Weighing in on the tired debate over why Americans fail to love soccer as passionately as the rest of the world, an editorial on football.co.uk offers the following four reasons: 1) the sport is not overcommercialized; 2) it’s too multicultural; 3) “homosexuals;” and 4) not enough points are scored.
Wait. Homosexuals? Please explain.
Soccer does not explicitly promote homosexuality, if it does at all, but in America, it is regarded as a “girly sport.” …The low-impact image of soccer makes it appear less manly and boring to the casual sports fan. In addition, the phenomenon of “diving” in soccer has only added to the “gay” image of soccer. Diving is the act of tripping over by an offensive player with little to no contact from his defender in order to win a free kick. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, and Arjen Robben add dramatics such as loud screams and crying which further emasculate the sport. Homosexuality has always been a controversial issue that Americans have tried to avoid, and a sport like soccer that does not appear to be “manly enough” has failed to attract attention from the US.
By equating homosexuality with anything not “manly” enough to necessitate helmets and pads, the author has (inadvertently) pinpointed one of the major misperceptions that causes most homophobia in sports. But I don’t think it explains why this country doesn’t love soccer. Nor does it explain why we should. Soccer has thrived in the world for quite a long time without America sanctioning its status as a worthy sport. Americans don’t complain that the rest of the world should be fanatical about American football, our most popular sport.
But I do agree that soccer promotes homosexuality. I mean, have you seen Cristiano Ronaldo? Don’t even try to tell me you don’t feel something. I’ll combine my responses to reasons #3 and #4 above by saying that soccer would be more popular with this American if it was a higher scoring game, thereby giving the players more opportunities to rip off their shirts and run around hugging each other. –Ryan Quinn
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 1:39 am
If the writer at that site bothered to ask a real American why he didn’t like soccer, he’d get an actual answer. Wait — I’M a real American! So here’s my answer: 1) it’s boring. 2) it’s boring. 3) it’s boring. 4) it’s boring. 5) even the brain-dead boob who wrote that should get the idea by now.
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Cristiano Ronaldo might look a tad meterosexual, he’s european, they all do, but he has shagged way too many girls to be gay. Jealously maybe that the boy is worth more than many athlete’s in the world and looks like a God! But whatever… sexuality shouldnt be brought into it and you lot should just go back to playing you stupid football/rubgy wannabe sport and shut up!
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 7:54 am
i would contend that what causes most homophobia in sports is the fact that queens like you appear unable to talk about sport without linking it to your crotch.
also, just so you know, soccer players do not rip their shirts off when they score, if they did they would be sent off the pitch
they do swap shirts at the end sometimes.
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 8:23 am
gavin, what’s your homophobia all about? Women in sports, women everywhere are oogled by men 24/7, and not a fear is expressed. Men don’t seem to mind being oogled by women either. And believe me, whether at the mall or in a coffee shop, men are being oogled by men all the time.
Trust me. What you don’t like is that YOU may be an object of desire for a man…it takes you out of your comfort/control zone.
Oh, why soccer is not liked. BORING!!!!!
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 10:43 am
its just plain boring
its slow
its without strategy
its pointless.
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 10:51 am
To all the soccer haters: MLS is growing in popularity. Demographics is changing by the day. And just because the “real American”, Billy Bobb, has an IQ of negative 17 and cannot appreciate the most popular sport in the world, it doesn’t make soccer/football less popular in general. Newsflash, Billy Bobb: MLS will be a top 3 professioanl sports league in the US within 20-25 years. Ouch!
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 11:00 am
What a pratt, school boy writing style and a complete lack of any sign of a working brain.
No wonder the rest of the world looks at the US as a bottomless pit of ignorance, which never looks past the end of it’s nose before opening it’s mouth.
Well done you have driven another nail in the coffin of the US, Jerk.
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Without Strategy? You obviously aren’t watching the game… soccer is about open spaces… opening up the field, creating chances… there’s so much flare and beauty to the game. Watch Euro 2008… watch it with an open mind… and I bet you’ll gain some respect for it.
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
It always amazes me that sports commentators can bloviate endlessly about the most obscure 3rd rate college sports athlete if he plays basket/base/foot-ball but can’t be bothered to try to make other sports interesting. Whether it’s soccer or cycling, all you really need is to learn about the sport and the tactics and then it gets interesting. The problem is that it requires networks to take a risk of having lower ratings while they build the fan base. That will never happen. So we wind up with 500 college basketball games on tv and no soccer and no bike races. May I add that of all the professional sports, baseball is far and away the most boring.
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
The whole premise is false anyway. Soccer is very popular in the US. I work on a college campus, and I see lots of soccer fans wearing their colors every day, just like I see lots of baseball and basketball fans wearing their colors and gear.
It is a very interesting sports history question, though. My guess is that the US developed professional and mass media driven sports leagues much earlier than many other societies around the world. I would hazard a guess that as association football spread around the world, it took off best in those countries where it had little competition. It is also perhaps the least expensive sport to play anywhere at any time. Almost any space will serve as a pitch and all you need is a simple round ball. So in many countries where sports facilities were accessible only to the wealthy, association football could easily be picked up by the majority who were not.
Golf is not particularly rugged, fast-paced or macho, but seems pretty popular in the US.
Subjective criteria like “boring” don’t really have any place in discussions like this (not that most of the posts here were attempting to address the topic - talk about boring!). I used to be bored by all sports. Couldn’t be bothered. Now I follow baseball and soccer avidly.
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Love it.
So we have the soccer is boring argument and the Americans are dumb (or homophobes, or bad writers) argument. It reminds me of the “fandom” commercials. “Are you questioning my fandom?” “Well, does your fandom need questioning?”
