Why Americans will never accept Soccer as a "real" sport.

@shinigami420 said:

@arca said:

@Winternet said:

Soccer is more accepted in the US than American Football is in Europe. Why is anyone complaining?

That's because we have rugby and don't see the need for something very similar.

No the UK has rugby the rest of Europe dont give a shit about rugby

That's not entirely true. Rugby has its place in Europe.

I think both cultures would like the opposite sport if exposed more to it. I think American football has more to it then the rest of the world thinks. Coaches can spend 20 hours or more making a great gameplan exposing another teams weakness etc. The entire team needs to be doing there job to have the best chance of winning. If the offensive line does not block the running back can't find holes and the qb doesnt have time to pass. Also watch this and tell me american football players are not athletes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdBIJOadVzk

@skinnyman said:

1) Scoring: Yep, it's been mentioned. And yes, the single score in a 1-0 game is going to be pretty exciting when it finally happens. But how long do I have to sit through people endlessly kicking the ball back and forth with no hope of scoring in order to see that point? And yes, in basketball there is too much, making individual scores meaningless for the most part. I think there is a happy medium between meaningless scores every ten seconds and only one score through an entire game with nothing but watching guys running around chasing a ball to fill the rest of the time. In football, scoring is rare enough that it is always hugely exciting, but never so rare that the game becomes a drag. Also, in football, every single play, even the simplest running play, is potentially a scoring opportunity. Watch some highlights from guys like Frank Gore, Chris Johnson, and Adrian Peterson, and tell me you can't get excited to watch someone like that.

It's not only the goals that's exciting, every single chance will have the fans jumping from their seats and grabbing their hair. Every single defensive clearing will have the fans let out a deep sigh. I've seen matches that have ended 0-0 that are far more exciting than a match ending 4-1.

I'm a Man Utd fan, but one of the best matches I've seen was Liverpool winning the Champions League final after being down 0-3 at half time. At full time, the score matters, but during the match - every little thing may affect the outcome.

@skinnyman said:

2) Specialization: Soccer players are great athletes, but they would never last a season in the NFL. Essentially every player, except the goalie, has the exact same skill set - running and kicking the ball. Maybe an oversimplification, but you get the point. In football, every single player has a unique specialty that only a few other people on the team, if any, are capable of performing. Powerful lineman battle in the trenches, speedy receivers and corners are in a constant game of cat and mouse, bruising linebackers make hits, finesse running backs find holes in the defense, and of course the immensely talented quarterbacks run the show. Not to mention punters, kickers, return men, and everyone else who contributes to the game. It's like a well-crafted RPG.

If this is true, why do we need 11 different positions on the pitch? Why can't defenders play strikers? Because you need a different skill set. Sure, it's not as rigid as American Football/Rugby - but claiming it's just running and kicking is extremely ignorant.

Essentially every player in American football just need to throw, run and the occasional kick, Maybe an oversimplification, but you get the point - eh? This is a good read.

@skinnyman said:

3) Strategy: The biggest reason that I LOVE American football is the amount of strategy that goes into every single game. Maintaining an offense in a four down system is one of the most complicated but beautifully simple things. Call me a dumb American, but I'm just not seeing that in soccer. The ball changes hands constantly, and true "offense" is limited to a few seconds in which you have possession of the ball within twenty yards of the opposing goal. With football, if it's 4th and short you can pound it right at them, or you can fake the handoff and hit someone on a quick crossing route. It's constant risk-reward calculations, and at the end of the game the strategies in football are unlike any other sport. Watching a skilled quarterback run the two minute drill is the most exciting thing I have ever seen in sports, ever.

You see, this is the problem. Don't try to think you know football (soccer) because you played it as a kid. Are you telling me strategy has no part in football? I'm not gonna tell you American Football doesn't require strategy - because honestly, I don't know the sport enough to tell you.

Norway recently lost 0-1 to Portugal, a vastly better team. The goal came after a defensive mistake on Norways part. Spain lost 0-4 to the same team. Spain are world champions - Norway wasn't qualified to the World Cup.

Watching Lionel Messi tear through Real Madrids defenders in the semi-finals was about the most exciting thing I have seen in sports, ever. Who is right, dumb American?

I don't understand American Football enough to post valid critique, and after reading you post - you don't understand Football enough, either.

@easthill said:

@skinnyman said:

1) Scoring: Yep, it's been mentioned. And yes, the single score in a 1-0 game is going to be pretty exciting when it finally happens. But how long do I have to sit through people endlessly kicking the ball back and forth with no hope of scoring in order to see that point? And yes, in basketball there is too much, making individual scores meaningless for the most part. I think there is a happy medium between meaningless scores every ten seconds and only one score through an entire game with nothing but watching guys running around chasing a ball to fill the rest of the time. In football, scoring is rare enough that it is always hugely exciting, but never so rare that the game becomes a drag. Also, in football, every single play, even the simplest running play, is potentially a scoring opportunity. Watch some highlights from guys like Frank Gore, Chris Johnson, and Adrian Peterson, and tell me you can't get excited to watch someone like that.

