Soccer - The World Game

The World Cup (The SuperBowl of Soccer) is the Worlds most watched sports event. It beats the Olympics. Every four years, BILLIONS of people around the World tune in to see the spectacle.

It is played ONCE every four years. It lasts 27 days during the summer months.

The last World Cup was co-hosted in South Korea-Japan 2002. The next World Cup is right around the corner. It will be in Germany this summer.

WHY IS SOCCER NOT BIG IN THE UNITED STATES?

I can write SO MUCH on this topic. I can do a good job to illustrate (through writing) the Passion of Soccer around the World. Kids growing up wanting those theatre dreams of playing in front of crowds. The game is in our BLOOD. We relate to other people (from different countries) through SOCCER.
Brazilian kids play bare feet on the beach shores. The argentine poor class feed on soccer for their youth development programs. In England, Soccer is like a Religion.

I can keep going, but I won't because it will NEVER answer 'my' question,

WHY IS SOCCER NOT BIG IN THE UNITED STATES?

My dad helped found the University of Nebraska soccer team back in the 80's and he played for them for a few years.

I use to play soccer when I was little, but lost interest when I found football v2.0.

My mom was just tellin us the other day about when she went to watch the Peru soccer team play and how crazy those fans are and how passionate they are for soccer.

Look at NFL, MLB, NBA and that will give you all the reasons you need. It simply isn't given much attention by the media. There are plenty of those who want to play it at a professional level, it just isn't given that opportunity...and then there's the fan base for all the sports mentioned above, being so huge.

i've talked to my dad about this a lot, and here is what we've come up with,

America is ALL about advertising and media. look at all those spots you mentioned...

...NFL, MLB, NBA.

they all have one thing in common: time outs and breaks (TIME for commercials)

as oppose to SOCCER - it's 45 minutes straight (followed by 15 minute break), and then another 45 minutes straight...

and whenever i see soccer in the STATES, they squeeze a little add in the top left corner next to the score. Of course, the extra sponsor is needed to run the games...

...as oppose to England, where the demand is SO great.



I don't mean to take ANYTHING away from American Sports...such as NFL, NBA, or MLB. But if you want reality, it's that these three sports are not that big outside of USA...

...sure, NBA is quite popular in Europe and parts of Africa. Not to mention China in recent years...but the NBA still doesn't have the same effect that SOCCER has around the World...

MLB - i guess one could argue Cuba and Japan...but with Soccer, we are talking about THE WORLD! One thing that ALWAYS gets me - calling it the WORLD SERIES, when only American teams play. America is not the World...lol

And as far as the NFL goes.....well, it doesn't! It stays in America. From my knowledge, Amerian Football is not played ANYWHERE outside America.



Okay, I'm doing a lot of America Bashing (even though I think this is the greatest country to live in)...

but let me say this: I UNDERSTAND THAT NFL, NBA, and MLB have their 'own' traditions...

the history of these three sports is INGRAINED in American Culture and past time. Tell me who (outside the United States) can understand the impact of Jackie Robinson in Baseball, and what he accomplished not only in Sport, but in AMERICAN SOCIETY...

...in the same line of though, tell me who can understand the value of feilding 5 African American college basketball players as starters in a Championship game (i forget which coach did it - anybody know?). the team went on to Win the game.

Again, Babe Ruth, and the mystic dreams he has created with Baseball fans. It's something NO OTHER PERSON FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY CAN UNDERSTAND...

having said that, SOCCER IS THE WORLD GAME...

...why did America Never Catch On?





I guess it's no use asking the question. But I want to leave on this note.


The United States have qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany this Summer. They are in a tough group.

Initially, there are 32 teams divided into 8 groups of 4 teams each. each team will play each other within the group (three games), and the top two of each group will qualify for the round of 16...

after elimination games, it becomes round of 8, round of 4, round of 2 (which is the final)

here is the united states group:



i am an England fan through and through. but my heat wants USA to do WELL in the competition...

for those interested: [url]http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=275159&cc=5739[/url]

I agree with what you said RK.

Also, it's not fast enough or high scoring enough. 0-0 regulation ties are boring. Look at the other AMerican sports:
Football changes rules to make it more high scoring by restricting and limiting what CB's can do to WR's and they practically put QB's in a bubble.

Hockey, although I'm not a fan, have changed their rules as well.

Also, not much money in it; throw $100 million at the greatest player and I'm sure we'd see soccer taken to a whole new level.

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Originally Posted by Lloyd95

I agree with what you said RK.

Also, it's not fast enough or high scoring enough. 0-0 regulation ties are boring. Look at the other AMerican sports:
Football changes rules to make it more high scoring by restricting and limiting what CB's can do to WR's and they practically put QB's in a bubble.

Hockey, although I'm not a fan, have changed their rules as well.

Also, not much money in it; throw $100 million at the greatest player and I'm sure we'd see soccer taken to a whole new level.

