U.S. Open thread

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That has absolutely nothing to do with faking an injury. Call it overly manly or macho, but pretending to be hurt is just a sissy thing that bugs the heck out of me in sports. Getting the wind knocked out of you is one thing, holding your head like you've narrowly missed an assassination attempt is completely different. I don't care if that sort of selling is strategy, it's obnoxious and pathetic.

 

People hold their knees and legs because it frakking hurts to be running full speed and then get knocked to the ground, or have someone kick you in the ankles or slide into your legs when you're running and cutting.

 

I think the view of someone embellishing a foul has colored the opinion of what a typical foul looks like.

 

I know the actual fouls can hurt. I'm not talking about those.

 

Then you're talking about something that happens very rarely.

[Sammy Sofa]

I have no doubts about the "manliness" of soccer. I think soccer players are the most athletic athletes of all the major sports. I just think it's an incredibly boring sport for me to watch.

[jersey cubs fan]

That has absolutely nothing to do with faking an injury. Call it overly manly or macho, but pretending to be hurt is just a sissy thing that bugs the heck out of me in sports. Getting the wind knocked out of you is one thing, holding your head like you've narrowly missed an assassination attempt is completely different. I don't care if that sort of selling is strategy, it's obnoxious and pathetic.

 

People hold their knees and legs because it frakking hurts to be running full speed and then get knocked to the ground, or have someone kick you in the ankles or slide into your legs when you're running and cutting.

 

I think the view of someone embellishing a foul has colored the opinion of what a typical foul looks like.

 

I know the actual fouls can hurt. I'm not talking about those.

 

Then you're talking about something that happens very rarely.

 

Like I said, it could be perception, but very rarely is an extremely generous description. People on here have even talked about the strategy of selling a foul. If that's "part of the game" that is also part of the problem. Getting kicked in the shins can hurt. As somebody who played soccer at very low levels, where the majority of players are uncoordinated idiots swinging at shins, I've felt it. But the grazing fouls that wind up with men on the ground happens far more frequently than you are suggesting.

 

I enjoy watching games, they can be fun even if they are dull at times. But this is a legit issue.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Like I said, it could be perception, but very rarely is an extremely generous description. People on here have even talked about the strategy of selling a foul. If that's "part of the game" that is also part of the problem. Getting kicked in the shins can hurt. As somebody who played soccer at very low levels, where the majority of players are uncoordinated idiots swinging at shins, I've felt it. But the grazing fouls that wind up with men on the ground happens far more frequently than you are suggesting.

 

I enjoy watching games, they can be fun even if they are dull at times. But this is a legit issue.

 

Those aren't the fouls where people roll around on the ground. They go down, they get the whistle, and play resumes. No different than taking a charge.

[wolf stansson]

It's basically akin to someone saying they don't like baseball because some guys pose after their homers. It doesn't say anything about the sport, just the person. Didier Drogba is one of the worst divers in the world. He is also almost always the strongest player on the pitch every time he plays. He shouldn't spend so much time on the ground, but that's just who he is. Go ahead and root against him the same way people rooted against Barry Bonds. Doesn't mean the sport sucks.

[Banedon]

This happens so infrequently, hearing criticism of a sport based on this just aggravates me.

 

You watch a ton more soccer than me, clearly, so I'm going to take your word on this that it happens infrequently. But if that's the case, why is the perception so prevalent that it happens all the time?

[USSoccer]

This happens so infrequently, hearing criticism of a sport based on this just aggravates me.

 

You watch a ton more soccer than me, clearly, so I'm going to take your word on this that it happens infrequently. But if that's the case, why is the perception so prevalent that it happens all the time?

 

Because for 25 years the perception of soccer has been that it's a sport for sissies and communists. The mainstream sports media pretty much hates soccer, and repeats the same lame talking points bashing the sport for being too low scoring, having ties, the diving/rolling around thing, the overly emotional goal celebrations, riots, etc etc etc.

 

If you watch the game on any sort of consistent level, there aren't too many players outside of Italy or Cristiano Ronaldo (and he's cut back) that dive and act like they were shot in the head. It's a bad, bad perception perpetuated by the media. It just doesn't happen nearly as often as people think (unless Italy is playing).

[wolf stansson]

It's the same reasons that NBA fans don't like people calling the sport "thuggish" or baseball fans not liking people who say it's all a bunch of roided out freaks.

 

It happens, it's not cool but it isn't what the game is about.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's basically akin to someone saying they don't like baseball because some guys pose after their homers. It doesn't say anything about the sport, just the person. Didier Drogba is one of the worst divers in the world. He is also almost always the strongest player on the pitch every time he plays. He shouldn't spend so much time on the ground, but that's just who he is. Go ahead and root against him the same way people rooted against Barry Bonds. Doesn't mean the sport sucks.

