I'm glad the USA lost, now GO AWAY SOCCER

[No Mo Moss]

This debate seems to come up every 4 years. Soccer interest spikes during the world cup then dies down again till the next one. Its almost like its the Olympics.

Actually the real interest stays the same over the years between WCs. It's only when uneducated tools click on ESPN hoping to see the day's 4th rerun of Sportscenter and get a live soccer match instead that they get confused, then angry, then start criticizing the sport they know nothing about, the US team which includes zero players they can name, and the rules that they don't know or understand.

It's not helpful when we have a sports media that jumped all over the US team after their first loss when they know nothing about the team, nothing about the Czeck team (or any other national team for that matter), and very little about the sport in general. Yet as soon as something bad happens, suddenly every sports writer is a soccer expert and labels the US team as a disappointment and overrated.

Ha well put. A bit gloomy but probably accurate.

More to the point I was trying to make is this forum for example. If its still around 4 years from now there will be a soccer(futbol) thread or 2, but not 1 for the 3+ years in between. US sports fans are fickle. Its all about instant gratification. I include myself in that statement.

There has been many soccer threads in the romper room. Most recently the Champions league finals were discussed. I'l start one when the English clubs start up in Aug.

[No Mo Moss]

Let me first state that I HATE soccer. Would rather be a Packer Fan than a soccer fan. Have not! Will Not! Could not! Watch 1 minute of that boring fiasco.
With that said, back in my football days we played a game of sandlot tackle football with some players from a local college soccer team and I have to say that those are some tuff dudes. (still fairies) but tuff!

Now Australian Rules Football is the bomb!

See that is just dumb. How can you not like watching something that you have never watched? What have you formed your opinion on? The great thing about soccer is that it only needs people to be exposed to it to get hooked. Sit someone time in front of a world cup final and chances are they will really enjoy it.

I love the bucks, brewers etc.. but the only sport in the world more worth watching than soccer is the NFL. Baseball is the most boring game ever created, and the NBA... talk about refs controlling the outcome. Its pretty much the WWE now.

You can tell that soccer is growing, just listen to the outrage about the loss.

[GrnBay007]

I never played soccer, but all sports are like that nowadays. Worst thing that happened with youth sports is getting the parents involved. Back in my day a kid could play sports and be a kid. His parents would show up occasionally, maybe for the playoffs. Now parents, and their bad attitudes about little Johnny and how good he really is, have ruined it. There's politics, bad sportsmanship, pressure on the kids, etc. Do me a favor and quit going to all of your kids games. Little Johnny at age 9 doesn't need you there for ever game. You're not a bad parent if you don't show up to every game.

Harv, I agree parents have gotten too involved in youth sports, but when I say that I dont' mean they've gotten too involved by going to the games and watching and supporting their children. That's completely different than the manipulating that goes on by parents as well as some of them screaming at their kids from the stands and yelling at the refs/umps. Read the Little League baseball rules for parents and players.......they have the right idea but it seems they don't enforce it like they should.

True story and just makes me sick. A co-worker of mine has evidence his son's coach wanted (and did) have his two sons on the team throw a game in the end of the year tournament. They wanted to lose the first game because they knew they would stand no chance playing the next team they would be up against. They wanted to be in the consolation bracket, where they would stand a good chance to come in first and get trophies for the boys.

It just blows my mind there are parent's out there teaching their kids that this type of behavior is ok. And we wonder why so many professional athletes out there are such spoiled, egotistical assholes. ....they've had years of experience and tought this behavior directly by their parents.

Well I'm off to watch my son play his tourney game. They will most likely lose going up against the #2 team but at least their coach will pump the kids up to make a good effort.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Harv, I agree parents have gotten too involved in youth sports, but when I say that I dont' mean they've gotten too involved by going to the games and watching and supporting their children. That's completely different than the manipulating that goes on by parents as well as some of them screaming at their kids from the stands and yelling at the refs/umps. Read the Little League baseball rules for parents and players.......they have the right idea but it seems they don't enforce it like they should.

True story and just makes me sick. A co-worker of mine has evidence his son's coach wanted (and did) have his two sons on the team throw a game in the end of the year tournament. They wanted to lose the first game because they knew they would stand no chance playing the next team they would be up against. They wanted to be in the consolation bracket, where they would stand a good chance to come in first and get trophies for the boys.

It just blows my mind there are parent's out there teaching their kids that this type of behavior is ok. And we wonder why so many professional athletes out there are such spoiled, egotistical assholes. ....they've had years of experience and tought this behavior directly by their parents.

Well I'm off to watch my son play his tourney game. They will most likely lose going up against the #2 team but at least their coach will pump the kids up to make a good effort.

Well, it's fine to go to the games, but you have to ask yourself "does my son or daughter want me there this much." Personally, growing up, I didn't like my parents there (I played baseball, basketball, football, and tennis) because I found myself distracted. I'd rather they come, but not tell me. Also, there are a ton more parents that set bad examples than anybody would care to admit. I don't think there's been too many youth games that I've gone to in the last 10 years where there weren't parents griping about calls, griping about their kids playing time, or generally setting a bad example.

Not only did I play youth sports, but I've coached them and I've officiated their games. I didn't find it too bad for me when I coached or officiated because I was competent at both, but I saw many officials and coaches getting the business from parents. Oftentimes, they were doing a competent job. (Hell, the professional umps and coaches make mistakes. What can you expect out of a guy or gal doing it part-time.) Personally, if given the choice between having all parents there every game or never having parents there, I'd choose the second. That's just my perspective. I'd venture to guess that there are a lot of kids who fill the same way.

I know I'll ask my daughter if she wants me there, and if she wants me there, I'll go out of my way to help the coach and not gripe about the officials. Those folks are just doing their job. A lot of them don't get paid or get paid squat, so they don't deserve to hear me griping.

[Rastak]

Re: I'm glad the USA lost, now GO AWAY SOCCER

I consider myself above average in terms of being patriotic, but I'm glad the US lost. In fact, I think it's patriotic to HATE SOCCER!! There's a reason soccer has never and will never matter here in America (In terms of interest in professional sports, I realize it's very popular among children). Maybe we can all finally stop hearing about this subpar, boring, piece of crap sport.

What a treat it's been to have been force fed the non-stop images of Nigerians, Iranians, etc. running around without purpose for 80 minutes only to end in a 0-0 tie.

It isn't over dummy, and I won't stop watching.

Reggie, let me just say this....sorry for calling you a dummy. I only overreact because the rest of the world thinks we are morons and I HATE it when an american proves them right.

[Bretsky]

Re: I'm glad the USA lost, now GO AWAY SOCCER

I consider myself above average in terms of being patriotic, but I'm glad the US lost. In fact, I think it's patriotic to HATE SOCCER!! There's a reason soccer has never and will never matter here in America (In terms of interest in professional sports, I realize it's very popular among children). Maybe we can all finally stop hearing about this subpar, boring, piece of crap sport.

What a treat it's been to have been force fed the non-stop images of Nigerians, Iranians, etc. running around without purpose for 80 minutes only to end in a 0-0 tie.

It isn't over dummy, and I won't stop watching.

Reggie, let me just say this....sorry for calling you a dummy. I only overreact because the rest of the world thinks we are morons and I HATE it when an american proves them right.

WHOya calling a dummy Rastak. Aint's ya a Viking fan