Anyone else a HUGE sports fan, but not care for soccer?

Originally Posted by Tupac Jordan

Place a wager on it & it's one of the most exhilarating events you can witness.


Exactly. Or develop a genuine love for a team.

You think anyone cares about any sport if they have no personal interest whatsoever in who wins or who loses?
 
Originally Posted by MzD650

Originally Posted by PersiaFly

Originally Posted by MzD650

I have tried so hard to get into the sport.  I used to play when I was younger too (mostly just to stay in shape), but I just cant do it. 
Anyone else like me in this regard?
Any particular reasons for hating soccer?
I mean, theres a ton of reasons I dislike the sport, but people are going to look at it as hate.  I could list them if you want.  
I've known people who don't like soccer because they didn't understand it.  All they saw were guys passing the ball around (sometimes missing the passes) and waiting for them to score (which didn't happen frequently).  They weren't able to understand (or appreciate) the intricacies of what they were doing... accurate long passes, one-two's, overlapping runs, through-passes, etc.  I guess its kinda like a slick 643 double-play... people who know whats going on can appreciate it, while for someone who doesn't understand baseball, all they saw was a guy who threw the ball to one guy, who then threw it to another guy.  I'm guessing this doesn't apply to you, since you said you used to play, but thats just one of the situations I've encountered.  

And like Xtapolapacetl said, picking a team you like should also make it more enjoyable.  
 
i just like when the fans go wild after a goal
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I personally believe the sport will continue to become more popular in the U.S. with each passing year for several reasons:

-The MLS is continuing to develop nicely. The quality still isnt there but the play is improving, they're attracting better players (from Europe), the clubs are developing good young talent, the league has expanded to cities that genuinely care about sports, and the popularity of the league will mean more Americans will be exposed to the sport

-Television coverage...not only is the MLS on tv a lot now, but you have Spanish, English, Champions League games etc broadcast on sports channels accessible to all American sports fans. Not only that, but ESPN broadcasting the WC is a huge step in increasing the sport's popularity in the U.S. The biggest sports channel in the country is going to dedicate around-the-clock coverage to this event and causal fans will likely tune in.

-The US national team has improved significantly in the last 20-years. It's no coincidence the national team's improvent coincides with the development of MLS. As the MLS continues to improve, so too will the national team, and as the NT begins to perform better internationally, more Americans will pay attention to the sport.

I'm not saying it'll ever be as popular as football, baseball and basketball, but I think the sport has the potential to be extremely popular in the U.S. and potentially one of America's favorite hobbies. If the U.S. ever host another WC then we will all watch the sport take off in your country...
 
Originally Posted by i3allistic

IMO

soccer >>>>>> baseball
Completely agree. I would say that Soccer >>> Baseball and Hockey

Im really looking forward to the World Cup.
 
OK.....I've tried. Really really tried. But every game ends in a tie. I mean, do soccer fans like this? I feel like every game has ended in a tie, regardless if one team is heavily favored or not.

I know people are going to reply that "its JUST the first round," but that doesnt matter to me. I am trying so hard to become a fan of the sport and I just cant. Too many ties, flopping and nothing going on for the whole game.

ANyone feel me?
 
^
There hasn't been much "diving" so far.  How can you complain about that, when they flop in the NBA every chance they get?

Draws are part of the sport.  It's not a big deal.  

I never watch soccer, but when it's World Cup time I try to watch every game.  Especially in the later rounds when the best of the best play.  It's the greatest sporting event in the world.
 
Raises Hand.

It's at the end of the totem pole for me. Respect the sport, but I'm not a fan. Kinda same for football, but I hold a hire regard for it than soccer.

Baseball
Basketball
Hockey
Football
*Soccer
 
I just got into it this past year, and I'm loving the World Cup.
It seems like a huge party. Makes me wish I would of stuck with it when I was younger.
One thing that I really appreciate is the fact that it doesn't have commercials for real unlike, football. But I love football to just I hardly ever watch a full game from whistle to whistle due to commercials.
I need to get a TV package for when league games start back because I am hooked.
There are still a few things that I don't understand about the game, but the guys in the WC thread have really helped me out.

