Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (moocatdog) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:44:43 GMT

Soccer is the world's most watched televised sport and its audience share in the U.S. is constantly growing. I wouldn't change a thing. The supreme difficulty of scoring a goal, the mounting tension as time elapses, the non-stop pressure without relief (for players and fans) is what makes soccer special. But then again, I'd rather watch a pitching duel than a homerun derby any day. Perhaps I'm just odd. :-)

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (Walkin Boss) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:07:48 GMT

Dave Baird wrote:
My guess would be that, if the networks carried more soccer and promoted education in the game, the American public would soon come to appreciate the nuances of the game.

Hard to say if that is it. I played soccer for over 10 years growing up and would have played longer if I had had more talent but I don't particularly enjoy watching it. A number of people I know who play agree...

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (outfidel) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:31:45 GMT

Well as I said above, I don't think it's about education and sophistication. Educated, sophisticated viewers of American football & baseball still want to see points and runs scored when they watch the game on TV -- low-scoring football & baseball games do not attract American eyeballs as much as high-scoring games. I don't know why we're different than Europeans and Latin Americans in this regard -- maybe there's some kind of cultural bloodlust at play here

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (Dave Baird) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:45:29 GMT

My guess would be that, if the networks carried more soccer and promoted education in the game, the American public would soon come to appreciate the nuances of the game. Not to try this, on the basis that the American public wouldn't "get" soccer, is playing right into the hands of the people who control the existing popular American sports, IMHO. I am damn sure that the American public are every bit as sophisticated (sports) watchers as everyone else in the world - and we all...

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (outfidel) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:45:19 GMT

My thoughts about the offsides rule & scoring were in the context of our conversation about making soccer more appealing to American TV viewers.

A lot of those American viewers "get" the finer points of American football tactics -- such as a trap blocks & blitzes -- which don't result in touchdowns. However, they would be bored if most American football games were decided by 7-0 and 10-3 scores. They want to see touchdowns, too, and like games with scores of...

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (Dave Baird) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:12:03 GMT

Yup, the offside rule set up by FIFA has indeed come down from 3 to 2 to 0 defenders between the attacker and the goalkeeper - and still attackers whine... If all you want to see is people endlessly scoring, then we should do away with goalkeepers too, and maybe make the goal the same width as the pitch with no limit of height...

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (moocatdog) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:27:16 GMT

Dave probably knows much more about this than I, but I believe that English public schools started organizing what we call soccer in the early 1800's and adapted the offside rule from similar "forward passing" restrictions in rugby. The rule has been changed in many ways over the years, but always to give the offensive players more freedom to attack. For example, changes were made so that players could not be offside on goal kicks, throw ins, or on their own half of the field,...

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (Lefty00042) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:47:08 GMT

Offsides is the most misunderstood rule in soccer/football/futbol. As the parent of an offensive player, I hate it. But as a fan of the game, I understand it and realize why it's there. If it wasn't, soccer would turn into NBA basketball: all one-on-one long-ball play and little if any coordinated, ball-control team play.

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (jaymehime) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:31:28 GMT

Dave Baird wrote:
an offside trap takes every bit as much skill as any other part of the game. In some respects it can be even more difficult than an offensive manouevre.

I agree, playing the offside trap means paying attention to not only the offense but your team mates.
It also takes a great amount of trust in your captain and coach. You cannot let your instincts take over when the ball moves.
It is...

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (outfidel) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:01:09 GMT

I don't know, Dave. I played a lot of basketball, and still do. The offense on a fast break is a beautiful thing, and shouldn't be penalized for outmaneuvering their opponent and beating him to the goal/basket.

The defense's job should be to stop the opponent from scoring, not to induce the referee to blow his whistle & stop play.

btw, didn't FIFA (or whatever the international soccer/football governing body was at the time) put in place the current...

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (Dave Baird) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:11:07 GMT

As an ex defender and also a midfield player, the springing of an offside trap takes every bit as much skill as any other part of the game. In some respects it can be even more difficult than an offensive manouevre. In offence, players move to get themselves into a scoring position, largely on an individual basis, although the person who will provide the scoring pass has to be hyper aware of his team mates positioning. The defense, however, have to position themselves and then move at the...

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (outfidel) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:49:53 GMT

Lefty00042 wrote:

It's pretty awesome in HD (still not as good as live though).

Agreed on both counts

I do wish they would modify the offsides rule. As it is now, I think it too often penalizes good, coordinated, aggessive offensive team play, and rewards "gaming" by the defenders.

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (Dave Baird) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:08:07 GMT

Just out of interest...

Soccer is increasing its global domination, Initiative said, citing a 14 percent increase in the World Cup's global live audience compared with 2002. This year's event had a cumulative 5.9 billion audience in 54 countries, of which 41 percent were women.

This was from a report on audience figures for the World Cup tournament in 2006.

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (Lefty00042) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:04:26 GMT

outfidel wrote:
Soccer/football/futbol is a great sport to play.

Personally, I don't find it great to watch on TV -- but a billion or so people in Europe, Africa, Central/South America & Asia think otherwise.

As Herb says, the migration patterns in the USA seem likely to change the sport's TV ratings in the coming years.

It's pretty awesome in HD (still not as...

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (Guitone) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:53:04 GMT

I have to put my vote in for Brasil.....no boos now, I have my reasons

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (outfidel) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:14:16 GMT

Soccer/football/futbol is a great sport to play.

Personally, I don't find it great to watch on TV -- but a billion or so people in Europe, Africa, Central/South America & Asia think otherwise.

As Herb says, the migration patterns in the USA seem likely to change the sport's TV ratings in the coming years.

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (Lefty00042) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:23:25 GMT

Fogducker wrote:
As a money making professional sport, it fails in the USA!

Query: where does the "money making" part come from in the United States?

Answer: it ain't ticket sales and attendance at games or matches. It's TV revenue mostly, plus merchandizing. As long as Fox/ESPN/ABC/NBC/CBS keep pumping cash into the NFL, MLB, NBA and to a much lesser extent hockey, golf,...

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (Walkin Boss) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:05:54 GMT

Fogducker wrote:
Seems like every few years there's some professional or Olympic soccer fever for a week or so,----- and then it subsides again!

It's an outstanding game for young people 4 years old and up through high school. After maybe a bit of college, it fades from the average American's sports interest. As a money making professional sport, it fails in the USA!

Fog

...

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (Sloppy Picker) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:54:26 GMT

It's a shame this didn't get better coverage here-these were HUGE wins for the USA. Too bad Brazil pulled it out in the end but for the USA to push them that hard is way beyond what many expected from them.

Re: USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (Fogducker) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:16:56 GMT

Seems like every few years there's some professional or Olympic soccer fever for a week or so,----- and then it subsides again!

It's an outstanding game for young people 4 years old and up through high school. After maybe a bit of college, it fades from the average American's sports interest. As a money making professional sport, it fails in the USA!

Fog

USA - Brazil

feeds@yuku.com (jaymehime) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:09:23 GMT

So far so good.... 2-0 USA.
35 to go first half