2010 World Cup Thread

[Guest]

It's not perceived as being popular in the US because:

 

1) it doesn't get tv coverage. It simply isn't as profitable a sport to cover due to the lack of commercial time.

2) MLS is like a third class league by world standards

 

No matter how invested people are in the sport during World Cup, if you don't have the ability to watch it on a regular basis during the other three years, it won't be perceived as being as popular as other sports.

 

Also, if MLB were played overseas and we just had the minor leagues here, I doubt baseball would be viewed as a premier sport, either.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

It's not perceived as being popular in the US because:

 

1) it doesn't get tv coverage. It simply isn't as profitable a sport to cover due to the lack of commercial time.

2) MLS is like a third class league by world standards

 

No matter how invested people are in the sport during World Cup, if you don't have the ability to watch it on a regular basis during the other three years, it won't be perceived as being as popular as other sports.

 

Also, if MLB were played overseas and we just had the minor leagues here, I doubt baseball would be viewed as a premier sport, either.

 

But the reality is that MLS attendance is pretty solid, and TV coverage (for all soccer, not MLS specifically) is expanding and getting solid ratings.

 

By pretty much any standard people want to use, soccer has arrived. It's just the remaining white people who don't like it don't want to admit it.

[bukie]

[shnsajax]

It's not perceived as being popular in the US because:

 

1) it doesn't get tv coverage. It simply isn't as profitable a sport to cover due to the lack of commercial time.

2) MLS is like a third class league by world standards

 

No matter how invested people are in the sport during World Cup, if you don't have the ability to watch it on a regular basis during the other three years, it won't be perceived as being as popular as other sports.

 

Also, if MLB were played overseas and we just had the minor leagues here, I doubt baseball would be viewed as a premier sport, either.

 

I don't agree with the 1st one at all. European Leagues are becoming a lot more popular over here as are the Champions League. The MLS will never be the revenue maker the EPL or SPL are but I wouldn't base anything on the MLS either.

[Careless]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704629804575324972912236204.html

 

Remember June 23, 2010: the day the lame old "Soccer is Boring" argument finally died in the U.S.

The comments the soccer fans have been making after the game have been somewhat hysterical (in the original sense of the word). No, mister WSJ writer, it was possible to watch the game and not be a convert.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

 

My 9-month-old thought that was hilarious.

[Jon]

I was just coming here to post

.

[Jon]

Here's the first reaction from inside the stadium that I've seen.

 

Also, some ESPN3 numbers:

 

Variety[/url]"]As with the opening round of college basketball's March Madness tournament, many office workers are watching weekday matches on their computers. Cabler recently launched ESPN3 as a home for live-streaming events. Through last week's U.S.-Slovenia match, 3.4 million unique viewers had visited the site, with each spending more than 90 minutes watching the World Cup.

[wolf stansson]

By pretty much any standard people want to use, soccer has arrived. It's just the remaining white people who don't like it don't want to admit it.

Soccer in this country is like Rap in that old people, ignorant people or to be more kind, "traditionalists" either can't or don't want to understand it's influence and importance. They'd rather listen to the Beatles, Miles Davis or whatever and snobbishly dismiss Jay Z as a thug who just talks over obnoxious beats.

 

My attitude is the same towards both attitudes. You're missing out and you sound stupid. That's on you.

[USSoccer]

 

Watching on Tivo - how did Dempsey miss the shot off the post and then the rebound around the 60th min?

 

I haven't rewatched but on first viewing, he took an awkward first touch instead of just first-timing the shot, and then took a really great chip shot that just happened to hit the woodwork.

 

The rebound shot...he had time to settle but he rushed it.

[wolf stansson]

\ Demerit has been great too, could he make a higher jump back into the Premiership? Timmy should be on a top 10 club in the world.

DeMerit won't go. He is Watford. Plus he's relatively old. He should and wants to stay with the club and fans he loves.

 

Tim is the same way to a lesser degree. He's got a good 10 years left in his prime as a keeper, but he loves Everton.

 

That being said, I could see him moving to a huge club if the price is right for both the challenge and the financial gain at stake for both he and Everton. He's a different case than any of our other potential transfer targets in that he's already played for a super club. In fact, arguably the biggest club in the world.

 

The most likely scenario for Tim moving on is when Moyes gets a big job. I could see both of them at United when SAF retires.

