Explaining the World Cup (and FIFA) to Americans

[MM 6,562]

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

I love FIFA, the best of European administration mixed with Asian/African support services. Sepp Blatter is even a better administrator than Bernie Ecclestone at F1.

[short 215]

Thanks. I will be watching more of his shows.

[atlas2 4,329]

That was sooooooo brilliant. Laughter in truth all the way. Excellent excellent……..bloody excellent.

 

 

 

I liked that!

[mrlasvegas 124]

The one thing I cannot ever understand about World Cup or soccer in general is the fascination with it in Latin America. A culture that is so based on macho goes crazy for the most feminine sport imaginable. While American style football at least requires some intense physical conditioning, as long as you can run a bit in soccer you are in. Soccer players are frail metrosexual types. American football players, even the gay ones, are tough as nails with many built like a freight train.

[steamer 158]

The one thing I cannot ever understand about World Cup or soccer in general is the fascination with it in Latin America. A culture that is so based on macho goes crazy for the most feminine sport imaginable. While American style football at least requires some intense physical conditioning, as long as you can run a bit in soccer you are in. Soccer players are frail metrosexual types. American football players, even the gay ones, are tough as nails with many built like a freight train.

TWAT

[jacko 8,822]

The one thing I cannot ever understand about World Cup or soccer in general is the fascination with it in Latin America. A culture that is so based on macho goes crazy for the most feminine sport imaginable. While American style football at least requires some intense physical conditioning, as long as you can run a bit in soccer you are in. Soccer players are frail metrosexual types. American football players, even the gay ones, are tough as nails with many built like a freight train.

Your ignorance is astounding.

A very very funny OP marred by a sour grapes post!

[MM 6,562]

I'm gratified that some of you stuck with it. I was worried a 14 minute piece might be too long.

 

 

Composed on a mobile phone.

 

 

[mrlasvegas 124]

Your ignorance is astounding.

A very very funny OP marred by a sour grapes post!

Not really. I played soccer from age 5 till I was eligible for real football my freshman (first) year of high school. Then on a recreational basis during my first two years of college. I even have a few relatives that got college scholarships for playing soccer.I was tall and skinny and could run. Made me a good forward and a decent full back. I suspect I have played far more polka dot ball than the majority of European fans on this board. Judging by their physiques.But to say it matches in discipline or physical conditioning American football is the peak of idiocity.

[forcebwithu 4,856]

I'm gratified that some of you stuck with it. I was worried a 14 minute piece might be too long.

 

 

I normally have a short attention span measured in seconds, but found the video hilarious. Shared it with a few other American friends who thought the same. Thanks for posting.

[steamer 158]

Not really. I played soccer from age 5 till I was eligible for real football my freshman (first) year of high school. Then on a recreational basis during my first two years of college. I even have a few relatives that got college scholarships for playing soccer.I was tall and skinny and could run. Made me a good forward and a decent full back. I suspect I have played far more polka dot ball than the majority of European fans on this board. Judging by their physiques.But to say it matches in discipline or physical conditioning American football is the peak of idiocity.

I grew up with hockey, football, baseball and soccer (a bit of rugby and cricket too). You're way off the mark. Canadians kicked Americans asses in all competitive soccer to a point where we were forced to play those a year older just to even things up. No doubt some things have changed in 30 years. No way did we start at age 5. Age 7 or 8 was typical and I wouldn't call 12 kids circling a ball 'soccer'. It more resembled a Chinese tour group at a buffet fighting over an inedible potato.

 

BTW,

 

Edited June 13, 2014 by steamer

[jacko 8,822]

Not really. I played soccer from age 5 till I was eligible for real football my freshman (first) year of high school. Then on a recreational basis during my first two years of college. I even have a few relatives that got college scholarships for playing soccer.I was tall and skinny and could run. Made me a good forward and a decent full back. I suspect I have played far more polka dot ball than the majority of European fans on this board. Judging by their physiques.But to say it matches in discipline or physical conditioning American football is the peak of idiocity.

Nobody did until you chirped in!

 

 

Edited June 13, 2014 by jacko

[atlas2 4,329]

It's down to what you like in sport and that's a very personal thing.

 

One of the things I like very much about football is that a 'fit', human of any size can excel, from Messi to Crouch. In Basketball, Rugby and American Football size really does matter and can, particularly in American Football mean that the specialised teams and positions have specialised physiques. It does follow that different physiques can play the sport but their participation in a game could be limited to only one aspect…… (See the Kicker, the one player on the pitch to justify calling American Football)……'football'….. But let's not get into all that again.