Now the one sport that I just can not get into is hockey, I don't even like hockey video games all that much anymore
 
Originally Posted by MzD650

OK.....I've tried. Really really tried. But every game ends in a tie. I mean, do soccer fans like this? I feel like every game has ended in a tie, regardless if one team is heavily favored or not.

I know people are going to reply that "its JUST the first round," but that doesnt matter to me. I am trying so hard to become a fan of the sport and I just cant. Too many ties, flopping and nothing going on for the whole game.

ANyone feel me?
You can't judge the sport based on these first couple of games. This years world cup has been extremely poor so far.
Wait until the knockout stages.. then you wont have to worry about ties 
laugh.gif
 
Originally Posted by MzD650

OK.....I've tried. Really really tried. But every game ends in a tie. I mean, do soccer fans like this? I feel like every game has ended in a tie, regardless if one team is heavily favored or not.

I know people are going to reply that "its JUST the first round," but that doesnt matter to me. I am trying so hard to become a fan of the sport and I just cant. Too many ties, flopping and nothing going on for the whole game.

ANyone feel me?
Well whether or not it matters to you, the opening games for each team do play a factor in the pace of the game and the score.  I won't argue that every game is a nail biter or edge of your seat excitement, but that goes for all sports.. it just seems like you don't know what to look for and you're not used to watching the game.  You mention all the diving, yet there hasn't been too much of that going on.  Most of the time these guys are actually getting bumped, hit, or stepped on.  Try having someone sprinting towards you and lunging and hitting your leg with a cleat and see if you fall down.  Yes, flopping occurs, but if you watched the Portugal game, the announcers were ripping Ronaldo for his dives, it's not like they were out there encouraging it or turning a blind eye.

Obviously most games aren't going to be 9-8 shootouts, so get over that much right now, this isn't a video game so don't expect to see goals every 10 minutes.  The excitement in soccer doesn't lie in the final score necessarily, but near misses, great runs, quick counterattacks, and great through balls or crosses.  The build-up and anticipation is where half the fun is.  Watching a game for 85 minutes with no goals and then finally someone breaks through and gets the go ahead goal with a few minutes to spare = a tremendous feeling for fans.

I believe you're trying and watching, but if you're expecting the game to be a 90 minute Nike commercial then I almost want to say don't even bother.  It also seems like fans of American sports overestimate the amount of action that goes on in their favorite sports.  Of course football can be high scoring, hard hits, great passes or running plays, but there's also tons of 3 yard dives up the middle or a simple screen pass for a few yards, and tons of incompletions that slow the game down.  I'm obviously not attacking american football because I love it, but making a point.

To say nothing goes on in soccer but in basketball you could have 20 actual minutes go by, but due to coaches timeouts, tv timeouts, foul shots, out of bounds plays, etc. You might only see 6 minutes of actual gametime go by.  In comparison, soccer is a running clock and except for injuries, they're playing nearly the whole time.  Throw-ins, corners, goal kicks don't take multiple minutes to get going.

The World Cup has only been going on for a few days still, at least keep watching through this stage, then you'll be in the knockout stage which should be much more exciting for the casual fan.  Actually listen to the announcers and try to learn about the sport while you're watching, see where they get excited and pleased with the game, and don't just assume if it's a tie then it's a bad game, because if you do then you'll never enjoy the sport.
 
So what do you call a huge sports fan that does care for soccer?

A huger sports fan?
 
Originally Posted by needsomejays

^ then just give up and dont watch, i mean no one really cares if you watch or not
laugh.gif

I am just trying to see if there are other people out here like me man.  If you have such a problem with me talking in this thread, maybe YOU should stay out of here.  
 
Originally Posted by Big J 33

Originally Posted by MzD650

OK.....I've tried. Really really tried. But every game ends in a tie. I mean, do soccer fans like this? I feel like every game has ended in a tie, regardless if one team is heavily favored or not.

I know people are going to reply that "its JUST the first round," but that doesnt matter to me. I am trying so hard to become a fan of the sport and I just cant. Too many ties, flopping and nothing going on for the whole game.

