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[appaws]

American soccer and its fans are embarrassing! I'm not even talking about the level of play, which I have no idea about anyway. But why is it so LARPY and lame? From the franchises themselves down to the fans, it's all so phony.

One example, the team names. Why do they LARP as European teams with completely unorganic names that have no actual basis except a faux Euro veneer. Sports teams just are not named that way in North America, so why pretend? Real Salt Lake does not mean anything in Utah. D.C. United, that is just a pathetic copy of a storied thing in England. Why would a team be called "FC" when we don't even call the game football here? Same goes for "Sporting" KC and Houston Dynamo.

The fans are also annoying. I get the families with kids who grew up playing soccer wanting to go. But hipsters who grew up hating sports and getting shoved into lockers seem to have embraced soccer as somehow sophisticated and Euro. I can go to a pub and drink Newcastle and watch the Timbers...just like a real live piece of Eurotrash! I'm way better than those Neanderthals drinking Miller and watch "Handegg" lolz.

It's all fake and lame. All trying to force things that developed organically in Europe. Even the chants. Euro soccer people have lots of cool chants and songs. So American LARPers try to copy it. What they fail to realize is that the Euros only have to get shitfaced and chant and sing because the game is so goddamn boring.

If you are an American, get geared up for football like your fat dads and uncles do and stop being a douchebag. Go Bears!

 

[Mista]

Americans still don’t know the culture of football. You seem them doing great in NBA, MLB, NFL and other shit. But when it comes to football? They’ve got a long way to go. It isn’t even a popular sport up until couple of years ago

 

[Nobody_Important]

Soccer is still new here. We will get the hang of it eventually.

 

[Musky_Cheese]

We are good at Baseball tho

 

[Fox Mulder]

I have never written that many words about soccer ever.

Our biggest fanbases and sports culture is with NCAA and NFL teams.

 

[nkarafo]

It's so bad that you had to give it a different (lame) name.

And then you gave the original name to another sport where you only kick the ball once in a while and said ball isn't even shaped like a ball.

 

[Weilthain]

Meh, U.K football culture = alcohol + anti social behaviour.

Can’t be that bad.

 

[Secret_Lover]

Remove the first word from your thread title and you´ve got yourself a winner.

 

[J-Roderton]

Soccer.

 

[Mista]

Meh, U.K football culture = alcohol + anti social behaviour.

Can’t be that bad.

This aside, UK got plenty of knowledge about football.

 

[Nobody_Important]

Meh, U.K football culture = alcohol + anti social behaviour.

Can’t be that bad.

How is that any different than American Football culture? lol

 

[daveonezero]

Nearly every other countries fans of nearly every other sport are embarrassing.

What does it really matter? I think its embarrassing people get so into these things. In the USA professional sports are huge drains on tax money and mostly just a huge distraction.

 

[lock2k]

It's so bad that you had to give it a different (lame) name.

And then you gave the original name to another sport where you only kick the ball once in a while and said ball isn't even shaped like a ball.

You mean Handegg, right?

 

[Weilthain]

How is that any different than American Football culture? lol

I don’t know, I don’t watch American football I live in Scotland.

You’d shit yourself if you came across one

 

[Guardian's Light]

As an european, I can guarantee Usa typical sports fans here are just as annoying, if not more haha

 

[appaws]

As an european, I can guarantee Usa typical sports fans here are just as annoying, if not more haha

I'm sure. My point in this is not even to slag soccer. I am only annoyed with the fetishization of pretending to be like European teams and fans.

Like if I started a MLS franchise in Louisville....and I called it "Louisville Wednesday." And I got some small group of fans to do certain chants that sound like the Brit ones. It's all fake and none of it developed organically.

I have been to a couple of Chicago Fire games, and they don't have this problem. The name itself is authentically Chicagoan. And I think they don't do any of the silly shit that Portland and Seattle do because they know it would turn off so many Mexican-American and Polish-American fans, who really love soccer and don't feel the hipster need to pose as rejected extras from "Snatch."

 

[Moneal]

It's so bad that you had to give it a different (lame) name.

And then you gave the original name to another sport where you only kick the ball once in a while and said ball isn't even shaped like a ball.

Blame the UK for the name soccer.

 

[synchronicity]

I know you're speaking about the general culture in America, but there are long-term, hard core soccer fans that pre-date the MLS and the trendy love of the sport. I know, I am one.

I do think it's cringy to try to ape cultures and traditions that have no regional relevance though. I always thought that. Build your own identity.