 

If you played football Lasvegas and preferred American football fair dues to you and everyone to their own opinion. Very few non-Americans on here can ever have played both games, though a lot, (not myself) will have played rugby and football and even amongst those most will have a personal preference.

 

I've heard rugby players dismiss American football in the past because of the fact that under the excessive padding, the offensive teams, kick off receiving teams etc don't actually spend much of the game on-field and have to pedal bikes on the sidelines in what look like wearable tents to keep warm while they watch proceedings.

 

I don't agree. American football has evolved to it's own specific peak. Winning a game these days entails the various components working together at their respective peaks and thus call for specialisation. The padding only makes the players steam in even harder. American football is undoubtably a tough sport, but the commitment called for when entering into a 50/50 tackle calls for the possession of pretty similar 'balls' whatever the shape of the ball they are playing with.

 

 

You'll remember however he popular spin off superstars competition that pitted the best in various sports against each other.

 

The purely American competitions did very much show the all-round commitment and physical conditioning of Footballers though winners came from everywhere and it was noticeable that when towards the end it was opened up to foreigners two alpine skiers topped a couple of your seasons.

 

I know it's only a bit of fun……..But these are the results of the world Championships for the years it was held…...

 

 

 

 

Athlete Sport Country 1977 Bob Seagren Pole Vault United States 1978 Brian Budd Soccer Canada 1979 Brian Budd Soccer Canada 1980 Brian Budd Soccer Canada 1981 Jody Scheckter Auto racing South Africa 1982 Brian Hooper Pole Vault Great Britain

 

Edited June 13, 2014 by atlas2

[keyman 1,413]

The one thing I cannot ever understand about World Cup or soccer in general is the fascination with it in Latin America. A culture that is so based on macho goes crazy for the most feminine sport imaginable. While American style football at least requires some intense physical conditioning, as long as you can run a bit in soccer you are in. Soccer players are frail metrosexual types. American football players, even the gay ones, are tough as nails with many built like a freight train.

 

 

Why on earth compare football (soccer) to American football? You might as well compare it to table tennis - there's nothing similar between the two sports at all. Different equipment used, different physique required, different numbers on the team, different length of play, different rules.

 

 

KM

[Gary 4,119]

I don't like basketball, baseball, hockey or soccer. I DO like American football and boxing.

[jacko 8,822]

 

 

Why on earth compare football (soccer) to American football? You might as well compare it to table tennis - there's nothing similar between the two sports at all. Different equipment used, different physique required, different numbers on the team, different length of play, different rules.

 

 

KM

It happens every so often, an old chestnut.

[TheFiend 1,181]

The one thing I cannot ever understand about World Cup or soccer in general is the fascination with it in Latin America. A culture that is so based on macho goes crazy for the most feminine sport imaginable. While American style football at least requires some intense physical conditioning, as long as you can run a bit in soccer you are in. Soccer players are frail metrosexual types. American football players, even the gay ones, are tough as nails with many built like a freight train.

 

If American Football is so great then why isn't it a global sport?

 

And before you accuse me of being a softy "soccer" lover I prefer Rugby to "soccer" which is a hell of a lot more of a physical game then American Football.

[MM 6,562]

Here we go. . This might have more legs than the gun control topic!

 

Composed on a mobile phone.

 

 

[wacmedia 277]

I'm gratified that some of you stuck with it. I was worried a 14 minute piece might be too long.

 

 

Composed on a mobile phone.

 

Hi,

 

Good piece. On the money.

[atlas2 4,329]

Back to the WC……and The USA.

 

You always, not exactly over-perform…..but achieve absolutely as much as could be expected +10%. I wish England had your belief and will-power.

[MM 6,562]

Back to the WC……and The USA.

 

You always, not exactly over-perform…..but achieve absolutely as much as could be expected +10%. I wish England had your belief and will-power.

 

I just hope USA beats Ghana or they will end up dead last in their group.

[atlas2 4,329]

 

I just hope USA beats Ghana or they will end up dead last in their group.

 

 

100 baht they qualify 2nd……..? That's how sure I am!!

[Geno 25]

 

 

100 baht they qualify 2nd……..? That's how sure I am!!

 

No chance. They are in a group with Ghana, Germany and Portugal.

[MM 6,562]

 

 

 

 

100 baht they qualify 2nd……..? That's how sure I am!!

 

 

 

No chance. They are in a group with Ghana, Germany and Portugal.

And IIRC, Ghana has knocked them out of the last two WCs.

 

Composed on a mobile phone.

 

 

[atlas2 4,329]

We'll see.