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2010 World Cup
No fascination here, just one big Y A W N. How many dives in a game? Now I see why there are brawls and riots in the stands. Rabid fans show up, there is no excitement, no aggression, and then to top it off there is a tie or one goal game. Then sh*t hits the fan in the stands out of boredom and frustration. Advantage; all you need is a ball.
Agreed. I've tried. I just don't get the game. I never have. In high school, the soccer players were teased by athletes of other sports. Soccer was put in the same box as say, Track & Field, or marching band. BTW, I was in marching band (played the baritone horn for four years, trumpet for 5 years before that)...But I also played The Great American Game for four years in high school and four years in college. So my years manning the hot corner and toein' the rubber make up for the marching band (but man, those bus rides were epic). Soccer is exercise...You played that in the fall to stay in shape.DaveS007 wrote:Well OK, it's still boring.
The WC as an event is interesting, but I find the interest to be less in the soccer or "futbol" (whatever), and more in the geopolitical interests. I know, that makes me weird.
And being the very definition of the "Ugly American" who thinks my country is the center of the universe (yes, I do)...My country stinks at this game. Let's be honest.
Our games are baseball, football (not "futbol"), and Texas Hold 'Em.
Now Cricket, on the other hand, is a world game that I could get into. Do they have a Cricket World Cup?
Finally, and on a somewhat related note...Anyone seen the movie "Invictus"? WOW.
July 2003 - Honeymoon at The Westin
July 2004 - Glenmar, Gifft Hill
July 2005 - Arco Iris, Fish Bay
December 2007 - Dreamcatcher, GCB
July 2008 - Ellison Villa, VGE
July 2004 - Glenmar, Gifft Hill
July 2005 - Arco Iris, Fish Bay
December 2007 - Dreamcatcher, GCB
July 2008 - Ellison Villa, VGE
It's kind of ironic that the World Cup, by virtue of being the sport's biggest "event", attracts its largest viewing audience, including many casual observers who watch to see what all of the hype is about. But at the same time, since so much is at stake the teams tend to play very conservatively, which leads to a lot of boring play.
For the people who already feel passionately about their team there is enough inherent tension surrounding the outcome that the lack of flair and extrinsic excitement don't matter that much. For those new to watching the game, and even to those neutral to the teams playing, the overly defensive tactics designed to grind out a result can make for some tedious viewing.
If you think you'd like to see some of what gets so many people around the world so hyped up make a point to try and watch some of the following teams - Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, and perhaps some of the African teams like Ivory Coast. Argentina has a playmaker, Lionel Messi that often dribbles through the heart of the opponent's defense, leaving them helpless to try and take the ball away from him. Even the most creative team can be in a stinker of a game if their opponents are dead set on choking the life out of their attack, but the teams listed have some of the most creative players in the world and quite often put on displays that are breathtaking, even to those who aren't ardent followers of the game.
For the people who already feel passionately about their team there is enough inherent tension surrounding the outcome that the lack of flair and extrinsic excitement don't matter that much. For those new to watching the game, and even to those neutral to the teams playing, the overly defensive tactics designed to grind out a result can make for some tedious viewing.
If you think you'd like to see some of what gets so many people around the world so hyped up make a point to try and watch some of the following teams - Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, and perhaps some of the African teams like Ivory Coast. Argentina has a playmaker, Lionel Messi that often dribbles through the heart of the opponent's defense, leaving them helpless to try and take the ball away from him. Even the most creative team can be in a stinker of a game if their opponents are dead set on choking the life out of their attack, but the teams listed have some of the most creative players in the world and quite often put on displays that are breathtaking, even to those who aren't ardent followers of the game.
Come see us!
I suppose if one were so inclined, you could make similar broad generalizations about hockey and their fans, but I won't bother, because apparently it’s a sport that’s even more insignificant than soccer to this forum judging by the number of views of this topic vs the Flyers/Blackhawks topic.DaveS007 wrote:No fascination here, just one big Y A W N. How many dives in a game? Now I see why there are brawls and riots in the stands. Rabid fans show up, there is no excitement, no aggression, and then to top it off there is a tie or one goal game. Then sh*t hits the fan in the stands out of boredom and frustration. Advantage; all you need is a ball.