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oh, wow - that's a good point...

0-0 scorelines! it happens a lot.

BUT SOME OF THE MOST ENTERTAINING MATCHES 'ARE' 0-0!

but i DO see you point. 7 points for a touchdown, basketball three point line. the college rule changes...

but there is ONE thing i must add to your post,


I would say, over the past 5 years, the face of SOCCER has completely changed overseas (especially in Europe, and even in Asia, South America, and Africa)...

...In the past, Soccer players were 'JUST SOCCER PLAYERS', now they have become 'POP STAR LIKE'...

when my dad use to go to games in England, seats were about 2 pounds 50 (about 5 bucks), now they are as high as 75 pounds - 150 dollars!

only the upper class get to see games, and the lower class (who are usually more passionate) get left out...

I used to love playing and watching soccer, RK. Now i just enjoy playing...Watching, not unless it's World Cup. When i started watching hockey and especially with the recent rule changes, i totally became a fan of the game. Same with football although to a lesser extent. Baseball i find boring, NBA games can be exciting at times.

I can tell you why it's not big here...cause we're smart enough to know it sucks.

I also agree with what you said RK, about the timeouts and breaks allowing for commercials, etc.

But I'm sure if soccer did catch on here - they'd alter it so each team had timeouts, as well as having TV timeouts, etc.

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Originally Posted by Tone

I also agree with what you said RK, about the timeouts and breaks allowing for commercials, etc.

But I'm sure if soccer did catch on here - they'd alter it so each team had timeouts, as well as having TV timeouts, etc.

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i can see where you are coming from, but that will totally ruin it, imo

the MLS has it all wrong (imo)

they try to merge SOCCER with AMERICAN style of leagues...the 'play offs'

in european leagues, all teams play each other, and the team on TOP is the WINNER ................ lol

of course, as the season runs on, they do have knockout competitions (as a secondary way to win something)......... a playoff




i'm not an expert......just a guy confused as to WHY the greatest country in the WORLD does not understand the GREATEST sport in the World. (imo)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TAVS

I can tell you why it's not big here...cause we're smart enough to know it sucks.

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yeah, try explaining that to OVER a Billion People who will watch the world cup around the World............lol

It's just apples and oranges man.

Soccer isn't anything revolutionary or extraordinary compared to the sports we have here. You have your players, your teams, positions out on the field, a ball, and you try to get it into the endzone, goal, net, outfield.

It's probably for the very reason you stated... they can market and advertise out the ass in sports that allow for breaks during play.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TAVS

I can tell you why it's not big here...cause we're smart enough to know it sucks.

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Yeah it's sure no rodeo, calf steering or fly fishing or whatever it is that you do, Moonshine Boy! ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tone

It's just apples and oranges man.

Soccer isn't anything revolutionary or extraordinary compared to the sports we have here. You have your players, your teams, positions out on the field, a ball, and you try to get it into the endzone, goal, net, outfield.

It's probably for the very reason you stated... they can market and advertise out the ass in sports that allow for breaks during play.

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true...but i guess i figure it has A LOT more to do that 'time for commercials'

i know that soccer isn't anything revolutionary or extraordinary compared to sports we have here, it's just that is SO DAM popular EVERYWHERE else and not here.

and the fact that sports casters on ESPN make fun of it doesn't help - like those guys on 'around the horn', and PTA.

let me start off by saying that soccer is the OLDEST sport to have been played in the WHOLE WORLD

it is the BASE of all sports , it is the one that started with the goals and nets and teams .

-it is the CHEAPEST sport to play , everybody can play it (almost) ... all you need is to be able to run and a ball (not even a ball , anything or almost can pretty much do it)... (NHL ... hockey gear , skates ... NFL , gear and weird shaped ball ... NBA , need polls with hoops , MLB ... need bat with a field ) ...soccer , feet check , anything resembling a ball ( even a head could do it) ... check

- you can play it ANYWHERE anytime no matter the season (unlike hockey ... ice , indoors or super cold , basketball ... nets , cant play in winter or very well in bad weather , football , gear and a football cant play this in heavy snow very well ... baseball ... bat summer )

- it is very "basic" and very entertaining , no need for so many rules and regulations

-it is known worldwide because it is the best . the other sports rely to much in arms and hands , this one is actually challenging because you can only use your legs AND you have to run ... no need for heavy gear or need how to skate or discrimination for being small

-everybody has advantages in soccer , no height disadvantage , no super built strength needed , just with what you were born with (well most of us) small ppl are faster (usually) , large ppl have more reach ... see its all fair in way . no "hey if your not 6'4 and 300 pounds and have 1000 $ worth of gear you cant play"

-NHL and NBA were invented in Canada ...

-only american football is really american ... i think MLB also . and football is to overhyped ... big guys with tight pants ... heh , it shouldnt even be called an athlete when the guy weights 300 pounds and all he does is put is weight on some other guy .

wtv ... i could say so much more but im tired .