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[DJ_Tet]

Opening paragraph mainly.



Our woman's are amoung the best in the world.

The opening paragraph was written tongue-in-cheek. Now if you want to talk women's athletics...well...I don't...but if I DID...the US runs shit.


So sorry you got offended by my American arrogance. You can call soccer football if you want. I'll call it futbol. It works both ways. I like the way the nike/adidas/whatever commercial handles it. They say "football is football, unless it's futbol."

It's no more arrogant for us to call soccer football than it is for the rest of the world to expect the US to change the meaning of the american word football. We call it soccer. Either way, NFL rules all other sports, and that's not a slap in the face to futbol/soccer as referenced by my other posts.

 

[KingGondo]

The sports are all great--you just have to understand the game (especially in baseball/cricket). If I had to rank them:

1. Basketball (March Madness is the single greatest sporting event of the year, by far)
2. Football
3. Baseball
4. Soccer

 

[Gregory]

American football is propably the lamest teamsport on earth, together with baseball. Hell even Water Polo is a better sport to watch.

I only like hockey among the teamsports, plus it`s by far the most fun and challenging to play also.

 

[DJ_Tet]

The sports are all great--you just have to understand the game (especially in baseball/cricket). If I had to rank them:

1. Basketball (March Madness is the single greatest sporting event of the year, by far)
2. Football
3. Baseball
4. Soccer

I'd love to understand cricket. How a single match can last days is beyond my feeble american mind.

To the poster above, woof. I'll let someone else touch that.

 

[Socreges]

Soccer and Hockey are far and away my favourite sports.

American Football is a distant third, though I enjoy it.

 

[Gregory]

BTW, what the hell is NFL Europe? I live in Europe but have never heard of this league. Thankfully perhaps.

Anyway, I lost all of the very tiny respect I had for NFL players when I heard they only play around 16 games per season.

 

[DJ_Tet]

BTW, what the hell is NFL Europe? I live in Europe but have never heard of this league. Thankfully perhaps.

It's a developmental league for football players to play off-season in Europe. They have teams in Scotland, Amsterdam, and several other European cities/countries. Not sure where, but they play NFL rules, and yeah, it's pretty bad. Not as bad as the NFL Preseason, but pretty bad.

Anyway, I lost all of the very tiny respect I had for NFL players when I heard they only play around 16 games per season.

:lol

I think that smiley's back, but if not, I'm laughing in your face.

 

[Lathentar]

Oh my god @ the people bashing football (soccer). :lol

Football is by far the coolest sport that has ever graced this earth. There is nothing, (NOTHING) more exhilarating than a perfect soccer play with the ball ending in the back of the net, contrary to what ESPN's 100 moments are trying to make you believe. There's nothing more exciting than wondering what the player's next move's gonna be, especially when he pulls it off. Every player has his strengths/weaknesses. Every position is extremely interesting to follow. And there's never a shortage of football happening in the world, what with all the leagues and cups throughout the years.

Nothing ever happens in football? Jeebus. It never stops happening in football, that's the point and that's why it's the best sport ever. It NEVER stops happening. There doesn't have to be a goal to showcase skill. Once you learn that, you will learn how to correctly enjoy football and see it for what a great sport it is. Then you'll be able to appreciate the matches more. I could just watch players smack the ball around for all I care without even a match going on, and I'd still be mesmerized by how the ball sticks to some of them like Velcro. Watching some of these players is something that can only be described as enchanting. Out of all the sports, football skill is the most entertaining to watch. There's no other sport that has this amount of adrenaline pumping through it.

And that's not even counting the excitement when there's a goal. I don't believe there's any sport on earth that gives such a rush when a point is scored. A soccer goal during the world cup final cannot be compared to anything. Period.

I couldn't disagree more. The ability to control a soccer ball isn't any more impressive than the ability to hit to a baseball. Scoring a goal during the World Cup is comparable to hitting a homerun in a world series, scoring a touchdown in a super bowl or making a game winning shot in a basketball game.

Also, who wants to watch a game that regularly ends in a tie unless of course there is a round of penalty kicks. Penalty kicks are the most idiotic way to ever end a match. All the skills you describe as being meserizing are taking away from the game and boils down to can I kick it by the goalie? None of the other 4 major sports have such a ridiculous way to decide games.

 

[Gregory]

:lol

I think that smiley's back, but if not, I'm laughing in your face.