The soccer in America debate has confounded me for years. It’s a fine sport and I get up in the middle of the night every four years to watch World Cup matches, but the reality is that professional soccer is not deeply ingrained in American culture. It’s not on our calendar of major events to watch, our sponsors don’t invest in it, and–perhaps most importantly–the American players are not hands down the best in the world. Americans like to dominate at sports, and we don’t dominate at soccer, so the majority of American’s direct their attention elsewhere. Many millions, however, are plenty interested in soccer.
But what makes European soccer fans so belligerent? While there maybe plenty of homophobia and other evidence of ignorance at major American sporting events, there is never rioting and overt racism like the stuff seen at soccer matches in Europe. What is it that gives fans of a sport that is played by 5’10’’ guys using fitness and finesse such a sloppy tough guy attitude?
As for the shirtlessness, I’m not budging. Lighten up! I bet you all clicked on this story in the first place because of the picture.
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Wow, firey!
On dimitre’s point: Yes, the MLS has done what few soccer leagues have done in the past: Stabilized. I’ve been impressed with how it’s continued a slow-but-sure progress (despite the failure of Beckham’s first season) and with expansion and soccer-only stadiums, I think it’s here to say.
That said, claiming it will be a top-3 sports league in 20-25 years is a bit much. I think it will be around then, but cracking the NFL/MLB/NBA trifecta in a few decades? Doesn’t seem likely.
Thing is MLS could conceivably pass hockey and be in that 4/5/6 argument with the PGA and NASCAR, and frankly, while those leagues aren’t in the big three, they both do pretty darn well. Wouldn’t be a shame for MLS to slide in there.
(PS — Please remember its MLS, not THE MLS. You wouldn’t say “The Major League Soccer”. Keep that in mind, buckos.)
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Hehe — I chide people for using THE, and then I do it in the second sentence. Sigh … my bad.
on Mar 28th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I used to be one of those typical “soccer sucks, its a gay foreign sport” haters…then after actually watching the world cup in 2006, I decided its not so bad and that I should attempt to watch a few european games. After watching a few with a open mind (well semi-open at least) i saw what the whole world loves about the sport so much. There is a lot of strategy in it, and its dynamic and on-the-fly, because the entire sport is non-stop action without breaks like in baseball and football.
In a typical NFL game, I’d see maybe 12-15 minutes of ball in play action in a 3 hour game, meaning that 90% of the game was literally nothing, commericals, walking around waiting for the coach…etc. Ditto for baseball.
Having changed my opinion by getting over the fact that its not a traditional america sport, i finally now realize how ignorant i must have sounded to soccer fans for bashing their sport and their love of the game. I really wish a few more americans would just open up their mind a bit, even if it is to something foreign…
on Mar 29th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Americans are products of isolation and unfortunately totally manipulated by the media. The reason we are not a major soccer country is because baseball, basketball and football are the primary sports taught in our schools. In communities where soccer is apart of the curriculum you will find ardent fans of the sport. If you have ever been to a soccer game you would realize that is it exciting and lots of fun to watch and I am not just talking about the mayhem between coaches and the soccer moms & dads; that is indeed a sport of its own. Seriously there is only one explanation, if big business could figure out how to market the sport from the ground roots up without disrupting the standard three, football, basketball and baseball, Americans would be fighting in the bleachers along with the rest of the world. Change is not easy when money is involved.
on Mar 29th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
“Americans are products of isolation and unfortunately totally manipulated by the media. The reason we are not a major soccer country is because baseball, basketball and football are the primary sports taught in our schools. In communities where soccer is apart of the curriculum you will find ardent fans of the sport.”
You could make the argument that Europeans are also totally manipulated by THEIR media, and the only reason they like soccer is because of indoctrination and successful marketing. But that would be just as stupid as the rest of your post. It’s not a negative judgment to recognize that different cultures like different sports, often simply because people grew up liking them. Looking for some non-prescriptive reason why Americans don’t like soccer or Europeans don’t like football is pretty pointless IMO. Every sport is boring to people who don’t understand what’s going on.
on Mar 30th, 2008 at 12:53 am
I enjoy the World Cup but don’t get into soccer otherwise. I have several friends who love the sport and I enjoy hearing them talk about it.
However, it is annoying when Europeans or others look down their noses at those of us who favor other sports as if we’re so stoopid that we are easily manipulated into following the NFL or baseball. Soccer/football is no more intrinsically better than any other sport — to each his own. Soccer snubs can be the most insufferable.
on Mar 30th, 2008 at 6:44 am
There is not enough scoring and you aren’t allowed to use your hands. It’s stupid.
Next question.
on Mar 31st, 2008 at 2:28 am
I hate the real football. Hate it with all the fire of all the suns in the universe.
Fucking shitty, awful, hideous sport.
What? Huh? Oh, yeah, Everton lost to Liverpool 1-nil at Anfield.
I hate this sport.
on Mar 31st, 2008 at 3:01 am
You could make the argument that Europeans are also totally manipulated by THEIR media, and the only reason they like soccer is because of indoctrination and successful marketing. But that would be just as stupid as the rest of your post. It’s not a negative judgment to recognize that different cultures like different sports, often simply because people grew up liking them. Looking for some non-prescriptive reason why Americans don’t like soccer or Europeans don’t like football is pretty pointless IMO. Every sport is boring to people who don’t understand what’s going on.