 

It really has nothing to do with Bonds.

 

Watching your homeruns is more akin to the goal scoring celebrations. Flopping like a whiney baby and faking injury, for 2 seconds or 2 minutes, is pathetic.

[USSoccer]

It's basically akin to someone saying they don't like baseball because some guys pose after their homers. It doesn't say anything about the sport, just the person. Didier Drogba is one of the worst divers in the world. He is also almost always the strongest player on the pitch every time he plays. He shouldn't spend so much time on the ground, but that's just who he is. Go ahead and root against him the same way people rooted against Barry Bonds. Doesn't mean the sport sucks.

 

It really has nothing to do with Bonds.

 

Watching your homeruns is more akin to the goal scoring celebrations. Flopping like a whiney baby and faking injury, for 2 seconds or 2 minutes, is pathetic.

 

It's strategy, like 95% of the time.

 

If Carlos Zambrano could get Albert Pujols kicked out of a game for exaggerating something, I'd expect him to do it.

[wolf stansson]

It's basically akin to someone saying they don't like baseball because some guys pose after their homers. It doesn't say anything about the sport, just the person. Didier Drogba is one of the worst divers in the world. He is also almost always the strongest player on the pitch every time he plays. He shouldn't spend so much time on the ground, but that's just who he is. Go ahead and root against him the same way people rooted against Barry Bonds. Doesn't mean the sport sucks.

 

It really has nothing to do with Bonds.

 

Watching your homeruns is more akin to the goal scoring celebrations. Flopping like a whiney baby and faking injury, for 2 seconds or 2 minutes, is pathetic.

 

You're good at missing points.

Edited June 19, 2008 by wolf stansson

[jersey cubs fan]

It's basically akin to someone saying they don't like baseball because some guys pose after their homers. It doesn't say anything about the sport, just the person. Didier Drogba is one of the worst divers in the world. He is also almost always the strongest player on the pitch every time he plays. He shouldn't spend so much time on the ground, but that's just who he is. Go ahead and root against him the same way people rooted against Barry Bonds. Doesn't mean the sport sucks.

 

It really has nothing to do with Bonds.

 

Watching your homeruns is more akin to the goal scoring celebrations. Flopping like a whiney baby and faking injury, for 2 seconds or 2 minutes, is pathetic.

 

It's strategy, like 95% of the time.

 

If Carlos Zambrano could get Albert Pujols kicked out of a game for exaggerating something, I'd expect him to do it.

 

And that is the problem. Sports that require faking injury as strategy annoy the hell out of me. The fact that it is "part of the game" is the reason why it's annoying. Regardless of whether or not it's "smart", I think it's pathetic.

[jersey cubs fan]

You're good at missing points.

 

The point was your attempt to characterize it as similar to watching HRs holds no water.

[USSoccer]

 

And that is the problem. Sports that require faking injury as strategy annoy the hell out of me. The fact that it is "part of the game" is the reason why it's annoying. Regardless of whether or not it's "smart", I think it's pathetic.

 

Let's be clear-are you referring to a guy who spends 10 seconds on the ground to help draw a card, or a guy who rolls around in agony, gets stretchered off, and comes back on 5 minutes later?

[wolf stansson]

You're good at missing points.

 

The point was your attempt to characterize it as similar to watching HRs holds no water.

Are you really that ignorant? I don't think so. You seem smart enough to realize I was comparing two arguments that people use to criticize two sports and that each of those arguments are valid but reflect on the individual and not the sport as a whole.

 

Apparently I was wrong though.

[Guest]

That has absolutely nothing to do with faking an injury. Call it overly manly or macho, but pretending to be hurt is just a sissy thing that bugs the heck out of me in sports. Getting the wind knocked out of you is one thing, holding your head like you've narrowly missed an assassination attempt is completely different. I don't care if that sort of selling is strategy, it's obnoxious and pathetic.

Berkman faking being hit. If baseball had that every game, it would be significantly less fun, too.

 

Despite my dad being a high school soccer coach, I never played enough to appreciate watching the game. At this point, I haven't the time to learn enough about it to like spending the time on the sport.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

And that is the problem. Sports that require faking injury as strategy annoy the hell out of me. The fact that it is "part of the game" is the reason why it's annoying. Regardless of whether or not it's "smart", I think it's pathetic.

 

Let's be clear-are you referring to a guy who spends 10 seconds on the ground to help draw a card, or a guy who rolls around in agony, gets stretchered off, and comes back on 5 minutes later?

 

Both.