Ok, maybe have I heard wrong? How many games does a NFL team play per season then?

 

[DJ_Tet]

They play 16 brutal games. You didn't hear wrong, I'm just laughing in your face.

 

[Kon Tiki]

None of the other 4 major sports have such a ridiculous way to decide games.

Hockey does.

International and WHA rules have penalty shots. NHL does not.

 

[Leon]

The ability to control a soccer ball isn't any more impressive than the ability to hit to a baseball.

That's quite simply a matter of opinion. I just happen to share mine with a billion other people.

Scoring a goal during the World Cup is comparable to hitting a homerun in a world series, scoring a touchdown in a super bowl or making a game winning shot in a basketball game.

That's also a matter of opinion. To an extent. The buildup to the world cup soccer final is much, much bigger and much more hyped than American football/baseball/basketball ever will be, mostly and simply because, well, you compete for the WORLD title. I can understand your position though, since you're probably a hardcore fan of these sports you mentioned. And individually, there can definitely be the same amount of excitement, in that you're as excited for a home run as I am for a goal.
But when I talked about excitement, I should point out that I had in mind the collective excitement that comes out of these matches. During the world cup final, the entire countries watch the players' every move. And I do mean the ENTIRE COUNTRY. The celebrations afterwards are simply surreal.


About the penalty kicks, you're really not the only one who hates them, trust me. But no, they take absolutely nothing away from the greatness of the players' skills throughout the matches.

 

[Socreges]

The ability to control a soccer ball isn't any more impressive than the ability to hit to a baseball.

...

Scoring a goal during the World Cup is comparable to hitting a homerun in a world series, scoring a touchdown in a super bowl or making a game winning shot in a basketball game.

If you're speaking in terms of the final action itself, sure. Though the build-up is more elaborate, complex, and impressive in soccer.

Also, who wants to watch a game that regularly ends in a tie unless of course there is a round of penalty kicks. Penalty kicks are the most idiotic way to ever end a match. All the skills you describe as being meserizing are taking away from the game and boils down to can I kick it by the goalie? None of the other 4 major sports have such a ridiculous way to decide games.

A just complaint, but it shouldn't be a priority. Games are rarely decided by penalty kicks. They also have to go through 120 full minutes of play before pks finally decide the winner.

Btw, good post, Leon. It's a shame that people are so quick to rip on soccer, but they really don't need to be acknowledged.

 

[Ronin]

Skateboarding > Football

 

[AstroLad]

None of the other 4 major sports have such a ridiculous way to decide games.

All Alexis Serna had to do was make one kick, one lousy extra point, and Oregon State's upset for the ages would have been complete.

And of course:

 

[Gregory]

They play 16 brutal games. You didn't hear wrong, I'm just laughing in your face.

Compared to NHL`s 80+ games, and that`s excluding playoffs and international tournaments. Plus hockey is way tougher than football also.

16 games is just pathetic in comparison.

 

[warhead]

is the NFL Europe gaining in popularity in Europe?

GO ADMIRALS!

 

[LuckyBrand]

American football is propably the lamest teamsport on earth, together with baseball. Hell even Water Polo is a better sport to watch.

I only like hockey among the teamsports, plus it`s by far the most fun and challenging to play also.

this man should be banned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[demon]

That's quite simply a matter of opinion. I just happen to share mine with a billion other people.



That's also a matter of opinion. To an extent. The buildup to the world cup soccer final is much, much bigger and much more hyped than American football/baseball/basketball ever will be, mostly and simply because, well, you compete for the WORLD title. I can understand your position though, since you're probably a hardcore fan of these sports you mentioned. And individually, there can definitely be the same amount of excitement, in that you're as excited for a home run as I am for a goal.
But when I talked about excitement, I should point out that I had in mind the collective excitement that comes out of these matches. During the world cup final, the entire countries watch the players' every move. And I do mean the ENTIRE COUNTRY. The celebrations afterwards are simply surreal.


About the penalty kicks, you're really not the only one who hates them, trust me. But no, they take absolutely nothing away from the greatness of the players' skills throughout the matches.

Once again, an argument that boils down to "because more people liek to watch!". So soccer's managed to catch on throughout the world better than other sports.......big fuckin whoop. Is this a thread about ratings or which sport is better and more interesting to watch?