I agree with you that people are indeed being manipulated and indoctrinated by the successful sport markets of their region and can see your point of view regarding a non-prescriptive rational for the chosen sport of any country. However in your fit of passion you seem to have lost the point which is: There is not a strong soccer fan base in the U.S. because Americans think soccer is a gay sport. Anyone forming this conclusion is in my humble opinion, reaching for the imaginary and elusive drama queen’s date book. American sport enthusiasts, like those from any country, seem to enjoy sports they understand or have played. Therefore, simply stated; soccer’s fan base would increase significantly in the U.S.A. if soccer was taught through out the nation with the same intensity as the major three sports (Football, Baseball and Basketball)
on Mar 31st, 2008 at 1:20 pm
“Therefore, simply stated; soccer’s fan base would increase significantly in the U.S.A. if soccer was taught through out the nation with the same intensity as the major three sports (Football, Baseball and Basketball)”
Coming from rural Maine, where soccer was the only game in town, I played it all through junior high and high school. Had a great time, made good friends, and learned the joy of being part of a team. However, you couldn’t pay me to watch a soccer game on TV today. Sominex is the only thing that works better at putting me to sleep…
on Mar 31st, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Nobody I know has ever considered soccer to be a “gay” sport; that’s just ridiculous. And as for boredom, it’s overwhelmingly exciting compared to golf & tennis!
on Mar 31st, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Otis>>
However in your fit of passion you seem to have lost the point which is: There is not a strong soccer fan base in the U.S. because Americans think soccer is a gay sport. Anyone forming this conclusion is in my humble opinion, reaching for the imaginary and elusive drama queen’s date book.”
Sorry, I should have been clear–I don’t think a conception of soccer as “gay” has anything to do with its lack of a following in the USA. I totally agree with the rest of your post.
on Mar 31st, 2008 at 9:50 pm
This is always such a lame argument. What’s the most popular sport in Japan? In Korea? In Australia? In Ireland? In India? In Canada? In Russia? Venezuela? (In my opinion: Baseball, baseball, aussie rules football, gaelic sports, cricket, hockey, hockey, baseball). That’s a large number of countries, some with huge populations, on numerous continents who don’t, for whatever reason, fall in line on the “football is the most popular sport in the world” issue. Why does only the US get stick over this?
If you are a real sports fan, travelling the world and seeing the way different countries enjoy and support sports is one of life’s true pleasures (or even watching them on TV). The same Euros (I’ve lived there for 6 years, so leave it) who constantly prattle on about “diversity” fail to recognize that this is one area where it really does exist.
I love watching “soccer” but to say that Wigan-Middlesbrough somehow ranks on the top 5 sporting experiences of the year is a load of garbage. The real talent is concentrated in about 15-20 European club teams and the rest are middling plodders.
Lastly, we never get “credit” for our slightly odd enjoyment of college sports. Not many European teams could attract 80k to a modern stadium week in and week out–look at our major football conferences.
Soccer is a great sport and to each is own. Not everything is some media conspiracy or evidence of the sub-humanity of the American population.
on Apr 1st, 2008 at 1:16 pm
One thing that hasn’t been noted here is how kids can play soccer with only a ball and an open field. The reason soccer enjoys such popular success around the world is because more people (kids) can actually play the game because it doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment. Similarly, in America, kids can play our version of football with nothing but a ball and an open field. This is probably one of the reasons why football is so popular here. Many of us simply remember playing the game as children and have grown up playing and watching the sport.
The reason for commercial success is quite different. Here in the US, there is big money in baseball, football, and basketball at the college level. High School and Middle School coaches act as talent scouts for universities and set up programs for kids to get involved competitively with these sports at very early ages. This system of indoctrination simply does not exist for soccer at this point. As more schools start up soccer programs and start competing with others, the sport will slowly take root in our culture. It might not be until the current generation of school kids become adults, but eventually we’ll see soccer enjoying the same type of success here as hockey, NASCAR, or golf.
on Apr 4th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I think the topic that is totally overlooked here that just turns me off of the game is the dives! It is not a gay issue but man… I can’t stand to see a guy tap his toe and roll around the pitch for 5 minutes get some magic spray (if it works that well it should be marketed to the rest of us) and then hop up and run along after seeming getting what he wanted. It seems fake, lame and a bit embarrassing if you ask me. I know I don’t watch a tone of soccer but you catch less of the “the Dive” in MLS than you do international soccer so on that level it is a better product for me. But man do I hate “the Dive”.
on Apr 6th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Soccer is the bottom of the sports barrel. It appeals to the dim-witted and often spawns riots. Who needs that. Keep it in England where it belongs.
on Apr 8th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Football is a gay sport? That’s absolutely hilarious!
And why is it a problem anyway that the Americans don’t like it? It’s another country, why can’t they have other preferences?
I also don’t think it’s indoctrination or anything like that. You just grow up with a sport - and therefore prefer to watch / play it. It’s football here and American football in the US - who cares?
But there is one tiny tiny advantage football has over American football - there are no breaks! Apart from that 15 minutes in the middle. I watch American football sometimes and these constant breaks are just annoying, it drives me mad. Can’t they do something about that?
on Apr 20th, 2008 at 12:06 am
Americans hate “soccer” because it represents a threat to their national culture. There is even a term for it: soccerphobia. They continually assure other americans how american sports are superior to that “foreign game” and go out of their way to bash soccer with knee-jerk, xenophobic arguements that question the masculinity of non-americans and refer to their sport as “boring”.
They see soccer as a global jaggernaut that is encroaching on traditional american sports, a threat to american “football” and baseball. Its no wonder that baseball fans are the loudest in their soccer bashing, they see that american kids are no longer playing baseball and instead are playing soccer.
on Apr 20th, 2008 at 12:22 am
James, that is the absolute dumbest thing I have ever seen written anywhere.
on Apr 20th, 2008 at 3:18 am
Soccer is gaining here, mostly in small towns and in area’s of high Hispanic populations. All of the immigration from South America has helped push soccer to the fore in the west and southwest.
A lot of it is that countries are nationalistic about a lot of things. So whatever is the sport of choice is always going to be better than the country next door’s sport of choice.
As for soccer being boring…well, lets get serious here….I love baseball, but it’s really mind numbing 98% of the time. And there are far to many breaks in football….sort of like having pre-mature ejaculation….get all set up and 4 seconds later you’ve shot your wad.