It's not only the goals that's exciting, every single chance will have the fans jumping from their seats and grabbing their hair. Every single defensive clearing will have the fans let out a deep sigh. I've seen matches that have ended 0-0 that are far more exciting than a match ending 4-1.

I'm a Man Utd fan, but one of the best matches I've seen was Liverpool winning the Champions League final after being down 0-3 at half time. At full time, the score matters, but during the match - every little thing may affect the outcome.

@skinnyman said:

2) Specialization: Soccer players are great athletes, but they would never last a season in the NFL. Essentially every player, except the goalie, has the exact same skill set - running and kicking the ball. Maybe an oversimplification, but you get the point. In football, every single player has a unique specialty that only a few other people on the team, if any, are capable of performing. Powerful lineman battle in the trenches, speedy receivers and corners are in a constant game of cat and mouse, bruising linebackers make hits, finesse running backs find holes in the defense, and of course the immensely talented quarterbacks run the show. Not to mention punters, kickers, return men, and everyone else who contributes to the game. It's like a well-crafted RPG.

If this is true, why do we need 11 different positions on the pitch? Why can't defenders play strikers? Because you need a different skill set. Sure, it's not as rigid as American Football/Rugby - but claiming it's just running and kicking is extremely ignorant.

Essentially every player in American football just need to throw, run and the occasional kick, Maybe an oversimplification, but you get the point - eh? This is a good read.

@skinnyman said:

3) Strategy: The biggest reason that I LOVE American football is the amount of strategy that goes into every single game. Maintaining an offense in a four down system is one of the most complicated but beautifully simple things. Call me a dumb American, but I'm just not seeing that in soccer. The ball changes hands constantly, and true "offense" is limited to a few seconds in which you have possession of the ball within twenty yards of the opposing goal. With football, if it's 4th and short you can pound it right at them, or you can fake the handoff and hit someone on a quick crossing route. It's constant risk-reward calculations, and at the end of the game the strategies in football are unlike any other sport. Watching a skilled quarterback run the two minute drill is the most exciting thing I have ever seen in sports, ever.

You see, this is the problem. Don't try to think you know football (soccer) because you played it as a kid. Are you telling me strategy has no part in football? I'm not gonna tell you American Football doesn't require strategy - because honestly, I don't know the sport enough to tell you.

Norway recently lost 0-1 to Portugal, a vastly better team. The goal came after a defensive mistake on Norways part. Spain lost 0-4 to the same team. Spain are world champions - Norway wasn't qualified to the World Cup.

Watching Lionel Messi tear through Real Madrids defenders in the semi-finals was about the most exciting thing I have seen in sports, ever. Who is right, dumb American?

I don't understand American Football enough to post valid critique, and after reading you post - you don't understand Football enough, either.

Point one his first point is valid to americans who didn't learn the game at a young age and dont understand the detials low scoring games seem boring. It is also why low scoring american football games seem boring to though who don't know the smaller parts of the game. point the original post was right outside of high school and SUPER talented college players every position outside of moving spots on the offensive and defensive line is very different. No linebacker needs to throw period, just like no linemen needs to know how to catch in fact the only universal thing is hitting. As for strategy soccer has it just not to the extent american football does. In soccer assume your coaches don't watch film for hours on end to find thing to exploit.

@skinnyman said:

@Positrark: I can't disagree with anything you said. As simply a casual observer of soccer rather than a dedicated fan, some of my points were certainly oversimplifications and hampered by my admittedly biased point of view. I also agree that the high barrier to entry is a big problem to "American football" becoming embraced more widely.

The same can be said for soccer in the states if you want to enjoy the game on the level a lot of European fans do

@easthill: I just want to say yay for writing football with a capital f

@shinigami420: Are you american? A lot of European countries play rugby. It's biggest in the UK but still a big sport within the EU.

I think Soccer is incredibly boring to watch. To play, however, it can be really enjoyable. Some sports just don't translate to spectator sports as well as others. I have yet to meet someone who actively enjoys watching Tennis, but it's a fun sport to play. But how people get into Nascar is beyond me.

If this is true, why do we need 11 different positions on the pitch? Why can't defenders play strikers? Because you need a different skill set. Sure, it's not as rigid as American Football/Rugby - but claiming it's just running and kicking is extremely ignorant.

You see, this is the problem. Don't try to think you know football (soccer) because you played it as a kid. Are you telling me strategy has no part in football? I'm not gonna tell you American Football doesn't require strategy - because honestly, I don't know the sport enough to tell you.

