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England vs. USA

I don't follow soccer, but some of the preliminary EURO 2008 games are in Zurich. My hubby is Swiss, and he mentioned something about that; the city is going to be packed!!

Our son attends Clemson U. here in South Carolina, and is a member of the marching/pep bands, so we have gotten drawn into attending football games now. I was never a fan up until then, but really enjoy it now. Of course, knowing Karl is down there blowing on his trombone is the big draw. But I also discovered I enjoy watching college football much better than pro games. There is a certain level of uncertainty that goes with them. Karl was never into sports until he went to college, either, despite being in high school band for six year and attending all the football games. Clemson is big-time here, so it's a whole lot more exciting, I guess!
 
TWGarland said:
Not just England, the rest of the worlds mad for it too! :grin01:
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Yep I agree! But point being it will never reach that status here. Right or wrong or in-between, football here will always be the pigskin not soccer. To show you how extreme the diference is all levels of American football are more popular here than soccer. Even high school football is bigger than pro soccer in USA. LA soccer team averages 24,000 attendance at #1. The most of any pro soccer team. Massillon Ohio is a town of approx. 30,000 people their football stadium will hold around 22,000 and is sold out for most games. So a high school football team in a town of 30,000 here averages close to what the most popular pro soccer team averages in a city of 4 million. Taking that to the next level Ohio state averages around 101,000 per game at college level. Thats over 4 times what the highest attendance pro soccer team gets. Its not even close here.
 
Anyone notice Lacross is becoming popular? I've noticed on weekends at least 2 games are playing on basic cable stations (when before there were zero).
 
Not trying to cause offence here, but what makes American football so popular? All that stopping and starting would really annoy me, maybe because I'm not used to it... It would just seem to take all momentum and flow out of the game.
 
I mentioned that above and you're right, Dave, it does take away from the flow, but then again, it's always fun to see what they're doing on the sidelines during the time outs, and for the guys they have the cheerleaders as fillers as well. I much prefer watching any sports game in person, but football is such a great Fall sport, and I always look forward to the season. If I'm not going to the actual game, it's a perfect Sunday afternoon filled with friends, good food and of course, beer. Friends, sports, food and beer...really, what more could ask for? ;)
 
Oh, I wouldn't go that far. The above was just my personal opinion. I mean, there really is skill, strength and strategy behind the sport as well.
 
I would imagine men in general would think a contact sport (football) is more "manly" then a sport where all's they do is run back and forth and kick a ball (soccer).
 
Snake Dave said:
Not trying to cause offence here, but what makes American football so popular? All that stopping and starting would really annoy me, maybe because I'm not used to it... It would just seem to take all momentum and flow out of the game.
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Scoring for one thing Dave. I don't know much about soccer but don't they play for hours and end up like 1-0 etc. Also each play in American football offers the chance of some spectacular athletic move or play. Its all out for the length of each play. That's not to say that soccer isn't athletic because I am sure they must be in top shape to do all that running. Soccer just seems less exciting, like hockey without ice and hits and fights. Well the fights are there just not on the field. lol :rofl:
 
American football is bad. In my opinion, at least. I've been to many of the games with my friends and I either kept on whining on how boring it is, fell asleep or left halfway. I just don't get how it's "fun" and "exciting"... Football (soccer), hockey and wrestling are the only sports I truly like and get really "into".

Oh and... Yay for England on winning. :)
 
"Football incorporates the two worst elements of American society: violence punctuated by committee meetings." - George Will


(That said, the only time I find soccer interesting is when plays like this happen.)

regards,
jazz
 
SnakesRule1234 said:
American football is bad. In my opinion, at least. I've been to many of the games with my friends and I either kept on whining on how boring it is, fell asleep or left halfway. I just don't get how it's "fun" and "exciting"... Football (soccer), hockey and wrestling are the only sports I truly like and get really "into".

Oh and... Yay for England on winning. :)
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You're nuts. Let's stand around for hours to see a soccer game where there are a combined 2 or 3 goals. Yeah, that's entertaining. The exact reason why hockey has such a problem in this country.
 
Joejr14 said:
You're nuts. Let's stand around for hours to see a soccer game where there are a combined 2 or 3 goals. Yeah, that's entertaining. The exact reason why hockey has such a problem in this country.
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I'm not 'nuts'. I stated my opinion on the sport, that's all. I didn't diss American football, so you don't have to diss the sports I enjoy... :shrugs:
 
Well for a start I didn't intend to start a big old debate, needless to say probably one that will continue for a long, long time. Who said sports had to be 'manly'? Besides, there's more to being 'manly' than grabbing other guys around the waist and making grunting noises, also, if American football players are so 'manly', why do they wear all that protective gear, rugby players don't. Why isn't running your ass off for 90 minutes (with one, 15 minute half-time period), making sliding and last-ditch tackles, defensive headers in a cluster of guys all going for the same ball etc. worthy of being called a 'manly' sport.

Football is entertaining, and there's not always 1, 2 or 3 goals a game (you often get more). But even so, that shows the skill and determination required to make a goal, and makes each goal that much more special. In my experiences, I've found that sports of American origin, at least the modern games, are very predictable.

Secondly, football cannot even be compared to hockey. In terms of skill, popularity and required fitness levels, football wipes the floor with hockey, along with most of your sports, and all with regards to popularity.
 
Hey, I thought football was really boring too, until I actually paid attention and was motivated to watch...and learn. I've always enjoyed watching soccer, but it's just all different. To each their own! Personally, my viewing sport of preference is motorcycle road racing. I would almost give my left arm to visit the Isle of Man on Race Week!!

Anyway, here's what it's all about at Clemson at every home game: over 80,000 fans in the middle of nowhere on a hot summer day. No wonder it's called "Death Valley", I can assure you! Er, that's our 13-year old daughter and Tiger Cub mascot...
 

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It wasn't funny.
I actually didn't even get it because soccer's so low in the totem pole in the US, why would we care?

Speaking of popularity...Can someone find the viewer statics of the Super Bowl compared to whatever soccer's comparable game would be?

Personally, I'm a fan of Tennis. Football/Soccer/Hockey don't do it for me at all.
 
Well I'm sorry if you personally didn't find it funny, others may have. That was actually part of the intended irony, I realise the lack of popularity, which is entirely why I posted it. Shame you didn't get it.

The Super Bowl gets around 100 million viewers on average, the vast majority of whom are from the US, understandably. There are loads of 'equivilants', many of which get similar amounts of views. I'll use the 2006 World Cup final as my example (it comes around once every four years). The total audience for the final was 715.8 million. Nuff said.
 
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