 

[warhead]

That's also a matter of opinion. To an extent. The buildup to the world cup soccer final is much, much bigger and much more hyped than American football/baseball/basketball ever will be, mostly and simply because, well, you compete for the WORLD title.

No, mostly 'cause it takes you 4 fucking years to wait 'till it's finally there...

BTW, what the hell is NFL Europe? I live in Europe but have never heard of this league. Thankfully perhaps.

Like said earlier, it's a spring league with teams in Scotland (Claymores), Amsterdam (Admirals), Frankfurt (Galaxy), Cologne (Centurions), Dusseldorf/Gelserskirchen (Rhein Fire) and Berlin (Thunder). There used to be teams in London (Monarchs) and in Barcelona (Dragons). It evolved out of the World League of American Football and excists for >90% out of NFL players that get send here by their teams to improve. Successtories are those of Kurt Warner, Tom Nutten, Adam Vinatieri, Brad Johnson, Bobby Hamilton, John Kitna etc who took the experience they gained in NFL Europe and ended up as Superbowl winners (well, except for Kitna).

 

[Socreges]

Once again, an argument that boils down to "because more people liek to watch!". So soccer's managed to catch on throughout the world better than other sports.......big fuckin whoop. Is this a thread about ratings or which sport is better and more interesting to watch?

He explained himself in the other post. When someone replies with something to the effect of "No", it's perfectly understandable to point out how he's in a huge minority.

 

[LuckyBrand]

GO ADMIRALS!

is that your fave team?

i generally just watch the NFL Europe games and dont really pick a team I'd like to win... though if i see a chicago bears player out there, i'll kinda root for him/his team.

 

[Leon]

Once again, an argument that boils down to "because more people liek to watch!". So soccer's managed to catch on throughout the world better than other sports.......big fuckin whoop. Is this a thread about ratings or which sport is better and more interesting to watch?

demon, will you lay off the defensive "THE REST OF THE WORLD IS WRONG" stance?

I'm not saying that because so many people like to watch it, then soccer must be entertaining. But whether you like it or not, so many people like to watch it because it's entertaining. Big fucking duh. I don't think you really understand the scale of "so many people" to dismiss it so easily. "Big fucking whoop"? We're talking over a BILLION people here. Your grudge is rendered silly. You just find yourself in the minority in this case, something you are obviously not accustomed to, because you keep trying to convince yourself (and us...?) that it isn't entertaining and the entire world must be wrong. It's annoying. Suck it up.

Socreges, unite for football!


Oh, and warhead, that too.

 

[warhead]

that your fave team?

I live 50 minutes by bus from the stadium, so it's not like I've got a choice
On the other (sad) end there is zero regular season NFL coverage in this shithole country. Untill last season I could listen to games on Internetradio but those greedy NFL bastards decided to make you pay for that so now I'm stuck at home watching live stats... Sometimes I go to a pub in Amsterdam to watch a game, but usually there's class next day and after a while there's no transportation back.

 

[warhead]

demon, will you lay off the defensive "THE REST OF THE WORLD IS WRONG" stance?

I'm not saying that because so many people like to watch it, then soccer must be entertaining. But whether you like it or not, so many people like to watch it because it's entertaining. Big fucking duh. I don't think you really understand the scale of "so many people" to dismiss it so easily. "Big fucking whoop"? We're talking over a BILLION people here. Your grudge is rendered silly. You just find yourself in the minority in this case, something you are obviously not accustomed to, because you keep trying to convince yourself (and us...?) that it isn't entertaining and the entire world must be wrong. It's annoying. Suck it up.

Socreges, unite for football!


Oh, and warhead, that too.

Britney Spears sells a lot of records, but to me she's definitley not entertaining. So you tell me now Britney Spears is good music 'cause a lot of people buy her shit and go to her shows?

 

[ConfusingJazz]

The real question is, which type of video game sells more, football or soccer? I don't really know, but I would probably put my money on Madden over FIFA.

 

[Leon]

What's with the fallacious arguments?

Britney Spears sells 10, maybe 15-million records. If an artist sells a hundred times more than that, you may have a point. Actually, not even...Why are we comparing music to sports again?


Videogame argument : Do you see every kid in Brazil, Argentina or Cameroon owning a Playstation 2 like they do in the US?

 

[Kon Tiki]

Britney Spears sells a lot of records, but to me she's definitley not entertaining. So you tell me now Britney Spears is good music 'cause a lot of people buy her shit and go to her shows?