 

Bradley could be useful to a ton of massive clubs. Arsenal need a player like him, Liverpool could get him to replace Mascherano, making a tidy profit without losing quality. He'd be great in Italy. Juve and Milan could use him. Closer to his club home, Bayern could really use him as a long-term partner with Schweinsteiger with Van Bommel getting up there. Sky's the limit with Mikey.

[USSoccer]

\ Demerit has been great too, could he make a higher jump back into the Premiership? Timmy should be on a top 10 club in the world.

DeMerit won't go. He is Watford. Plus he's relatively old. He should and wants to stay with the club and fans he loves.

 

Tim is the same way to a lesser degree. He's got a good 10 years left in his prime as a keeper, but he loves Everton.

 

That being said, I could see him moving to a huge club if the price is right for both the challenge and the financial gain at stake for both he and Everton. He's a different case than any of our other potential transfer targets in that he's already played for a super club. In fact, arguably the biggest club in the world.

 

The most likely scenario for Tim moving on is when Moyes gets a big job. I could see both of them at United when SAF retires.

 

Bradley could be useful to a ton of massive clubs. Arsenal need a player like him, Liverpool could get him to replace Mascherano, making a tidy profit without losing quality. He'd be great in Italy. Juve and Milan could use him. Closer to his club home, Bayern could really use him as a long-term partner with Schweinsteiger with Van Bommel getting up there. Sky's the limit with Mikey.

 

I'd like to see Mikey stay at 'Gladbach for one more year. He was up and down during the term and the last thing I'd want is for him to go to the EPL and ride pine the first iffy game he has.

 

Howard stays at Everton until Moyes goes. They could legitimately challenge for CL next term, especially if they try to buy Landon.

 

Jozy probably raised his stock to the point where maybe Villarreal keep him and partner him with Rossi.

 

I'm fairly happy with most of our guys' club situations, actually. The one guy who might, might move would be Clint, especially if Hodgson goes to Liverpool.

[Exile on Waveland]

By pretty much any standard people want to use, soccer has arrived. It's just the remaining white people who don't like it don't want to admit it.

Soccer in this country is like Rap in that old people, ignorant people or to be more kind, "traditionalists" either can't or don't want to understand it's influence and importance. They'd rather listen to the Beatles, Miles Davis or whatever and snobbishly dismiss Jay Z as a thug who just talks over obnoxious beats.

 

My attitude is the same towards both attitudes. You're missing out and you sound stupid. That's on you.

 

While I agree with your thesis, the bolded is some pretty damn good ish. It doesn't take snobbishness to like either; just taste.

[ConstableRabbit]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704629804575324972912236204.html

 

Remember June 23, 2010: the day the lame old "Soccer is Boring" argument finally died in the U.S.

I've loved the few people who still insist on mentioning that they think soccer is stupid when they see me in my world cup craze. Hey guy, I couldn't give a s. I used to concern myself with things like "why don't people like soccer?" or "how can I get more people to like soccer?" but now I don't care. We're a large enough community to matter on a global scale, our players are good enough to matter on a global scale and everyone who isn't on board now is just missing out.

 

I can only imagine how exciting this would be for a new fan who just now discovered this US team. For a real sports fan, it's gotta be like hearing Bob Dylan or Wu Tang for the first time. It's just awesome.

 

Agreed. I really could care less about how big soccer is in the US anymore. I'm sick of seeing tons of articles written about it everywhere. Every 4 years, its the same crappy recycled stories. To be truthful, soccer really will become big when people stop questioning its popularity. If you are a journalist and a soccer fan, good write about it. If you don't like soccer, that's fine just ignore it.

 

Also you are right, the US fans brought the most people out of any country to SA. Maybe our whole country doesn't stop what they are doing for a US world cup game, but the US has a huge fanbase and it makes itself known. I see people in the streets wearing USA jerseys on game day, I hear the same people who jumped on the blackhawks bandwagon a few weeks ago talk about where they are going to watch the game. Girls too. It's popular enough that I don't give a [expletive] anymore. I know I'm not as hardcore as US and soccer10k and the rest of the frequent posters in the soccer thread, but I consider myself more than a casual fan. And as that, I take a ton of pride in seeing this team play like it has.

=D>

[Magnetic Curses]

the best soccer club leagues are played overseas, and the majority of American sports fans are provincial. casual fans aren't going to start flocking to mls games. I really don't see how soccer has arrived any more than in any previous cup year, apart from the fact that espn3 provides a wonderful way to waste time at work.

 

A league that is not the best in the world will never see mainstream success in this country. I'm loving the world cup now, though.