 

[Guardian's Light]

I'm sure. My point in this is not even to slag soccer. I am only annoyed with the fetishization of pretending to be like European teams and fans.

Like if I started a MLS franchise in Louisville....and I called it "Louisville Wednesday." And I got some small group of fans to do certain chants that sound like the Brit ones. It's all fake and none of it developed organically.

I have been to a couple of Chicago Fire games, and they don't have this problem. The name itself is authentically Chicagoan. And I think they don't do any of the silly shit that Portland and Seattle do because they know it would turn off so many Mexican-American and Polish-American fans, who really love soccer and don't feel the hipster need to pose as rejected extras from "Snatch."

I agree 100%

It's like Halloween in my country, an imitation to the point it's even ridiculous
I think every Country should give everything it imports his personality, while mantaining the core

 

[iconmaster]

Stop trying to make soccer happen, America.

 

[HarryKS]

Better to stay silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

 

[Gargus]

For some reason people who talk about soccer or say they are soccer fans (in the USA, around me atleast) always seem like they are forcing and faking their fandom. It just comes off as they are trying really hard to make sure everyone knows what a huge soccer fan they are, and try to prove how proud they are of themselves for liking soccer. And it only started happening around here a couple years ago and it was suddenly from no one ever even saying the word soccer to everyone patting themselves on the back for saying what huge soccer fans they are. I remember the day it started, it was the last summer games for the olympics and america went on to the last game or something and I was at a mall walking by the food court and there was 1 tv in it and it had the olympics soccer game on it because I heard a group of people cheering from the other side of the mall. USA scored and there all cheering and clapping and patting eachother as if they each one of them just cured cancer.

I dont even care for sports but I can stand listening to people who like baseball, basketball and such because they seem sincere in enjoying it. Soccer fans on the other sound like all they do is parrot what they see on the news about a local team or repeat what they heard someone else say.

 

[pennythoughts]

isn't it America's thing to take from every culture and bastardize it

 

[Potato Chip PRO]

Apparently Sports that you're not allowed to use your hands are extremely unpopular here in the US.... Its pretty sad watching soccer here since the satdiums are always empty and not enough crazy people to make a fool out of themselves compared to other popular sports in the US. Just my two and a half cents.

 

[Ellis]

isn't it America's thing to take from every culture and bastardize it

When it comes to sport, that is hard to argue with. The three main American sports being from England.

Basketball from Netball
Baseball from Rounders
American Football from Rugby

 

[LegendOfKage]

 

[V4skunk]

How is that any different than American Football culture? lol

Because British football hooligans go bat shit crazy smashing stuff up and fighting each other in huge brawls, some times organised out of the way to avoid police attention.
Also stuff like this.

 

[TrainedRage]

Who cares? Hockey is like 1000% more interesting and faster paced.

 

[Ellis]

Who cares? Hockey is like 1000% more interesting and faster paced.

The one sport outside of Footy that I really wanted to play as a kid, but couldn't as we didn't have an ice rink nearby, and there wasn't many opportunities for the sport in the UK.

20+ years later and I'm still rather gutted about it lol.

 

[EverydayBeast]

OP letting them know what’s up! I think holding US viewers hostage watching soccer is unrealistic thinking. America will always be MLB, NFL and NBA first.

 

[Dee Dah Dave]

Still a step up from American Hand Egg

 

[Cleared_Hot]

You sound like a whiney little pretentious asshole. So what if they're paying tribute to the sports' storied history by adopting names?! STFU and just be glad more people are enjoying your favorite sport.

 

[Sleepydays]

I had the very naive idea when I moved to the US that I'd be able to follow sawker to some degree, and maybe find friends through it. I support a proper team that I grew up with (Rangers), a team with an actual history and whose presence was part of every day life. I went to a 'local' football match here and my heart just sank. You're right about the larping fans: soppy, obnoxious cunts to a man. I gave up fairly quickly, and got a rangers TV sub. I'll be up at 7am this Sunday watching my team take on the Penn State of Scottish football.

 

[Cunth]

It’s lame like this in Australia too

 

[Allforce]

I like watching the Premier League games on NBC early on Saturday mornings. I don't really "follow" it but it just feels like it's way more important a sport and the pre and post-game and broadcast presentations are all top-notch. I imagine it's basically like the NFL over there in terms of popularity, insane ratings, and money.

I can't remember the last MLS game I watched and I live in a city that fought tooth and nail to keep their team from leaving for like 2 years. Nobody I know is a fan.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

American soccer and its fans are embarrassing! I'm not even talking about the level of play, which I have no idea about anyway. But why is it so LARPY and lame? From the franchises themselves down to the fans, it's all so phony.