And lets face it…..don’t you wish Eli Manning would wear shorts and take his shirt off at the end of a game?
on May 26th, 2008 at 10:21 am
I’m gay and I think soccer is great but they need to do gay sex when the game is over if they don’t thats means their not gsy.
on Sep 2nd, 2008 at 5:52 pm
This argument is retarded
. Football(for you “Americans” I am talking about soccer) is a great sport, to me at least. People have different preferances. People get way too worked up over what sport is better or more “manly”. Why does it matter. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it/play it.
I don’t like “American football”(which I think should be called soccer, because “soccer” was originally football in the first place..until American football came along and the people who named it obviously lacked originality…) so I don’t watch it. The sports bashing is stupid. Talking bad about the sport will not make it go away..it will only make you look immature and whiney…and maybe a little jealous..why would you be so concerned with something you hate?
on Sep 16th, 2008 at 1:11 am
Erika just goes and bashes American Football herself after saying bashing is stupid.
Anyway. I enjoy watching Soccer and Football. Football is incredibly exciting, and the rivalries can be intense. But for one second, lets just imagine lets say, a Chargers Raiders rivalry…but a whole nation. Hundreds of millions of people locked in suspense while their team plays for their country. There is no greater feeling. I can only hope one day that America can compete with the soccer giants of Europe and South America. The atmosphere in an international match like that of soccer rivals no other. If you have experienced that and you are still bored of soccer then you have simply missed the point. We can only hope that you realize what you are missing.
Go Niners!
on Sep 26th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
LOL, i think american hates soccer because they prefer sissy games like american football, so that they can cover their vulnerable steroid bodies with a head-to-toe shield..
lol, like why on earth do you need american football when you have rugby, or lacrosse when you have hockey?? well, unless you prefer to wear a mask to protect your vogue-ly sculpted face!
on Oct 2nd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
soccer is so homo all they do is kick eachother in the nuts
on Oct 4th, 2008 at 2:03 am
Soccer is a European sport. We had to save Europe’s ass in World War II because they were a bunch of pussies. Therefore, soccer is a pussy sport and Americans want nothing to do with it.
Get it?
on Oct 9th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
You fucking yank don’t know anything about sports… even wot u fat arse call football isn’t real football, they don’t even use fucking feet as much as in real football… Football is the King Sport, the most xpensive one in the world, and the most technical and passionated one… american rugby will never beat football at any level
on Oct 9th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Here in South Africa, the whites play cricket, the blacks play football (soccer for the yanks), therefore soccer is not only gay but racist
on Oct 11th, 2008 at 6:42 am
so a generalizing (ridiculous) editorial
has caused a stupid amount of bashing comments about one nation and its people?
that is just sad.
we are never going to get along, if stupid articles like this are allowed to sit on the internet.
the more i read the comments. the more i question Europe and UK and its hypocrisy about being friendly and open.
on Oct 12th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
I almost liked soccer until that Frog guy hosed his whole country right at the end of the last World Cup. That was the whole problem in one action. Soccer is for whiners. Keep it.
on Oct 13th, 2008 at 9:33 am
I have entirely different reasons for hating soccer.
http://depriest-mpu.blogspot.com/2008/08/why-i-hate-soccer.html
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 9:22 am
its called football in england and yeah its fucking shit full of gays i hate it. its so boring fucking bumboys
i know im from england but the usa rocks
on Oct 26th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
THAT SETTLES IT..I HATE THE GAY SPORT OF SOCCER.. YOU LITTLE SAILOR
on Oct 29th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Americans are manly, tough, ubermacho he-men.
Non-Americans are sissy, gay, pany, fruity-boys.
Hence Americans hate soccer because it is against masculinity and heterosexuality. Non-Americans (being fags and sissies) like soccer because it promotes homosexuality, sissyness, wusiness and unmanly, unamerican behavoir.
The simple fact that America = alpha male gentically superior country of manliness, while other countries are sissy gays and foreigners who are sissy and wussy and unmanly.
SOCCER = gay. USA is the greatest country int he world we dominate all other countries and they are our slaves.
on Nov 5th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
They worst part about soccer is all the prima-donna’a that are involved in the sport. From organizers, to players, to referees, the sport is inundated with jerks who think that they are really something special.
No seriously, no doubt soccer players tend to appear somewhat gay, but I expect that they are likely on par with most sports as far a gay participation. Whatever….let AIDS sort it out.
As far as a spectator sport, it tends to be boring….why?…because people like to see goals scored! I’ve talked to soccer people before and asked why don’t they change rules to make it easier to score/harder to defend. The answer: it’s just wrong….wouldn’t be soccer anymore….tradition. BULLSQUEEZE!!! The NHL changed the hockey rules to create more goals and it has been a positive change. It’s all in the attitude. Soccer needs to weed out the prima donna queens and become more in tune to what the spectators want.
Oh yeah, almost forgot….castrate all those gay players!
on Nov 19th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
ok, yeh all u guyz hatin on soccer…let me guess, tennis, golf, and nascar is way better rite….go getta life and find out wat soccer is really bout. only da strongest can play…unlike the golfers, who wear granpa clothing, ot tennis stars, who are just plain GAY. soccer is wat its about….
ps….soccer is going to be more popular than all the other sports in da future…
once again, stop hatin, and go play golf, u fags….
on Dec 9th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Bobson, that was really funny man.
Nothing like some bold-faced satire to render the rest of this conversation silly and ultimately worthless.
Mako…
I like cheese.