ANyone feel me?
Well whether or not it matters to you, the opening games for each team do play a factor in the pace of the game and the score.  I won't argue that every game is a nail biter or edge of your seat excitement, but that goes for all sports.. it just seems like you don't know what to look for and you're not used to watching the game.  You mention all the diving, yet there hasn't been too much of that going on.  Most of the time these guys are actually getting bumped, hit, or stepped on.  Try having someone sprinting towards you and lunging and hitting your leg with a cleat and see if you fall down.  Yes, flopping occurs, but if you watched the Portugal game, the announcers were ripping Ronaldo for his dives, it's not like they were out there encouraging it or turning a blind eye.

Obviously most games aren't going to be 9-8 shootouts, so get over that much right now, this isn't a video game so don't expect to see goals every 10 minutes.  The excitement in soccer doesn't lie in the final score necessarily, but near misses, great runs, quick counterattacks, and great through balls or crosses.  The build-up and anticipation is where half the fun is.  Watching a game for 85 minutes with no goals and then finally someone breaks through and gets the go ahead goal with a few minutes to spare = a tremendous feeling for fans.

I believe you're trying and watching, but if you're expecting the game to be a 90 minute Nike commercial then I almost want to say don't even bother.  It also seems like fans of American sports overestimate the amount of action that goes on in their favorite sports.  Of course football can be high scoring, hard hits, great passes or running plays, but there's also tons of 3 yard dives up the middle or a simple screen pass for a few yards, and tons of incompletions that slow the game down.  I'm obviously not attacking american football because I love it, but making a point.

To say nothing goes on in soccer but in basketball you could have 20 actual minutes go by, but due to coaches timeouts, tv timeouts, foul shots, out of bounds plays, etc. You might only see 6 minutes of actual gametime go by.  In comparison, soccer is a running clock and except for injuries, they're playing nearly the whole time.  Throw-ins, corners, goal kicks don't take multiple minutes to get going.

The World Cup has only been going on for a few days still, at least keep watching through this stage, then you'll be in the knockout stage which should be much more exciting for the casual fan.  Actually listen to the announcers and try to learn about the sport while you're watching, see where they get excited and pleased with the game, and don't just assume if it's a tie then it's a bad game, because if you do then you'll never enjoy the sport.

I appreciate this response.  I am not going to give up watching the WC, but so far I havent been extremely happy with whats been going on.  Just so you know, I DO understand the sport.  I used to play.  I just never could get into watching it.  And I loved hearing the announcers rip Ronaldo.  I am not giving up on it....but so far my interest level has been very low.
 
sit down and watch this



maybe it will give you an extra push to give it some time to grow on you
 
Originally Posted by o fenomeno

pimp.gif
love the fact that you won't be able to watch anything else on ESPN for the next month.
roll.gif
Yea man I was looking for Mike & Mike this morning and damn World Cup was on
 
^ It's on ESPNNews in the AM now DC.

I've never been a fan, I only watch the WC and I've watched less and less every WC. *shrugs* call me what you want to.
 
i tried, but i can't get into soccer...

1st team that scores wins 70% of the time...and being down 2-0 is nearly impossible to comeback and win.
 
pimp.gif
def tried watching this and baseball. Both suck too me..

sorry i had to...

but this game was crack when it came out though.. I was scoring GOALS like crazy.

Mario-Strikers-Charged-US.jpg
 
 
Originally Posted by DCAllAmerican

Originally Posted by o fenomeno

pimp.gif
love the fact that you won't be able to watch anything else on ESPN for the next month.
roll.gif
Yea man I was looking for Mike & Mike this morning and damn World Cup was on
Me too
laugh.gif


Obviously soccer is a great sport because so many people follow it around the world, but it just doesn't do it for me.
Fifa 10 and the Fifa WC are some of my favorite games in the past couple years, but when it comes to watching soccer on TV I rather blow my brains out.
I would feel robbed watching a game for 90+ minutes and the score is only 1-0
 
I would feel robbed watching a game for 90+ minutes and the score is only 1-0

thats how i felt watching the Portugal-Ivory Coast game this morning. neither team did anything for the entire game. Drogba was injured most of the game, but i was at least excited to see Cristiano Ronaldo play.. unfortunately, literally all he did was flop around for 90 minutes.
indifferent.gif
it ended 0-0 and i felt like i just sat down and wasted an hour and a half of my life.

i try to enjoy the World Cup and games like that make it harder... i know every sports tournament will have its duds, but that literally had to be the least exciting result i've seen in any sports tournament.
 
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