06-22-2006, 07:21 AM
Quote:One reason soccer has little traction in American sports fandom is the well advertised, by soccer players at the professional levels, sissy factor. This is the fraudulent over acting by players who fall down near anyone on the opposing team. I want to see acting, I will go to a film or a play. On the pitch, I want to see a soccer/football match.
The over emoting, the drama, and the out and out whinging displays put on should be an embarassment to any soccer player, particularly when a few minutes later the same player is often back in play at full speed, doing what he should be doing: trying to beat the other team.
I played a lot of soccer. A couple of my team mates had legs broken as the result of rough slides. That is a reason to writhe about on the ground, I assure you. I've been slide tackled any number of times, but I never moaned and grabbed an injury that wasn't there. I got up, dusted off my shorts, and got on with it, or I limped off the field, in a few cases, where the shot to the shins (pre shin guards) made it painful to walk/run.
All this over acting cry baby nonsense sends a hurtful negative message to potential American fans about what soccer is about, and who soccer players are, and what kind of people they are. Given how hard you have to work to be a top flight soccer player, I'd think the players would have an interest in not being so blatant in their falsehood. The integrity of the game, and all that rot.
Like I said, it is a question of trying to get a freekick or a yellow card for the opponent...if it works you succeeded, if it doesn't work, usually it has no consequence. Because in soccer people still refuse to use electronic equipment to better monitor the game (or to use e.g. four referees) it is very difficult to see what really happens.
And money is really important here. The US system of prof.sports seems better to me...more fair. In most countries in europe 3 or 4 teams (sometimes less) decide every year who wins, and those teams have a lot more money to spend than teh others (making it almost impossible to win). This is one of the things I really dislike about it. But being such a commercial succes for the biggest and most powerful (of the field) teams this will not change. Also international there is this problem. If Juventus e.g. plays just the first round of teh champions league...they will receive more money then Ajax (from the small Holland) when they win the final.....just because Italy pays more and is commercially much more interesting.
Also it is very important to play this competitions because there is so much money to gain. I mean if Ajax wins the champions league they would be able to spend 60 milion next year instead of 40 million..that is quite a difference. I believe in the states it financially does not really matter if you win or lose (apart from having the revenues from paying visitors)
Quote:This image problem stinks to high heaven, and it is FIFA's own fault for condoning it. Rather than whinge at Americans for not being "sophisticated enough" to appreciate soccer, how about cleaning up the fraud? American baseball is having a similar problem, with the decades of turning a blind eye to steroids, and is having to clean up its act, slowly but surely.
I don't think we think americans are not sophisticated enough. I think americans visit sports matches for other reasons. Going with the family, enjoying a day out. And all those time outs are great, because that gives you time to get something to eat or drink. Soccer is too quick and will not give you this oppurtunity.
Quote:I love soccer, a game I grew up playing.
While its popularity is growing in the US, its image is rightfully dimmed by its less attractive elements, just as Professional Hockey's idiotic penchant for endorsing lousy fisticuffs on skates is a deterrent to attracting fans. The core game itself, in either soccer or hockey, is a wonderful test of skill, coordination, strength, endurance, and speed. Trimming the fraudulent fat makes for a better sport, and for a better product at the professional levels.
Occhi