You changed 'entertaining' to 'good music'.

"So you tell me now Britney Spears is entertaining 'cause a lot of people buy her shit and go to her shows?"

YES.

 

[DJ_Tet]

Compared to NHL`s 80+ games, and that`s excluding playoffs and international tournaments. Plus hockey is way tougher than football also.

16 games is just pathetic in comparison.

The NHL plays 82 games. The NFL plays 16 regular season games. The NHL has 3-4 lines that sub consistantly due to the sport. The NFL plays their starters prettmy much the whole game. Either you only follow one of these games, or you're just talking out of your ass. I'm not sure which category you are in.

Trust me, if NFL players could play more games than they currently do, then they would. You don't know shit about NFL if you are ragging on their "playing only 16 games."

Perhaps I should do a chart on players with their injuries and their season ending injuries.

 

[Triumph]

Meh, I have come around on college and pro American football in the past couple of years, but nothing will ever compare to baseball for me. I will readily admit that football is easier and more pleasing to watch for the average joe, but the enjoyment I get out of a full season of baseball that lasts almost seven months can't be compared to 16 games.

I enjoy college hoops every March, and don't even think of the NBA as a sport any longer. Hockey is great in person and HORRIBLE to watch on tv.

Baseball will always be my favorite sport.

 

[Kon Tiki]

Hockey is great in person and HORRIBLE to watch on tv.

I should send you some CBC games. It is all about presentation. I can not watch hockey on ESPN either.

 

[Triumph]

It's cool, I go(or I guess I should say I will continue to go if there is an NHL) to about 10 Thrashers games a year. My friends work @ CNN and have a hookup for tickets, so I get my hockey fix in.

I've been to 25 Braves games this year, though! My dad keeps getting pimp ass seats down the first base foul line. The seats are so good, people come down and take your orders for food and booze. None of this getting up shit! Hell naw! Too bad they can't go to the pisser for me, too.

 

[Socreges]

The NHL plays 82 games. The NFL plays 16 regular season games. The NHL has 3-4 lines that sub consistantly due to the sport. The NFL plays their starters prettmy much the whole game.

1) Starters might play half the game considering offense and defense. Very few will alternate between both
2) Games last 60 minutes like with hockey, but the clock often runs while the players gather for the next burst
3) Football plays generally last anywhere between 5 and 10 seconds
4) There are 40 seconds allowed between the end of one play and the beginning of the next

You don't have a leg to stand on.

The NHL definitely has a more grueling season, imo, though Gregory is being a little extreme.

 

[Triumph]

The NHL has a more grueling season? Granted, I'll give you that pro hockey and football are higher impact sports.

But NOTHING compares with having to play 162 games in a year. Sorry, baseball takes the cake for most grueling season.

 

[FightyF]

Is there any sport better than American football??!

Hockey.

THREAD OWNED...shut this muddafukka down!

 

[Socreges]

The NHL has a more grueling season? Granted, I'll give you that pro hockey and football are higher impact sports.

But NOTHING compares with having to play 162 games in a year. Sorry, baseball takes the cake for most grueling season.

Well, first off, baseball has nothing to do with what I said. "More", not "most".

Still, I'd put it over baseball as well. With the exception of pitchers, baseball is not grueling. Neither of us can speak from experience, of course, because we haven't played 162 games in a matter of months. But I know for a fact that game to game, baseball takes nothing out of you. The amount of time that you actually spend exhausting yourself, arms or legs, is so small.

 

[Incognito]

Neither of us can speak from experience, of course, because we haven't played 162 games in a matter of months.

But I know for a fact that game to game, baseball takes nothing out of you. The amount of time that you actually spend exhausting yourself, arms or legs, is so small.

 

[Socreges]

Sorry. I suppose my post actually required you to be somewhat capable of abstract thought, Lonestar, and not rely on seemingly contradictory statements.

I said that I cannot speak from experience in that I haven't played a season quite that long. Yet nonetheless I know from game to game that baseball is not draining, besides pitchers. It doesn't even add up. To illustrate my point, they could play several seasons consecutively and it would not make a difference. Again, excluding pitchers.

 

[Incognito]

have u ever played baseball? in a league? year in and year out? if not, then you have no basis for that claim.

i have. it is draining. it's a big fucking pain in the ass, actually.

edit- my bad, i can't read tonight. just got home from the clube. excuse my stupidness!