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 7:31 am
soccer is the best sport because no other sport can bring such emotion out of you
i agree some fans are racist and some fans are hooligans but not all
and soocer is doing the best it can to kick this out
hoolaginism and racism is to do with society rather than the sport for example there are hardly any incidents of racism or hooliganism in england any more 1 coz society has changed and 2 coz there has been a crack down
also there has been homophobic comments on here what does that tell you about american sports that homaphobia is common(ok ill be honest i have no idea if it is or isnt but a few comments on here have proved that there is some level of it as well as in our sport as danny proved)
also some people have commented about the diving and i would agree this is a massive problem for our game and you can be sure that it is not accepted by the general public (atleast not in britain any way)
so what do i think about other sports
nfl-its actually not that bad as i found out fron watching nfllondon and it is quite entertainin (go packs go)
baseball-apart from cricket is the most borring sport in the world
basketball-my favourite of the american sports this is realy quite entertaining very skillful though some people were complaining about soccer not being masculine enough when this is a noncontact sport
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 7:54 am
my biggest problem with american sports is the lack of soul it is extremely comercialized and the fans are so shit (except packers)
every now and again youll find a mexican wave going round a stadium and ever1 thinks its brilliant but for the majority of the time the crowd just sit thier doing nothing and i personally fin that soulless that the majority of”franchises” are just boring that have nothing special about them (this is why i like the packers coz thay have a soul” with “franchises” if you have seen 1 you have seen them all just coz they may be in different positions doesnt mean they are different it just means they are the same “franchise” but have different levels of success and in a different place which brings me on to the next point about surely a “franchise ” is about the place aswell as the actual “franchise” it self so why do teams move from different cities
also the term “franchise” suggests business rather than a team and suggests that whatever happens the moneymen will always have the last say where as in england we call them clubs which suggests that clubs are for people an have a different identity especially clubs such as liverpool,newcastle or west ham(howay the toon)
toon toon black n white army
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:24 am
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=40LUPts7upE
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:25 am
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8pEtWrad8rU&feature=related
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:26 am
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GMV-CT7TMlQ&feature=related
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:27 am
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=w-F1B7wanwo&NR=1
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:28 am
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=YzsIhoUw9nE&feature=related
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:31 am
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=11MQnQ8QjJs
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:32 am
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=u2jg9zKvGJQ&feature=related
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:34 am
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=R_BGkFYHG5Y&feature=related
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:35 am
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=WRzjc2N-rIU&feature=related
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:36 am
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=LBBPoyXEOhM
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:37 am
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=z2qFFv8SZtU&feature=related
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:38 am
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=VvxlKU9UEss&feature=related
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:39 am
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=ON4FataIa1E&feature=related
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:40 am
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=p170mCnL0mM
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:41 am
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=WCMVVrNpcAQ
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 8:41 am
it just shows the difference in passion
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I played soccer growing up, then moved on to football. Its not any different than any sport, but its the same reason a ton of people dont enjoy hockey, you need points. A soccer or hockey fan love 1-0 games, because the drama is intense. A football fan sees a 10-3 or a 7-3 game and its dull. Its all about points. More scoring will mean higher popularity.
on Jan 1st, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Hey beyethegreat,
Try this on for size:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjynbUNlvWU
Case closed. Soccer sucks. Have a nice day.
on Jan 19th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
The reality is that AMERICANS ARE SUPERIOR IN TASTE than non-Americans, who know what sucks and what doesn’t and soccer sucks because we say so it as simple as that, america wins, go back to germania.
on Jan 22nd, 2009 at 6:41 am
The problem with soccer is the ridiculous diving. To have grown men and athletes in peak physical condition acting like little girls rolling around and crying, when they were not even touched, is too pathetic to watch. What is worse is that they are rewarded for this behavior, which only encourages more of it.
In American football a player considers it shameful to be carried off the field in a stretcher and will walk off on his own unless paralyzed. In hockey players get hit with pucks to the face, lose teeth, and don’t miss a shift. In soccer a player dives to the ground, rolls around 10 times, grabs his knee in pain, cries, and gets carried off in a stretcher, without even being touched. Only to come back right away perfectly healthy after the penalty is called. If they were to reform the rules, then more Americans would watch soccer.
on Jan 23rd, 2009 at 2:42 pm
#5
its just plain boring
its slow
its without strategy
its pointless.
1 - if you want to watch man falling, because another four-five with cascets hit em, on the ground …
2 - because every one keep some position, not move direct to hit with the enemy
3 - what ?!..
4 - to score ?..
#18
There is not enough scoring and you aren’t allowed to use your hands. It’s stupid.
The point is not to make 10+ extra points, but to “overrun” the enemy - the show off, of this is, to make goal, and leave the other team with the shame, how they failed
Other explanation : “narration of soccer games on American TV is BORING”
#70
You have so getting used to watch falling bodies, on the american football, so the europeans look for you, like they fake everything, but in 80-90 % is true, and hurt not for some contact with brute force, but rolling fall on the ground, plus speed factor.
on Jan 27th, 2009 at 7:25 am
Soccer is for fagots.
Rugby Rules. American football is also for gay sick bastards. USA tried to play rugby and with all their millions of “football” players they can barely score 3 points - pussys.
But leave USA and American Football - Its a contact sport, the soccer fans only have their wet tissue players to blamb for soccers image.
on Feb 2nd, 2009 at 9:29 am
i admit their is diving which is a huge problem but to say it is rewarded is ludicrous diving is frowned up on but it happens as its difficult for the ref to decide whether or not it was a dive
on Feb 6th, 2009 at 11:08 am
WTF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqlS6vkVOhA
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That is Soccer
and Soccer is not Gay maby the players are gay but Soccer is NOT GAY
and the Hell dont call it Soccer
on Feb 20th, 2009 at 10:49 am
You Yanks make me laugh, always running your mouth about what makes a good sport!
Take a look at yourselves, every major sport in the US that you all wank over, are sports the rest of the world don’t give a toss about!!!!
Football ….sorry ’soccer’ is the only sport which when it has a world tournament, every single nation under the sun wants to take part it!
Yank football is lame, you stop every 2 minutes to fiddle with your balls and slap each others helmets!!!!
on Feb 20th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Football(yank idiots call soccer) is the best sport in the world
American sports are gay, american football is absoltutle shit. Look at all the protection they have? fucking pussies and the gay adverts every 5 minutes. I’d challenge you pricks to name one gay footballer,there isn’t any so fuck off.