Norway recently lost 0-1 to Portugal, a vastly better team. The goal came after a defensive mistake on Norways part. Spain lost 0-4 to the same team. Spain are world champions - Norway wasn't qualified to the World Cup.

Watching Lionel Messi tear through Real Madrids defenders in the semi-finals was about the most exciting thing I have seen in sports, ever. Who is right, dumb American?

I don't understand American Football enough to post valid critique, and after reading you post - you don't understand Football enough, either.

2) Specialization: Soccer players are great athletes, but they would never last a season in the NFL. Essentially every player, except the goalie, has the exact same skill set - running and kicking the ball. Maybe an oversimplification, but you get the point. In football, every single player has a unique specialty that only a few other people on the team, if any, are capable of performing. Powerful lineman battle in the trenches, speedy receivers and corners are in a constant game of cat and mouse, bruising linebackers make hits, finesse running backs find holes in the defense, and of course the immensely talented quarterbacks run the show. Not to mention punters, kickers, return men, and everyone else who contributes to the game. It's like a well-crafted RPG.

I watch some Soccer matches now and then, and a lot of American Football.  I also go to minor league baseball games locally and occasionally watch Hockey, Baseball, Tennis, Basketball, and hell even Golf on TV.  I love most sports. 
 
I have a really hard time watching most soccer matches.  I really like how it plays for the most part.  I can appreciate the nuances in the plays, I don't care that its low scoring.  I can get into watching the players make great plays even if they don't end in scores.  Seeing a fast break counter attack is exciting, great saves are exciting, a guy somehow splitting 3 defenders and getting a shot is exciting, a player making a great pass mid field to get a guy open on a run is exciting.   
 
I have one *huge* issue with soccer.  They need to start red carding ANYONE who acts like a fucking pussy anywhere on the field.  If someone slide tackles you and you hurdle them, nicking your toe on the way over and you roll around for 2 minutes holding your shin like a douchebag, get the fuck out.  If someone runs past you and you pretend to trip, again writhing on the ground, get the fuck out.  Implement instant replay and start removing the guys faking being hurt.  If they did that I'd be much more interested in watching more.  Seems to happen at least 10 times an any match I watch, and god damn is it annoying.   
 
To be fair, it happens now and then in hockey and basketball too, but nowhere near as prevalent as in soccer.  

I think Soccer is incredibly boring to watch. To play, however, it can be really enjoyable. Some sports just don't translate to spectator sports as well as others. I have yet to meet someone who actively enjoys watching Tennis, but it's a fun sport to play. But how people get into Nascar is beyond me.

@Marcsman said:

We Americans also do not accept Canada as a real country. Don't take it so hard.

@Niall_Sg1 said:

If you think you're watching violence with American Football try watching Rugby.

@Renahzor: I completely agree that faking injury is a huge problem in some countries, mostly South America, Spain and Italy, but most other European leagues don't have much of a problem with this since it is frowned upon, e.g. England. Here in Norway players get ridiculed in the media if they get caught taking a dive.

In my mind they should review every high level game on video, and suspend players for several matches if they are caught filming, and get a red card if they are caught during the game. Such actions give the sport a bad name and should be dealt with harsly. It is somehow worse then a usual violatioon because you're trying to fool the other player into being punished for something he didn't do. Though with the governing body of the sport, FIFA, being corrupt, I don't have much faith they will deal with it properly.

American here chiming in.
 
I don't really mind soccer that much, I sort of find it a less exciting hockey. 
 
Edit to clarify a little: I don't watch either of the above, but from the outside looking in, it's really what it looks like.

However, I often explain my extreme hatred towards baseball.
God, that sport fucking blows. I'd honestly rather watch NASCAR.

@Renahzor: I completely agree that faking injury is a huge problem in some countries, mostly South America, Spain and Italy, but most other European leagues don't have much of a problem with this since it is frowned upon, e.g. England. Here in Norway players get ridiculed in the media if they get caught taking a dive.

@Niall_Sg1 said:

If you think you're watching violence with American Football try watching Rugby.

 
People find it boring because there aren't many goals, but i'm still a huge american football and soccer fan!

Don't say americans implying all americans, plenty of americans consider it a sport.

Then again i could say the thing about how other countries don't consider some of our sports as sports, me personally i don't care for soccer i find it extremely boring like golf.

Comes down to what you played growing up. I'm American but I'd rather watch Soccer then Baseball. I love playing either though. Just Baseball is too slow for me and not rough enough.

Football cannot be accepted in the US because you're shit it at it

@PenguinDust said:

Americans are only interested in sports we invented. Baseball, basketball, American football. End story.

There is a flaw in your theory.

Basketball came from north america (canada) and the concept of Baseball came from french people, also "american football", the concept was created and played in the UK before US took it and made it into "US" football.