One example, the team names. Why do they LARP as European teams with completely unorganic names that have no actual basis except a faux Euro veneer. Sports teams just are not named that way in North America, so why pretend? Real Salt Lake does not mean anything in Utah. D.C. United, that is just a pathetic copy of a storied thing in England. Why would a team be called "FC" when we don't even call the game football here? Same goes for "Sporting" KC and Houston Dynamo.

The fans are also annoying. I get the families with kids who grew up playing soccer wanting to go. But hipsters who grew up hating sports and getting shoved into lockers seem to have embraced soccer as somehow sophisticated and Euro. I can go to a pub and drink Newcastle and watch the Timbers...just like a real live piece of Eurotrash! I'm way better than those Neanderthals drinking Miller and watch "Handegg" lolz.

It's all fake and lame. All trying to force things that developed organically in Europe. Even the chants. Euro soccer people have lots of cool chants and songs. So American LARPers try to copy it. What they fail to realize is that the Euros only have to get shitfaced and chant and sing because the game is so goddamn boring.

If you are an American, get geared up for football like your fat dads and uncles do and stop being a douchebag. Go Bears!

I don't watch MLS, though I've been to a few TFC games and might have a game on TV in the background.

But talk about fake..... watch a telecast on TV. It's English commentators. And it's been like that from day one. So out of nowhere some English play by play guys commentate NA soccer teams.

And yeah, I totally get the weird team naming. Every other sport is like Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs etc..... Toronto FC. lol

MLS should be lucky they even get as many fans in the seats because the ticket prices are a fraction of what other sports are (except maybe MLB cheap seats in some stadiums).

If MLS games had prices like NFL and NBA games, you'd get half as many spectators.

 

[Soleil rouge]

You said it, the worst thing about it is how fake it is. It's basically just an event for hipsters to go play dress up and live out their wildest euro trash fantasies.

The commentary is also atrocious. They lack the passion of Latin America, and the eloquence of the UK. And why is every color commentator such a whiny-voiced soy boy?

 

[Kamina]

Part with the problem starts with the term Soccer, while Football in America is reserved for a sport were armored people carry (mostly) a brown egg around.

 

[Dontero]

I think you need to have your head tuned.
US support is lamest thing ever.

Instead of your own club name you chant "USA" like retards.
Instead of club chants you have darude sandstorm.
Instead of crazy supporters doing props for bigger matches you have PR companies distributing props for you.

What is worse you name your stuff not for the place you try to represent but for some random shit like Hornets.
This is why US fans are often described as "picnics culture". You are not the to support your team but to watch entertainment like tv show.

And that is not even touching football/soccer. I am talking about your prime sports like basketball.



or NHL:

 

[jolof96]

The one sport outside of Footy that I really wanted to play as a kid, but couldn't as we didn't have an ice rink nearby, and there wasn't many opportunities for the sport in the UK.

20+ years later and I'm still rather gutted about it lol.

same here, and now ironically a town outside of my city has a rink and a team. go Widnes Wild!

 

[Azurro]

The MLS is shit, but what's amusing is that it's such an american thing to say that football is boring. It's the biggest and most watched sport in the world, so, I think there's some people that are out of the loop, and it's not the rest of the world. And yes, Handegg is the best term for a game that you play with your arms while tossing an egg.

American sports fandom is also kinda strange. It seems so manufactured and nothing is authentic, I've never seen in a handegg game or a baseball game the props and banners you can see everywhere in Europe, it's all stuff that goes for 19.99 at your nearest Wallmart.

 

[Deleted member 713885]

Heres my take, as a previous supporter of my local club (Philly)

The supporters are cringey as fuck SJW's now..and I saw it coming back in 2011/2012.

The classic guys wearing newsies hats, sleeve tattoos, IPA drinkers etc..
The kind of guys from the rich suburbs who moved to the city after college and now claim to hate non-city people. Washes up guys in bands who bartend or barista in the day and suffer from arrested development.

They make sure you say "The pitch" and not field. Boots and not cleats. They rehash euro supporter songs and try to make them fit their team.


And now, as I said, it's been highly infiltrated with leftist.

