national team I cant name anyone in the MLS.

As far as hipsters, I would choose them any day over the previous fads of emo and goths.

 

[Punity]

I dont know how you could ever say Soccer is more boring than baseball. That sport has to be the most boring sport ever conceived by man, but thats just my opinion. To the person who said americans who only care about european soccer its because it is so much more fun/interesting/entertaining to watch and besides people on the national team I cant name anyone in the MLS.

As far as hipsters, I would choose them any day over the previous fads of emo and goths.

You contradicted yourself with not knowing anyone in the mls but know the national team

 

[Reno_eNVy]

You contradicted yourself with not knowing anyone in the mls but know the national team

This

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

It won't be long before the US team achieves something major, like maybe making the semi-finals of the world cup. When that happens, the traditional US sports will have a lot more to worry about than just a few hipsters watching the beautiful game. ~ Benjamin Franklin

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Funny exchange I had a few years back at a friend's party. As I was walking by, rather inebriated I will add, I heard ambient arguing re: soccer a few feet from me. A gent who I didn't know motioned to me. "Hey, you over there, what do you think?" "I'm sorry, I know absolutely nothing about soccer." He looked at me dumbfounded, as if I had two heads... "Who cares, mate? Pick a team, start arguing."

 

[cincybrewer]

You contradicted yourself with not knowing anyone in the mls but know the national team

he said "besides" members on the national team.

As I said before I really do hope the MLS takes off, but it has a long way to go. I'm glad there are a lot of die hard followers. But I just can't bring myself to really watch it. To me it just isn't played how soccer should be played. Now watching Spain, and even Italy, is a thing of beauty. They really value the ball, something Americans don't do enough of.

As to the person who said it won't be long before US achieves something like a semi-final in the world cup: I certainly hope so but it seems like the national team has regressed lately. There should be so much more talent out there but for some reason, IMO, the national team doesn't put it all out there. But they will at least always be up there in terms of athleticism so I hope eventually the skill catches up to that and they can make a run.

 

[Punity]

Sorry my bad.

Reading comp not good early in the mirning

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Sorry my bad.

Reading comp not good early in the mirning

Somewhat like your spelling in the afternoon?

 

[Punity]

Stupid phones technology my ass

 

[Reno_eNVy]

If it's an iphone it's completely understandable... if it's an android, you're doing it wrong =)

 

[Punity]

Its a droid that doesnt work haha. This thing will randomly call people like ass dialing of old stick phones

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Nobody ever calls me. Not even with their ass.