Ignorant american bastards
. The world doesn’t care if you don’t like football cause the rest of the world does.
on Feb 23rd, 2009 at 9:10 pm
To ggd…
Sir, football is not the best sport in the world. You pansies that we Americans have bailed out of the shitter over and over and over again (See WWI and work your way through the past century) simply can’t stand that we don’t care for what you worship.
The sport itself is simplistic and seems to require very little “strategery”. Basketball approaches this, but at least we see athleticism at it’s finest on a minute by minute basis. Athleticism and precision being defined as something rather than a really neat little burst of speed followed by a little girly man flailing helplessly on the ground after being tripped by another little girly man who only moments before was tripped by another girly man who made a really, really great pass.
In America, we do have sensory over-load. Let’s see, we can watch 300 pound men who can run the 40 yard dash in 4.5 seconds crash and careen into each other for 85-100 plays per game… Or a game of real precision which is much akin to your “cricket” where men are asked to hit a ball moving at 95mph or be beheaded… Or hell, we can watch cars moving at close to 200 mph careen and crash into each other for 500 miles… Or if we are really bored, we can watch men on skates literally try to kill each other on a boarded rink. So, why in the world would we want to watch what looks like a bunch of out of work jockeys run around for 3 hours in their silky little uniforms to POSSIBLY score a goal? Seriously.
There are three undeniable facts to be learned in life.
1) Shit happens
2) Shit stinks
3) Soccer is for people who can’t throw.
Best game in the world? Not so much. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a great activity for the kids to play and for mom to watch. Thank goodness American children grow out of their affinity for this activity, much as they do kick-ball, red-rover, and booger eating.
Even if you look at soccer objectively, which I have tried to do while icing down the knee and shoulder I ruined playing AMERICAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL years ago, the only difference between it and ice dancing or men’s ribbon ballet is… well… umm… help me here.
on Feb 23rd, 2009 at 10:51 pm
I’m cracking up Indian 32. LOL #3 Soccer’s for people who can’t throw. Good one.
Rugby makes sense to me except accepting the broken nose, fingers, chipped teeth, etc. (at a minimum) that happen all the time. Ya dont see those dudes taking a fall for a penalty shot either.
Now thems fightin’ words if you start picking on horseshoes, darts, pool, bowling and bocce ball
Too bad 9 pin went out in Rip VanWinkles day.
on Mar 11th, 2009 at 11:58 am
SOCCER SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on Mar 24th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
From a soccer fan. The sport is disliked even in the U.K. where it was born. It is disliked in every nation in Europe, Brazil, too. The percentage of true followers of the game in these nations is less than 1.5% of the total population. So, Americans, don’t think that hating the sport is an American thing, because most of the world’s population does too! But, it is still the game that’s most fun to play, and when the right two teams with quality players who have character(non cheating and good skills) meet in an important match, no other sport can touch it.
on Apr 2nd, 2009 at 12:26 am
Here’s the real answer. First off, most of the sports fans you’ll find in America are men (though there are TONS of women who follow sports too). This only applies to the men. Americans hate soccer because:
1. It’s from Europe, and Europeans are mostly soft…like marshmallows.
2. Flopping - Can you be any more of a pansy? Stop being a b**** and get up an play.
3. Winning - If there’s anything we American’s hate worse than a pansy, it’s pansy that’s not doing everything he can to win. Soccer players are happy to tie, and if the get the lead, don’t try score any more. Strategy you say? Please, proactively trying not to lose is just like trying to lose
4. Winning - I just had to put this twice because if there’s anything that makes me get so angry when I try to watch ANY soccer, it’s watching a bunch of supposed athletes run around trying their best not to lose.
5.
on Apr 10th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Dude wtf???Soccer owns. Go play your gay rugby, football, or whatever you call it. It’s not even a football, just imitation of rugby.
on Apr 26th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
on May 13th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
What’s the toughest thing about playing soccer?
Telling your father you are gay.
Soccer is, as many people said above. boring as hell above all else. Who wants to sit through an entire game only to have it end in 0-0 and then have penalty kicks settle it? Who wants to deal with a game that ends in ties half the time? All the whining and acting is better done in a theater. The only thing worse than soccer is hockey.
on May 22nd, 2009 at 5:58 pm
on May 22nd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Soccer sucks its for people who enjoy people falling on the ground and complaining they got triped even though they didnt just to win a free kick. And soccer is just plain boring all you see is a 0-0 score half the time,almost all the time. Soccer sucks
on May 26th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Gringos don’t like soccer because they are a bunch of assholes. No one likes them in the rest of the world. They like to invade countries. They’re the world’s biggest terrorist. While the rest of the world is enjoyng futbol, they watch they’re lame ass sports. Baseball is the most boring sport ever. I always fall asleep when I watch it. besides all of their athletes are a bunch of cheaters, they’re all on steroids. Fuck americans and fuck they’re lame ass sports. They live in their own world while the rest of the countries practices brotherhood. Fuck amerikkka
on May 26th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Well first of all, in response to gringa, I can’t actually recall a time where America has invaded a country, other than to protect another country who’s getting its ass hand to it (WWII, for example).
As far as soccer goes, I don’t like it, because I personally think that it’s boring. I hve nothing against people who like soccer, and I don’t think that it’s gay, it’s just that soccer has never really been an American thing, and I don’t think that it ever really will be.