Portland and Seattle have always been semi-affiliated with groups..and not they are angry with the league.
(Philly is VERY close to being the East coast Portland/Seattle SJW stronghold in next 5 years, watch)

Portland and Seattle Soccer Fans Will Protest a League Ban on Antifascist Symbol Flags By Not Cheering at Tonight’s Game

In May, the Portland Timbers soccer team announced that it was banning fans from flying flags showing an antifascist symbol.

www.wweek.com

Timbers fall 2-1 to Sounders as fans protest MLS ban on ‘Iron Front’ symbol

The Portland Timbers (11-11-4, 37 points) suffered their second straight loss at home as they fell 2-1 to the Seattle Sounders (12-8-7, 43 points) in front of 25,218 fans at Providence Park Friday in a game that was defined as much by what happened in the stands as what happened on the field.

www.google.com

And what else happened...
I saw a few supporters troon out and LOTS more coming to games.

They even have been doxing people they say are Proudboys and such

Proud Boys and skinheads: MLS faces an incursion from the far-right

The far-right is a growing menace in the United States. And incidents at New York City FC show that soccer is not immune to the problem

www.google.com

NYCFC fans troubled by a violent, far-right fringe attending matches

The issue has been around for a few years and came to a head earlier this month with the arrest of an NYCFC fan for "riot and assault" in Manhattan

theathletic.com

I could go on and on with stories. From dragging celebrities or other pro sport athletes to the field to say "see we are a real league that matters!" to watching inenthused euro teams squash them..

Was a supporter for 4 years and attended all-star game, road games, euro vs mls matches etc..

LOTS of supporter groups are embarassing LARP'ing nerds (and now radicals/SJW)

 

[MickeyGodzilla2854]

Americans don't do well with Association Football the real Football they're not that good with it the American Culture sports are NBA, NFL and MLB some Hockey but around the world everybody knows Football Americans are trying but they aren't good with Cricket or Football.

 

[michaelius]

Well this isn't surprising when they even got the name wrong

 

[raduque]

Soccer fans are embarrassing, period. I mean seriously, rioting and destruction because your team lost? Grow up.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Soccer fans are embarrassing, period. I mean seriously, rioting and destruction because your team lost? Grow up.

Most exciting part of the game.

When the majority of the game is dicking around with the ball at mid-field with most games ending somewhere around 1-0 or 2-1, you'd be bored too. Also, since games are so low scoring there's a good chance whomever scores first will win. So fans can rub it in all game. Imagine if fans in a basketball game after the first basket tried rubbing it in.

It's the only major sport where you can tell by watching the action if there is going to be a scoring opportunity or not. In other sports homeruns, 3 pts, long blasts from the blue line and big rushing or passing TDs can happen at any play out of nowhere, soccer is different.

You only have a scoring opp close to the offensive zone, aside from the occasional highlight reel long kick or a corner kick play. Any kind of slowing dribbling, player at the sides or anything like that is dead time and no chance of anything big happening.

Soccer is the only sport where you don't have natural forward progression. In football, basketball and hockey, the natural play is to move forward and score. There's not a lot of backwards play and in basketball there's even a half court violation because they don't want players goofing around passing it around like Harlem Globetrotters wasting time. Soccer is going back and forth for 75% of the game between midfielders to and from forwards and the back line. And even kicking to your own goalie.

It's a good sport like baseball to put on the TV as background noise while doing something else around the house.

One big perk about soccer though. Not a lot of whistles or stoppages. Things are always kind of moving except when players fake injuries. Other sports can have the ref blowing the whistle every 10 seconds at times....... end of a basketball game when it becomes timeout central.

PS: Soccer is the only sport to have segregated sections of fans too. They know fans will literally kill each other if put in the same pit.

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

How the fuck are the english soccer wankers any better?

 

[Azurro]

How the fuck are the english soccer wankers any better?

You typed "wankers" and "soccer" in the same sentence. Get it together man. It's football, the best and most popular sport in the planet.

It's just a shame that americans can't appreciate it. I mean, they watch fucking basketball, where the great majority of the scoring is meaningless, handegg, where the great majority of the time you watch people doing nothing and baseball, which is the best medicine for insomnia ever invented. I honestly don't get it, all of those sports are bullshit.

 

[brap]

Imagine watching a sport where a bunch of overpaid crybabies pretend they have injuries and all that other shit. OMG MAN SLIGHTLY TOUCHED ME I BROKE MUH LEG!!!

 

[Azurro]

Imagine watching a sport where a bunch of overpaid crybabies pretend they have injuries and all that other shit. OMG MAN SLIGHTLY TOUCHED ME I BROKE MUH LEG!!!

Imagine watching a sport where the great majority of the time nothing happens, and one where a legend of the sport is an overweight pig. Americans just will never understand football.