 

[Socreges]

I played for over a dozen years. Rep for my city during summers. Tournaments with six games in a weekend were frequent and it was nothing. But then again we were all really fit.

 

[Incognito]

yeah, hehe. i completely misread what you wrote. i do think hockey is more of a pain in the ass, i was just taking exception with your claim of baseball not being exhausting or anything(and then me missing the part wher eu said you did play baseball).

 

[BlackMage]

i knew this thread would turn into US vs the rest of the world.

btw I'm fucking addicted to American Football. Best sport ever.

 

[Azih]

Football has by far the most jaw dropping highlight reel moments in sports. Sure they don't happen often, but when they do it's always pure skill (and their relative rarity makes them even more precious, watching one live is a gift).

 

[Socreges]

Soccer-football, you mean?

http://www.cybercomm.nl/~twi/zlatan-5-1.mpg

I like how he kept faking out the cameraman.

 

[Azih]

I can't bring myself to call it futbol and I don't want to call it soccer in this thread out of spite, so I'll call it world football. Yeah I meant world football Socreges.

I guess world football matches are almost always exciting for me to watch because of the way I watch them. Since goals are such a big deal I get nervous as soon as the ball crosses the midfield, if someone gets excited only when the ball approaches the penalty area then I can see how they would find some matches dull. People who get interested only whe the ball *crosses* the penalty area, well, just not the sport for them I guess.

 

[warhead]

Soccer-football, you mean?

http://www.cybercomm.nl/~twi/zlatan-5-1.mpg

I like how he kept faking out the cameraman.

Zlatan is a dirty little bitch.

 

[CajoleJuice]

Wow, I love Raoul Duke. I basically agree with everything he said. NFL football is probably more pleasing and easy to watch, but baseball has so many little nuances and games within the game that go on that it's great when you understand the game. And baseball can be a draining sport definitely, I used to played spring through the fall and it was tiring, especially after weekend doubleheaders, I'd be done. It's not so much the energy exerted, but the little injuries you get and played through. My shoulder hurts constantly (I pitch), I've played with broken fingers, I always seem to have cuts on my elbows and knees, and getting pegged usually hurts like a bitch. But I can agree that the NFL is probably the more exciting sport to follow as a whole because just about all teams have a chance any given year. In baseball, only a handful of teams have a chance. But I'm a Yankee fan, and now I go to college in Boston, so I can't think of anything more exciting or just plain nerveracking right now.

 

[Miburou]

People who criticize Football (soccer) because of a lack of goals are missing the point. It's not how many goals get scored, but rather how many chances for a goal there are.

A goal can come at any time, and when both teams are playing offensively, you're constantly on the edge of your seat. A 0-0 game can be far more exciting than a 5-0 one, and coming behind from a 0-1 score to win in extra time (like Man U did against Bayern in the Champions League) is an unmatched feat.

Reasons why I love Football:

1- Very little interruption during a game (which is why commercials during a game is the most idiotic thing ever).

2- Very simple rules. Really, it's only the offside rule which needs explanation. Oh, and no one except the goalkeeper can touch the ball with his hands.

3- Unpredictable. A goal can come at any time. A game can end in 0-0 or 24-0 (as is the case with anyone playing Maldives). I was watching basketball during the Olympics, and after a while started only watching the 4th quarter, since that's when things would get decided most of the time.

4- The international scene. Watching the Spanish league or the Champions league is exciting, but nothing compares to the World Cup in terms of excitement (even if the level of play is in many cases below that of the aforementioned leagues).

 

[Socreges]

My point is, the US has so many sports in which it competes, I don't see how anyone could argue that if ALL of the US athletes were funneled into soccer first that we wouldn't be one of the best. Obviously soccer is on a much lower rung in the US when compared to football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and table tennis, and as such, our best "potential soccer" players don't play kickball past 4th grade. That said, we're still top ten in the world, not bad when it's an afterthought in the home country.

Actually, a very large percentage of Americans play organized soccer as kids. More than hockey and football, for sure, and maybe some other sports. Those who excel will generally stick with soccer, as with anything.

I think they would be one of the best, though not considerably better.

And, of course, your point goes for every country with every sport. If China developed athletes like American and Canada do, goodness.

 

[8bit]

Darts.