To the credit of other countries, I have seen part of a soccer game on a Brazilian TV station, and they make it WAAAYYYY more exciting than we do here in America. I actually enjoyed watching it for a while, except that it was all in Spanish, and I don’t really speak Spanish.
on Jun 2nd, 2009 at 11:02 am
Just because soccer players are attractive, that doesn’t make them gay. C.Ronaldo does gay shit on the pitch like diving and such, but he has had fine girlfriends. The sport is too multicultural, what the fuck, are you a skinhead or something? America is a melting pot and you say shit like that. You probably have European origin and don’t even know it cuz that’s how stupid most Americans are. The sport doesn’t need more commercials as it would be ruined. I agree there aren’t enough points scored, but what’s the point in scoring every posession like in basketball (even tho I like the sport). Football cuz you use your feet (and not soccer which is how you say it) is the most exciting sport, and even if they don’t score in some games they create enough chances to. You are probably too fucking stupid to even understand the rules.
on Jun 3rd, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Soccer might be the gayest thing in the world. When they brought that shit bag david beckem over here, they actually thought americans were going to start watching soccer. They put games on daytime tv, and no one watched them, and because no one watched them, companies didnt advertise during them, and thats why espn took it back off tv, so that us americans could watch reruns of games and old boxing videos, which made us happy again
soccer can suck my balls, i’d rather watch a chess tournament. Run cry and kick pretty much sums up the game.
on Jun 28th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
how is football or soccer as idiots, sorry i mean americans call it percieved as a gay sport when americas fav sport, american football (the crap one) is played in complete padding so nobody can get slightly hurt, hahaha what a pathetic nation america is!!!!
on Jul 2nd, 2009 at 1:50 pm
sooo much hate from all sides. whatever you call the sport (soccer or football) it encompasses the same basic principles as any other sport, just through different means.
saying shit like soccer is boring or its gay or whatever just shows how ignorant you are. same thing goes for saying that baseball/ cricket/nascar whatever is lame. you need to understand the game and what goes behind it to really appreciate it.
All the comments about america dominating the world and not being sissys is stupid. i dont know where you guys get the idea that europe is full of weaklings and pansies. you’re probably talking about the french, in which case I agree, but if you go to places like eastern europe/ the balkans or scandanavia you’ll find that most people will rip up anyone (american or european) for saying soccer is gay and boring.
I live in the states, and I love the states, but every time I watch American broadcasts of soccer matches i want to fucking die. it just seems that the perception of the sport here is just different. I dont think americans really understand the point of the game (which is to break down the function of your opponent and how he plays, rather than score a bunch of goals). there’s nothing wrong with that, and hopefully it’ll give birth to another form of soccer from the US (you can see differences in playing styles in Spain, Italy, England etc.)
Dont fuckin hate on something you dont know, and that goes for yanks and brits and everyone else, whether it is soccer or baseball. so fuck those of you who waste time and energy giving your useless, destructive opinions when no one involved in the sport considers your opinions.
and also, watching american sports is absolutely fucking ridiculous. there are waaaaaaaaay too many commercials. something needs to be done about that.
having said that, i love playing soccer in the US because it unites the melting pot that is America.
peace and love motherfuckers!
on Jul 5th, 2009 at 1:00 am
The rest of the world wants to know why america doesn’t pay any attention to soccer. I ‘ll tell you… a “sport” where all the players fake injuries, the fans throw rocks, flares, or bottles and riot before, during, and after the game, belongs in the slums of a 3rd world country. The game was obviously invented in a 3rd world country (i.e. kicking a coconut, rock, etc…) the sport should stay in 3rd world countries… or countries with a 3rd world sports mentality. Americans don’t try to push our sports (American Football) on you. You obviously couldn’t afford them, but that’s not the point. So, don’t insist we play, watch, or support your sport, you can have your soccer, we DO NOT want it. “To each their own.”
on Jul 6th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Why I dont like soccer :
-I demand instant gratification, and I can’t stand soocer as a result.
-I can’t stand the lack of commercials during a soccer match.
-I can’t stand any sport where my nation isn’t the World’s best.
-I can’t stand any sport the rest of the World plays–I only care about American sports.
-I can’t stop thinking about myself. My ego and my country’s exceptionalism are just too all-encompassing.
-I can’t stop eating at fast food retaurants and watching bad movies. I’m 400 pounds and dumb as a rock, but I just can’t get over it.
-I absolutely love Geogre W. Bush and he doesn’t like soccer, so why should I?
-I have no conception of soccer culture, and thus I can’t like the game.
-I watch a league that has a ten-minute overtime, playoffs, divisions, and no pro/rel. I obviously don’t like soccer, because I enjkoy a league with these non-European heresies.
-If I see I ball, I’m simply more likely to dribble it than kick it. It’s genetic as an American.
-I had no idea soccer is the most popular sport in the world.
-I like boring, sissy sports such as American football. Hell, they wear pads in American football–the more womanly, the better!
-I slavishly act only as American sports media commands me to do so, especially Jim Rome.
-I’m too busy watching American propaganda that changes history, like The Patriot. God, I love that movie!
-I am a product of the inferior American public school system. As all americans, I am dumb as a result, and know nothing of the world.
-I don’t understand skill and beauty, and such soccer is lost on me.
-I only like sports wear players are vastly oversized. How can ordinarily sized people be professional athletes?
-I think America is best at everything, and thus soccer must suck, since America isn’t best at it.
-Do men play soccer? Are you sure? I thought only women played soccer.
-We’re #1, so why try harder?
-Soccer lacks the appropriate amount of statistics for me to enjoy a game.
-I’m too busy hoping that American invades Iraq, continues to not sign the Kyoto treaty, sells its culture overseas, that I simply don’t have time for soccer.
-I’ve been to America and I can tell–Americans are all fat, overwieght, and dumb as a post. I can tell because I have been there.