Edited June 24, 2010 by Stannis

[USSoccer]

the best soccer club leagues are played overseas, and the majority of American sports fans are provincial.Casual fans aren't going to start flocking to mls games. I really don't see how soccer has arrived any more than in any previous cup year, apart from the fact that espn3 provides a wonderful way to waste time at work.

 

I think this is the culmination of the past two years of heightened awareness. MLS attendance is up while every other league was static or down. Seattle draw 30k+ every match and play pretty good attacking soccer. Investment in MLS is up.

 

At this point, I don't care if it "arrives" with meatheaded meatballs. We have a big enough fanbase to matter, as Wolf said.

[Guest]

By pretty much any standard people want to use, soccer has arrived. It's just the remaining white people who don't like it don't want to admit it.

Soccer in this country is like Rap in that old people, ignorant people or to be more kind, "traditionalists" either can't or don't want to understand it's influence and importance. They'd rather listen to the Beatles, Miles Davis or whatever and snobbishly dismiss Jay Z as a thug who just talks over obnoxious beats.

 

My attitude is the same towards both attitudes. You're missing out and you sound stupid. That's on you.

 

While I agree with your thesis, the bolded is some pretty damn good ish. It doesn't take snobbishness to like either; just taste.

 

Right. No one is saying to abandon baseball because soccer exists.

 

And Sulley is half right. The fact that 1) The best soccer isn't played in America and 2) The best soccer is spread over several leagues is a definite barrier to the all-out superfandom you see in places like, well, here for other sports. The problem is that isn't a fundamental flaw with the sport, or some proof that soccer is boring or for foreigners or whatever cliched comparisons people like to make. Soccer's popularity and background in America is much different than that of any other sport. So the fact that soccer is accepted on different terms than sports that were INVENTED here is not something worthy of mocking derision, but merely acceptance of what it is. It's not going to be the NFL, but it's more than the Olympics.

[Magnetic Curses]

the best soccer club leagues are played overseas, and the majority of American sports fans are provincial.Casual fans aren't going to start flocking to mls games. I really don't see how soccer has arrived any more than in any previous cup year, apart from the fact that espn3 provides a wonderful way to waste time at work.

 

I think this is the culmination of the past two years of heightened awareness. MLS attendance is up while every other league was static or down. Seattle draw 30k+ every match and play pretty good attacking soccer. Investment in MLS is up.

 

At this point, I don't care if it "arrives" with meatheaded meatballs. We have a big enough fanbase to matter, as Wolf said.

 

I peek in on the soccer thread every once in a while and much of the time you guys are talking about teams in countries most us have never been to. I don't consider myself a meatball but that's something I could never dig.

[Exile on Waveland]

the best soccer club leagues are played overseas, and the majority of American sports fans are provincial. casual fans aren't going to start flocking to mls games. I really don't see how soccer has arrived any more than in any previous cup year, apart from the fact that espn3 provides a wonderful way to waste time at work.

 

A league that is not the best in the world will never see mainstream success in this country. I'm loving the world cup now, though.

 

Then you're ignoring what's right in front of you.

[Exile on Waveland]

By pretty much any standard people want to use, soccer has arrived. It's just the remaining white people who don't like it don't want to admit it.

Soccer in this country is like Rap in that old people, ignorant people or to be more kind, "traditionalists" either can't or don't want to understand it's influence and importance. They'd rather listen to the Beatles, Miles Davis or whatever and snobbishly dismiss Jay Z as a thug who just talks over obnoxious beats.

 

My attitude is the same towards both attitudes. You're missing out and you sound stupid. That's on you.

 

While I agree with your thesis, the bolded is some pretty damn good ish. It doesn't take snobbishness to like either; just taste.

 

Right. No one is saying to abandon baseball because soccer exists.

 

And Sulley is half right. The fact that 1) The best soccer isn't played in America and 2) The best soccer is spread over several leagues is a definite barrier to the all-out superfandom you see in places like, well, here for other sports. The problem is that isn't a fundamental flaw with the sport, or some proof that soccer is boring or for foreigners or whatever cliched comparisons people like to make. Soccer's popularity and background in America is much different than that of any other sport. So the fact that soccer is accepted on different terms than sports that were INVENTED here is not something worthy of mocking derision, but merely acceptance of what it is. It's not going to be the NFL, but it's more than the Olympics.

 

1) I just get a little itchy when the Beatles are dissed in any way (though I don't believe that was wolf's intent).

