quote: Originally posted by Cottrell I think a big part of why I like to tell people I dislike soccer is because of the huge reaction I get. Soccer fans are rabid. And with that, I have a mildly amusing story. I was at a bar early one day during some big soccer match that I was completely unaware of... I think it was some World Cup thingy or sumthin. Anyway, the bar was empty except for myself and a small crowd of European-accented folks had gathered, apparently to watch the game. I waited patiently for a prolonged silence in between their loud yelling and cheers, before letting out a "WOW!"... when it was clear I had their attention: "This is fucking boring." Way-too-quick reply: "You're fucking boring." Laughter was shared... but then I was subjected to Euro-accented color commentary and narration, as if their explanation of the game would make it more enjoyable for me. With that, I came to a conclusion. Soccer is for two kinds of people: The respectable fan who was born into soccer culture and it became a part of their life, and the miserable American hipsters who want to be cool like the Europeans and forced themselves to pretend they enjoy the game.

I totally missed this whole topic. Anyway, not a hipster, not even close. However, I started playing the sport when I was 4 and continued playing the next 14 years. I love the game and always will. Now that I'm back into shape again I may join a league, other than the Mexican pick-up games I play on occasion. I can watch any soccer game, little kids or professional and I still get wrapped into it. It's one of the greatest sports around. Again, we just don't have it in our faces all the time, so Americans aren't really all that into it like everyone else is. And I admit, I don't follow it a whole lot because I don't have dish or cable or whatever, but if I'm at a pub or a friend's house and there's a game on, I will watch a match over anything else.

. . . . . best sport ever. . . . . . .

It's looks pretty good to me; looks like fun... [img]http://wallpapersuggest.com/wallpapers/soccer_girls_wallpapersuggest_com-1280x800.jpg[/img]

Thanks Lou...I knew you'd make the soccer interesting!

quote: Originally posted by bluesandbarbq I admit that I watched the Women's World Cup game today - USA vs France. I was off work and stuck inside while doing some computer maintenance. Enjoyable match. And nothing else was on...

it was a good game, the final should be a classic... and how about a few more reasons to love the US's womens team... [img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yTBCy5-p6O4/TXXRDH4CoeI/AAAAAAAAAdE/F4jFXSqrqSU/s400/Hope%2Bsolo%2B4.jpg[/img] .. [img]http://www.celebritybrideguide.com/photos/heather-mitts-278x400.jpg[/img] .. [img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aH5wwQgMybg/TgyNdWxGxVI/AAAAAAAARR0/mD-JgLKI_mo/s1600/2abc.jpg[/img]

Thank you Suds. [:D][^]

Having kids changed everything for me. I grew up in the Midwest and played football, basketball, track, and baseball. Couldn't have played soccer if I wanted to because there were no teams, and I never even heard of lacrosse until I went to college in another state a little to the north and east. For me and my family and friends, football was the most fun to play and the most fun to watch. When we played soccer for physical training in my old Army unit, none of us had any real skill. So we bastardized the game to make it more "interesting." For example, we played with two balls, no dedicated goalies, no goal boxes, or off sides or penalties of any kind, and no refs or side judges to slow down the game. So, basically, we played rugby with two balls until someone got knocked out. But my kids are growing up in a different time and place: thirty years later and on the east coast. They tolerate my fanatic interest in Notre Dame football, but unlike me, they do not dream of throwing the game-winning touchdown pass. And so football is not something we actually share. Both of my girls tried soccer and at least two other sports. For them, especially for my youngest, soccer is as important as football was for me. I go to the games and I work at understanding what's going on because that's my kid out there. My youngest plays on a travel team and the level of play is steadily improving as the skills and awareness develop. I really enjoy watching her play. I DVRd the women's semi-final so I can watch it with her after I pick her up from goalie camp tomorrow, and we'll watch the final this weekend. Soccer is a great sport to watch, if you have a reason to care.

quote: Originally posted by FoamDome Having kids changed everything for me.

thats the only way the sport will continue to grow in this country, kids... .....

quote: Soccer is a great sport to watch, if you have a reason to care.

what reason more could you guys have, its AMERICA! USA USA USA!!!!

Foam, I agree with your assessment on soccer. Both of my older girls played several years so I became familiar with the rules and nuances of the casual game. One changed to tennis then cross country but she still remained active in sports. I do watch the world cup and big games for the men and women USA teams but that is about it. Before that I had absolutely NO interest in the sport. It was always available here because I live in a somewhat International town. Our high school teams have always (past 30 years) been competitive and have even won some boys and girls State Championships.

I guess that my view is different from others. I coached my children through high school and then for another 10 years, played for about 20 years as an adult, until I turned 50. As a player, its an amazingly athletic game, 90 minutes and you don't get time outs other than halftime. bumps and bruises, broken bones and torn muscles, check. Blood and sweat, check. comradarie, check. (I saw someone that I played against in the liquor store tonight, he invited me to play this evening, I declined due to a beer craving). Scoring, well its not basketball where you score almost everytime down the court. But to each their own, I also like Celtic football and Sumo wrestling.