-As an American, I am incredibly racist and simply can’t like any sport where most of the players aren’t white.
on Jul 6th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Amazing number of idiots on here, arguing for both sides. There have also been some intelligent posts. Why do Americans not care for soccer? We aren’t raised around it. American football, baseball, and basketball are all American creations, and have a long and rich history in this country. Soccer is a relatively recent import to the US. As for everyone whining about Americans calling it soccer (the same holds true for Canadians, by the way), “soccer” is a word coined in England, not the US. I don’t think soccer is “gay”. I understand it, and I know there is a great deal of strategy involved. However, I do not find it interesting. I also do not find baseball interesting, because I find it boring. As one poster noted, soccer is not the most popular sport in many countries, not just the US. I won’t badmouth Europeans or others for liking soccer, and expect them to exhibit the same respect for me and other Americans.
on Jul 16th, 2009 at 11:04 am
you require so much respect yet everyone in the world has been disrespected by you or your fellow countrymen. Inventing sports is fine and loving them is fine, but educating yourself about things the rest of the world loves is important too. So what if soccer isn’t the most popular sport, its the closest thing to the most popular sport on a worldwide level. Unless you count running as a sport or something. dont kid yourself man, soccer IS the most popular sport compared to anything else. in sheer numbers of supporters, its number one amigo.
And so what if soccer is a third world sport, kicking a coconut around is way better than throwing tiny hard balls at people swinging at them with sticks. its simple, yet genius. american sports are overcomplicated. too many rules and too much commercials.
on Jul 26th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Fuck the USA!! Football isn’t manly enough for America? You’re “Football” players hide behind shit loads of protection. And being a “Low Scoring sport isn’t a bad thing, having a goal all the time wouldn’t make it more popular but ruin the art of the goal. Look, you Americans think you’re many because you have a collision sport you call “Football”, when any Rugby Player would rip you faggots apart!!
on Jul 27th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
So, with this concept, Americans don’t embrace Rugby because it makes American football players seem like pussies? Being that the sports have the same amount of contact, only American’s aren’t manly enough to do it without helmets and pads?
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 11:49 am
I dont understand why people call soccer gay. Yes, there is the ‘diving’ which the game heavily frowns upon and some (not most) players could be considered pretty boys (eg.cristiano ronaldo).
It is a world game and im sorry to say this but some Americans are very ignorant to say the least about other cultures and just simply don’t understand.
Those who call soccer gay or any sport “gay” are probably closet homosexuals themselves. The game itself requires an enormous amount of skill at a high level and any person surely can appreciate that, so the argument that the games boring just doesn’t work.
Comments about how soccer is “sissy” just show how immature some people are and they cant appreciate a sport in different ways, not to mention, they probably tried to play soccer as a kid but didn’t have the coordination or skill, so dedicate the rest of their lives bagging the sport. Its sad.
on Aug 4th, 2009 at 12:06 am
Ok. As an American, I will try my best to speak on the behalf of my country.
First off, not all Americans hate soccer/football. I have several friends that will play no other sport, as they like the constant movement, fast play and strategy of the game. Some Americans love the game, and some hate the game.
Secondly, as far as the football/American football bashing goes…yes, it is similar to rugby in that the goal is to move they into the other team’s endzone. However, the way in which they go about doing this is completely different. In rugby, the ball is constantly in play, switching sides and being tossed player to player. In football (I’m an American, so I’ll just use the terms we use), the offensive team has a limited number of attempts to score. These are called “downs” and after the ball is declared dead, the down is over. Hence the stopping. This is done so the team can select a new play. It’s not so they can catch their breath, as so many are incorrectly accusing them of doing. Also, the reason for the padding is because the linemen are typically 6′5” and 300lbs, or bigger. Trust me, the padding is necessary. Rugby has no padding, true, but they’re not slamming directly into one another, running at full speed. Well, they do, but not every single play like in football.
So I really think people need to chill with this whole “my sport has a bigger dick than your sport” argument. It’s all a matter of preference…of opinion. Different strokes for different folks. And what’s even sadder, I think, is when a talk over a bunch of friggin’ games turns into a nation vs. nation debate. It’s pathetic.
Me personally…playing sports is fun, but I absolutely despise watching them. I don’t have anything against soccer - I just never got into it. I will concede, though, that it takes alot more energy to play a game of soccer than it would take to play 5 games of baseball. That being said, I love to play baseball. Never watch it, though. Football is ok, rugby is cool. Love golf.
What it all boils down to is personal taste. Regardless of what sports you like to play or watch, just understand and accept that not everyone shares your interests. Just because they like something different than you doesn’t mean they’re stupid or “gay”. It means they’re different.
Get over it, people.
on Aug 21st, 2009 at 4:50 am
^^^^^^well said
on Aug 21st, 2009 at 6:07 am
Soccer is a Third World game because they can’t afford to buy equipment. Usually they kick around a coconut because they can’t find any balls for the game.
on Aug 21st, 2009 at 9:07 am
Who came up with this idea that soccer doesn’t involve any strategy? Just because the players don’t play for 10 seconds and then talk about what they’re about to do for 45 seconds doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of strategy. It just requires more pre-game preparation than in-game adjustments.
on Aug 24th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
americans say dat because most of them are gay and they are trying to hide with that arguments …
on Aug 24th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
soccer is becoming more popular you dumb…
on Sep 27th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Football (we refuse to call it soccer) is a rude boy sport, you all come over to the ghettos of Jamaica and you all blood clatt Yankees will see that footballers tough and powerfull, you all couldn’t handle a slide tackle from a vex player running faster than Usain Bolt on a blood clatt pitch full of rocks,you all wouldn’t last for 5 minutes.!! Football rules the world…….big up Brazil, Africa,reggae music, King Pele,Usain Bolt and Jamaica.., American football is nothing but man piling up on one another….Batty man business….long live the real Football!
on Oct 4th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Soccer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOhDU_sUzCo&feature=related
Football:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uViZTkby0qU&feature=related
Enough said
on Oct 8th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Brits….LOL you is a pussy hole fool, i man see more dangerous injuries in our football than what youtube showing bout that broke foot in your american football.Americans play football(soccer) like girls but we in Jamaica and other Third World countries play football like a bombo clatt war we a fight.Come to Jamaica you pussy hole and you will see that our football is played by mad people……Big up Brazil,Africa,Reggae music,King Pele,Usain Bolt and Jamaica…..long live the real football!!