Soccer is Ruining America

[The Gardener]

A "must read" for Bryan... lol...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123680101041299201.html

 

[casperz]

Written by an American who never played soccer as a kid I would guess. He
writes like a woman who is watching a baseball game and does not know the
rules and strategy and is totally bored. There is nothing boring about a high
level soccer match after you understand what is going on and can appreciate
the skills involved.

 

[dimitar_berbagod]

I can't make up my mind over whether this article is serious or a joke! It's ridiculous. A penalty shoot out is anything but anti-climatic. Perhaps unfair, but hardly anti-climatic.

To attack the sport by the fact it is primarily played with the feet is nonsense as well. It's a highly skilled sport which takes an incredible amount of touch and awareness to perfect. I could make the obvious criticism of certain other sports by saying that you just pick up a ball and run with it (slightly easier than dribbling with your feet) but I don't think I'll go there.

The idea that Mr Webb is (apparently) a professor scares me quite frankly, given his bias and ignorant opinion.

 

[Cassin]

That guy is just stirring sh*t up to get it reposted across English speaking forums

Probably going to work too...hahah....he wins.

 

[ali777]

He's got one thing right though.... Soccer is very anti-American...

Can you imagine all the kids playing soccer, running around all day losing weight and getting fit? For the proper American sports, size matters. The bigger, the better.

 

[Bryan]

Kudos to Mr. Webb for an insightful commentary!

 

[Cassin]

For the proper American sports, size matters. The bigger, the better.

That makes absolutely no sense....are you making that statement just because of American Football? :thumbdown2:

 

[ali777]

For the proper American sports, size matters. The bigger, the better.

That makes absolutely no sense....are you making that statement just because of American Football? :thumbdown2:

Hmmm..... Yes...

I wasn't being serious...

 

[The Gardener]

Oh come on guys... the author was clearly writing the piece with the intent of humorous exaggeration using stereotypes.

I was laughing while reading the whole piece... some of the quotes are hilarious.

 

[casperz]

Oh come on guys... the author was clearly writing the piece with the intent of humorous exaggeration using stereotypes.

I dunno... my sense of humor must be broken like the economy, I
just don't see any humor in that piece. If anything he's trying to do
some type of viral marketing of his books.

 

[optimus prime]

Every kid is a winner, and nobody is ever left behind, no matter how many times they watch the ball going the other way. Whether the dumbing down of America or soccer came first is hard to say, but soccer is clearly an important means by which American energy, drive and competitiveness are being undermined to the point of no return.

Ummm...say what now?

When I played football as a kid, the were 11 players who won and 11 who lost (unless it was a draw, then nobody won). Its not football's fault if schools want to praise the little bastards who lose.

 

[ali777]

Every kid is a winner, and nobody is ever left behind, no matter how many times they watch the ball going the other way. Whether the dumbing down of America or soccer came first is hard to say, but soccer is clearly an important means by which American energy, drive and competitiveness are being undermined to the point of no return.

Ummm...say what now?

When I played football as a kid, the were 11 players who won and 11 who lost (unless it was a draw, then nobody won). Its not football's fault if schools want to praise the little bastards who lose.

Actually, there is the opposite argument as well....

Statistically, the Dutch and the French soccer academies are much more successful than the British academies. One of the theories is that the British kids are forced into competitive football at an early age. Apparently, the Dutch or the French aren't allowed to play a competitive game until 16 or something like that....

Some experts think results driven training stuns freedom and the kids don't perform as well...

 

[Cassin]

Oh come on guys... the author was clearly writing the piece with the intent of humorous exaggeration using stereotypes.

I was laughing while reading the whole piece... some of the quotes are hilarious.

The Brits love to complain buddy...don't ruin their fun. :whistle:

 

[optimus prime]

Oh come on guys... the author was clearly writing the piece with the intent of humorous exaggeration using stereotypes.

I was laughing while reading the whole piece... some of the quotes are hilarious.

The Brits love to complain buddy...don't ruin their fun. :whistle:

Its true.

 

[Cassin]

Its true.

:jump:

 

[HughJass]

America is ruining soccer.

 

[ali777]

America is ruining soccer.

:agree:

one int: for you, and one int: for me

 

[Bryan]

America is ruining soccer.

You're right, of course. We should be severely punished for what we've done to soccer. All traces of the game should be completely removed from our country. No World Cup participation, or anything. Zero. Zip. Nada. That'll teach us a lesson for what we've done.

(yawn)

 

[barcafan]

There's a reason why soccer is known as the beautiful game! Some folks will never understand, and if they do, they'd be too stubborn to admit it.

 

[Bryan]

There's a reason why soccer is known as the beautiful game!

I'll believe that soccer is "the beautiful game" only when the people who say that become fully conversant with American football, and then continue to say it.