Contrary to belief, most "american" sports are not american made sports, kind of like how people think italians created pizza when it was the greeks. Which also brings me back to not all americans hate soccer and think soccer isn't a sport, people in this thread are trying to stereotype americans as nascar loving, beer drinking, football(american football) loving rednecks and it's bullshit, i could easily turn around and stereotype canadians and other countries but i don't because it's ignorant. People need to acting like they share the opinion of all americans or all canadians etc. because you don't, people need to stop assuming ridiculous things.

Interesting read, nice use of plagiarismtoo.

Soccer is alot of fun when your playing it, Americans (myself included) just don't have any vested interest because MLS doesn't have the same popularity as MLB, NFL, NBA etc.  Also, Rugby is the real man sport, sorry.

Interesting read, nice use of plagiarismtoo.

@creamypies: Wow , this along with fucking crazy bio makes me think there is something very wrong with the OP.

@Slayer22: Hadn't noticed that. That bio is batshit!

I did read the whole thread so this might have been said.

But here is another reason Association Football will never be a big spectator sport in the United States. Network Television. During a match there are only 3 times to show commercials, the beginning, halftime, and the end. This does not fly because the networks just can't get enough revenue out of it so they never show it. Look at American Football, there are many times to show a commercial, after every score, after every kick, half time, end of the quarter, timeouts, etc. Association Football only has one time where play is completely stopped, halftime. So since networks can't get enough money from advertisers from commercials they don't really have a big incentive to show matches. There is definitely an audience, look at youth soccer in the States, and lots of the MLS teams have very devoted followings, especially with the Latin community. In my opinion it just comes down to the dollars.

That being said, I have no idea how commercials and sponsorship works in Europe and Latin America so I could just be completely wrong.

Why the fuck should the rest of the world care what us Americans think of soccer? We don't have great taste. Five of our most popular tv shows start with 'Real Housewives'.

Interesting read, nice use of plagiarismtoo.

It's fairly accurate to say we Americans only follow sports we invented, but I'll go one further. Like other countries, we care about anything we WIN at. In 1980, America cared about hockey because of the Miracle on Ice. Sadly, that's the last time we took the gold. We cared about soccer for a nanosecond when we won the women's World Cup and it's safe to say America would be soccer-crazed if the men's soccer team ever won the World Cup, if only for a few weeks.

I'm American and I love the futbol. It's a great game and also very exciting.

@Binman88: I was simply defending my sport. Also, nationalism is fucking retarded no matter how you swing it.

Also, didn't mean to sound like a dick...all in good fun!

Americans are only interested in sports we invented.  Baseball, basketball, American football.  End story.

@Binman88: I was simply defending my sport. Also, nationalism is fucking retarded no matter how you swing it.

I haven't really got anything to add that hasn't been said already but this thread is great for so many reasons :)

 @PenguinDust said:

Americans are only interested in sports we invented.  Baseball, basketball, American football.  End story.

Baseball was invented in Great Britain and Basketball was invented by a Canadian professor.  End Story.

@monte said:

@FreakAche said:

Yikes! Click on HardGamer's minibio!

Holy Shit...

Seriously, wtf did I just witness?

Before you talk or post about football again, you'll want to familiarise yourself with and appreciate all variations of the roles and positions on the pitch. 

If you don't like football, that's great! It's not my concern. I couldn't care less (like the rest of the world) about American Football, Baseball or Basketball. I just find it weird that you'd write such a long post of nonsense about a sport you know nothing about. You certainly won't find me criticising any of the American sports I mentioned, because I frankly don't know enough about them to do so! They just hold no interest for me!

@Binman88 said:

Before you talk or post about football again, you'll want to familiarise yourself with and appreciate all variations of the roles and positions on the pitch. 

I really won't. Everything I have ever learned about sports came from watching or playing them. You are the second person here to suggest that an understanding of soccer's appeal requires "heavy reading." If that's the case, it is the only sport I have ever seen that requires this, and I'm still not interested.

You sure sound concerned. See, what's funny about this is I never represented my views as anything other than the opinions of an NFL football fan who has watched and played soccer, and why I prefer one over the other, yet you still managed to get yourself all butthurt. I would be very interested to hear a similar but opposite viewpoint from someone who is an avid fan of soccer, but has at least seen or played American football, as to why they prefer soccer. All the "soccer defenders" seem to have no knowledge whatsoever of other sports. You make a big point of calling me ignorant and stupid, when in fact you are the one coming from the ignorant position of only having played or watched ONE of the two sports being discussed.

If you don't like football, that's great! It's not my concern.

Its because there usually 2 goals a game through the entire 3 hours  Its boring as FUCK

Football or 'soccer' i find is reeeally boring to watch but fun to play with your mates.   Rugby is the best sport ever. American Football is just so damn slow.