That said, as Augie very astutely points out, there are valid strategic reasons that many of these very early tournament games can be very difficult to watch as teams play not to lose. (And, what’s up with the dreadful goalkeeping so far? Yikes!) Outside of the rare big upset, there are plenty of yawners in the early round of the NCAA basketball tournament too.
The teams mentioned with the more creative players or who are known to work best as a more cohesive unit make for more entertaining games. Germany looks like they may have been underestimated coming in, and Argentina looks like the really dangerous offensive team we’ve heard about. Too bad they are coached by a crazy person. They seem most likely to be involved in a high scoring game than anybody else so far.
When we come to place where the sea and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
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Come see us!
http://twitter.com/the_vuvuzelaaugie wrote:<a href="http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t216 ... wa8jpg.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t216 ... wa8jpg.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
If I'm not mistaken, they played the equivalent of the Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean back in 2007. It was a big deal to bring such a large event to the islands.soxfan22 wrote:Now Cricket, on the other hand, is a world game that I could get into. Do they have a Cricket World Cup?
Now that it's 2010, that does us no good whatsoever.
Stunning Rally, Shocking Call.
That headline says it all.
Yup, the USA got screwed by an incompetent referee. Still - - an amazing comeback. That said, also still a huge concern how they continue to play early in games with disorganized defense that allows early goals and an early lack of urgency on offense.
As to the tournament itself, its noteworthy the games have really opened up (example: 3 wins and 10 goals in the 3 games on Thursday).
And it always works this way. Teams are tight in those opening games. No one wants to take chances on losing that game because the odds of advancing are low if you don’t at least tie, so teams play very cautiously, and in the process, probably turn off the casual fan who tunes in to see what all the hoopla is all about.
In the second and third set of games, teams become more desperate, push play more, and try to score, making for WAY more entertaining soccer, so much so that I found I had a heck of time transitioning back to baseball last night.
I tuned in late to Mets/Yankees and the Mets had a relief pitcher on who is one of those real deliberate types - at least 45 seconds between pitches – and there was back to back 10+ pitch at bats.
It was worse than watching paint dry - it was like watching paint dry as it did its taxes. I lost interest and started falling asleep. Wake me up in mid-September when the games mean something.
One take on the outrage that many are feeling:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/s ... index.html
but indications here that at least this referee is done:
http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world- ... 61810.html
That headline says it all.
Yup, the USA got screwed by an incompetent referee. Still - - an amazing comeback. That said, also still a huge concern how they continue to play early in games with disorganized defense that allows early goals and an early lack of urgency on offense.
As to the tournament itself, its noteworthy the games have really opened up (example: 3 wins and 10 goals in the 3 games on Thursday).
And it always works this way. Teams are tight in those opening games. No one wants to take chances on losing that game because the odds of advancing are low if you don’t at least tie, so teams play very cautiously, and in the process, probably turn off the casual fan who tunes in to see what all the hoopla is all about.
In the second and third set of games, teams become more desperate, push play more, and try to score, making for WAY more entertaining soccer, so much so that I found I had a heck of time transitioning back to baseball last night.
I tuned in late to Mets/Yankees and the Mets had a relief pitcher on who is one of those real deliberate types - at least 45 seconds between pitches – and there was back to back 10+ pitch at bats.
It was worse than watching paint dry - it was like watching paint dry as it did its taxes. I lost interest and started falling asleep. Wake me up in mid-September when the games mean something.
One take on the outrage that many are feeling:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/s ... index.html
but indications here that at least this referee is done:
http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world- ... 61810.html
Last edited by jmq on Sat Jun 19, 2010 10:26 am, edited 2 times in total.
When we come to place where the sea and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
I think that was on Barbados.pipanale wrote:If I'm not mistaken, they played the equivalent of the Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean back in 2007. It was a big deal to bring such a large event to the islands.soxfan22 wrote:Now Cricket, on the other hand, is a world game that I could get into. Do they have a Cricket World Cup?
Now that it's 2010, that does us no good whatsoever.