 

They are both obnoxious. The latter is far more pathetic, but they are both obnoxious.

 

"Helping to draw a card" may be smart, but it's a negative aspect of the game.

 

I like watching games, and one of my hopes is to attend one in Europe. It can get a little dull in the lagging time when the ball just seems to get punted back and forth, but I enjoy watching it. I sucked playing it as a kid, but my high school was decent and the football team used to watch them play. It's an enjoyable atmosphere. I just find the whole "drawing a card" thing really obnoxious. It's the same with any diving that takes place in hockey (which I think is far less frequent and also more difficult to differentiate, since they are flying around on ice) and basketball (which I really don't enjoy much at all).

[jersey cubs fan]

You're good at missing points.

 

The point was your attempt to characterize it as similar to watching HRs holds no water.

Are you really that ignorant? I don't think so. You seem smart enough to realize I was comparing two arguments that people use to criticize two sports and that each of those arguments are valid but reflect on the individual and not the sport as a whole.

 

Apparently I was wrong though.

 

Maybe I am ignorant. But the comparison was completely irrelevent to the discussion.

[wolf stansson]

You're good at missing points.

 

The point was your attempt to characterize it as similar to watching HRs holds no water.

Are you really that ignorant? I don't think so. You seem smart enough to realize I was comparing two arguments that people use to criticize two sports and that each of those arguments are valid but reflect on the individual and not the sport as a whole.

 

Apparently I was wrong though.

 

Maybe I am ignorant. But the comparison was completely irrelevent to the discussion.

Would you have understood clearer if I had just said hate the playa not the game?

[USSoccer]

 

Let's be clear-are you referring to a guy who spends 10 seconds on the ground to help draw a card, or a guy who rolls around in agony, gets stretchered off, and comes back on 5 minutes later?

 

Both.

 

They are both obnoxious. The latter is far more pathetic, but they are both obnoxious.

 

"Helping to draw a card" may be smart, but it's a negative aspect of the game.

 

I like watching games, and one of my hopes is to attend one in Europe. It can get a little dull in the lagging time when the ball just seems to get punted back and forth, but I enjoy watching it. I sucked playing it as a kid, but my high school was decent and the football team used to watch them play. It's an enjoyable atmosphere. I just find the whole "drawing a card" thing really obnoxious. It's the same with any diving that takes place in hockey (which I think is far less frequent and also more difficult to differentiate, since they are flying around on ice) and basketball (which I really don't enjoy much at all).

 

There are other reasons to do it besides drawing a card, too. I've stayed down to break up momentum in a game when our defense needed to regroup, or to give someone on the field a break.

 

Having played at a fairly high level-not OMC playing AA ball level or anything, but high level nontheless-it just becomes part of the culture of the game. There are times when it's somewhat necessary.

 

I can say personally I've never pulled an Azzurri and faked a head injury to try and draw a card, though.

[cubweiser03]

Yeah some of those dudes rolling around in pain is kinda irritating but sometimes its actually entertaining. One time some dude was carried off on a stretcher and once it crossed the sidelines they laid him down and he rolled off and got up instantly and went right back in. I laughed my ass off. If some NFL player tried some of these antics he would be ridiculed so hard, and those dudes are getting freaking rocked. You dont see Qbs rolling around after late hits or hits below the knees to try and sell penalties. Why does the degree of the amount of pain inflicted part of the penalty process anyway. Eliminate that. The refs saw the play or they didnt.

 

I like World Cup soccer. Ill watch those games, those are sweet.

 

This kinda sucks with Tiger, not that i dont like him but i like to see the other golfers challenged by him and see if they can beat him. This year is going to miss that element.

[Banedon]

This kinda sucks with Tiger, not that i dont like him but i like to see the other golfers challenged by him and see if they can beat him. This year is going to miss that element.

 

OMG are you trying to talk golf in this clearly Soccer-themed thread????

 

Oh wait. ;)

[Soul]

I would consider it a milestone experience to see a World Cup final live. (ehem, since we're talking about Soccer here)

[imb]

You're good at missing points.

 

The point was your attempt to characterize it as similar to watching HRs holds no water.

 

swing and a miss

[wolf stansson]

Not falling could have just possibly cost Portugal it's first Major tournament championship and Christiano Ronaldo's opportunity to set himself up as a footballing immortal. Not that I think he should have flopped, but I can certainly understand why someone would.

 

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2008/06/euro-2008-germa.html#more

Missed call of the Match: Michael Ballack's double shove on Paulo Ferreira to give him room for what wound up being the game-winning goal. Perhaps Ferreira didn't do enough of a sell job but it was clear he was pushed, though it is a tough play for a linesman to see.