 

2) You absolutely right. The fact that we don't have the best league -- and the fact that their isn't one unquestionable "best" league -- will always be a drag on popularity here.

[USSoccer]

the best soccer club leagues are played overseas, and the majority of American sports fans are provincial.Casual fans aren't going to start flocking to mls games. I really don't see how soccer has arrived any more than in any previous cup year, apart from the fact that espn3 provides a wonderful way to waste time at work.

 

I think this is the culmination of the past two years of heightened awareness. MLS attendance is up while every other league was static or down. Seattle draw 30k+ every match and play pretty good attacking soccer. Investment in MLS is up.

 

At this point, I don't care if it "arrives" with meatheaded meatballs. We have a big enough fanbase to matter, as Wolf said.

 

I peek in on the soccer thread every once in a while and much of the time you guys are talking about teams in countries most us have never been to. I don't consider myself a meatball but that's something I could never dig.

 

Which is fine, I totally get that. Soccer here allows for the opportunity to enjoy it on several levels. MLS/USMNT/Euro leagues...casuals won't follow MLS like the hardcore guys do, but that's fine. If this WC means that the casuals maybe follow the 'Nats a little more closely, especially come WCQ's or the WC, that's fine too.

 

And if not, honestly, that's fine too. Our fanbase is growing at a perfectly fine rate. I'm happy that we're getting the press love we're getting, because this group deserves it. They're special-this is the best team we've ever had.

[Magnetic Curses]

the best soccer club leagues are played overseas, and the majority of American sports fans are provincial. casual fans aren't going to start flocking to mls games. I really don't see how soccer has arrived any more than in any previous cup year, apart from the fact that espn3 provides a wonderful way to waste time at work.

 

A league that is not the best in the world will never see mainstream success in this country. I'm loving the world cup now, though.

 

Then you're ignoring what's right in front of you.

 

What, people watching soccer? It's the [expletive] World Cup and the American team isn't bad. What do you expect? A lot of you were turding it up over curling some months ago.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

What, people watching soccer? It's the [expletive] World Cup and the American team isn't bad. What do you expect? A lot of you were turding it up over curling some months ago.

 

 

The U.S. qualifiers and the European leagues on cable both got solid ratings well before this World Cup came around.

[Magnetic Curses]

By pretty much any standard people want to use, soccer has arrived. It's just the remaining white people who don't like it don't want to admit it.

Soccer in this country is like Rap in that old people, ignorant people or to be more kind, "traditionalists" either can't or don't want to understand it's influence and importance. They'd rather listen to the Beatles, Miles Davis or whatever and snobbishly dismiss Jay Z as a thug who just talks over obnoxious beats.

 

My attitude is the same towards both attitudes. You're missing out and you sound stupid. That's on you.

 

While I agree with your thesis, the bolded is some pretty damn good ish. It doesn't take snobbishness to like either; just taste.

 

Right. No one is saying to abandon baseball because soccer exists.

 

And Sulley is half right. The fact that 1) The best soccer isn't played in America and 2) The best soccer is spread over several leagues is a definite barrier to the all-out superfandom you see in places like, well, here for other sports. The problem is that isn't a fundamental flaw with the sport, or some proof that soccer is boring or for foreigners or whatever cliched comparisons people like to make. Soccer's popularity and background in America is much different than that of any other sport. So the fact that soccer is accepted on different terms than sports that were INVENTED here is not something worthy of mocking derision, but merely acceptance of what it is. It's not going to be the NFL, but it's more than the Olympics.

 

1) I just get a little itchy when the Beatles are dissed in any way (though I don't believe that was wolf's intent).

 

2) You absolutely right. The fact that we don't have the best league -- and the fact that their isn't one unquestionable "best" league -- will always be a drag on popularity here.

 

Why couldn't you have just said I was right?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Soccer has several quality TV deals.

 

Soccer matches draw ratings comparable to the other "major" sports outside of the NFL, often better.

 

MLS attendance is averaging 16k across a 16-team league.

 

Soccer highlights routinely appear on major sports news shows, and the scores appear right alongside every other major sport in the score tickers.

 

It'll never be the NFL, but nothing is ever going to be the NFL. There is no "big four."

 

There's the NFL.

 

Then there's the NBA and MLB.

 

Then there's a tier that includes a lot of ish, and soccer is in that tier. And really, MLB and NBA are a lot closer to this tier than they are the NFL.