damn this bloke has got it bad. thanks for the article though thunderDAN. As for this guy's painful death, well it can't come soon enough...LOL
It's just Chuck Klosterman, he gets pretty crazy with his writing sometimes. He also wrote that PJ only has one 'great' song (Corduroy) in a article complimenting them..which can be found below
It's just Chuck Klosterman, he gets pretty crazy with his writing sometimes. He also wrote that PJ only has one 'great' song (Corduroy) in a article complimenting them..which can be found below
believe me... it wouldnt have made a difference... the american fascination with the beckhams has nothing to do with sports or music... the only reason LA games sell out is because of the high hispanic population... has nothing to do with beckham
I had this convo here last year when he first went to the US, our news was making out like you lot(usa people) were really excited, I never believed for one minute it would catch on. You guys are too far down the road with your own sports to be bothered about a new one, that's pretty obvious to anyone.
It's just Chuck Klosterman, he gets pretty crazy with his writing sometimes. He also wrote that PJ only has one 'great' song (Corduroy) in a article complimenting them..which can be found below
I read the 'soccer' article, he's an amusing fellow, clever some might say. Personally I don't see that running down the game of football (soccer) in order to justify a nations inability to persevere with, or have any real interest in it actually achieves anything apart from making the nation sound like a spoilt child.
"Won't play that, cos can't win at it..and anyway we got our own gang, don't need to play with anyone else"
Say what you like about it, all the derogatory things you can come up with, thing is we think that x50 about your football, baseball, basketball and hockey, or at least most of us do. They're minority sports to us, novelty sports almost, you love em,...we don't. To us basketball is like skateboarding, or playing pool, only a keep fit alternative.
You could say when it comes to the NFL, apart from Americans half the world is apathetic about it, and the other half couldn't care less.
Football (soccer) is the greatest game in the world, at least we think so...that's we as in the whole rest of the world. So who's right and who's wrong? You, or the rest of the world?
Just saying like.
I read the 'soccer' article, he's an amusing fellow, clever some might say. Personally I don't see that running down the game of football (soccer) in order to justify a nations inability to persevere with, or have any real interest in it actually achieves anything apart from making the nation sound like a spoilt child.
"Won't play that, cos can't win at it..and anyway we got our own gang, don't need to play with anyone else"
Say what you like about it, all the derogatory things you can come up with, thing is we think that x50 about your football, baseball, basketball and hockey, or at least most of us do. They're minority sports to us, novelty sports almost, you love em,...we don't. To us basketball is like skateboarding, or playing pool, only a keep fit alternative.
You could say when it comes to the NFL, apart from Americans half the world is apathetic about it, and the other half couldn't care less.
Football (soccer) is the greatest game in the world, at least we think so...that's we as in the whole rest of the world. So who's right and who's wrong? You, or the rest of the world?
Just saying like.
I don't think you can pin the tag 'the greatest game in the world' to soccer just because more people play it. More people play soccer because it is cheap and simple to play. If 3rd world countries could afford to play other sports they would. IMO soccer is far too simple and lacks the complexity to call it the world's best game- and that isn't me knocking soccer in the least bit. It's too simple, it's too basic to be glorified as anything more than just a game. But just because more people play soccer doesn't mean it's the best- after all American Idol is the highest rated show on TV here but it's not the best.
My favorite sport is American football, but I think the best sport created is baseball. It blends athletic ability and skill with crazy strategic moves. It's not my favorite sport, but I will say it is the best in terms of the game itself. It's play structure and rules are almost flawless when soccer has clear flaws (extended time is stupid, the fouls are ticky tack for the most part and just guys flopping like sissies) Again not to knock soccer because I do respect it's existence- but it is just so basic. I know there is some strategy because I used to play it, but it's almost like you start the game and just shut your mind off. The only time you score is on a corner kick, free kick or is someone screws up enough on defense. It seems like a giant slop pickup game for the most part and lacks the depth of playcalling and trying to counter your opposition by using your minds.
I read the 'soccer' article, he's an amusing fellow, clever some might say. Personally I don't see that running down the game of football (soccer) in order to justify a nations inability to persevere with, or have any real interest in it actually achieves anything apart from making the nation sound like a spoilt child.
"Won't play that, cos can't win at it..and anyway we got our own gang, don't need to play with anyone else"
Say what you like about it, all the derogatory things you can come up with, thing is we think that x50 about your football, baseball, basketball and hockey, or at least most of us do. They're minority sports to us, novelty sports almost, you love em,...we don't. To us basketball is like skateboarding, or playing pool, only a keep fit alternative.
You could say when it comes to the NFL, apart from Americans half the world is apathetic about it, and the other half couldn't care less.
Football (soccer) is the greatest game in the world, at least we think so...that's we as in the whole rest of the world. So who's right and who's wrong? You, or the rest of the world?
Just saying like.
thats just it... we dont care if the rest of the world doesnt like our sports... in fact we'd prefer it that way... just like our refusal to use the metric system... and i agree with the above poster that quantity of participants doesnt equate to the quality of the sport itself
thats just it... we dont care if the rest of the world doesnt like our sports... in fact we'd prefer it that way... just like our refusal to use the metric system... and i agree with the above poster that quantity of participants doesnt equate to the quality of the sport itself
See my post above that last one, I know you guys aint interested, I understand and accept the point of view. It didn't work in the 70's when they sent all the world stars there, if my memory serves, you guys just wanted to change all sorts about it....which of course is sacrilige
You have yours, we have ours, I don't see a problem other than that clever clogs writer trying to run ours down in an amusing fashion in the name of justification of the nations distain for it. No need to justify, or ridicule, or lambast, just say "nah, no thanks" and we'll leave you alone and we'll get David back home (say, I nearly made a joke there.:D )
See my post above that last one, I know you guys aint interested, I understand and accept the point of view. It didn't work in the 70's when they sent all the world stars there, if my memory serves, you guys just wanted to change all sorts about it....which of course is sacrilige
You have yours, we have ours, I don't see a problem other than that clever clogs writer trying to run ours down in an amusing fashion in the name of justification of the nations distain for it. No need to justify, or ridicule, or lambast, just say "nah, no thanks" and we'll leave you alone and we'll get David back home (say, I nearly made a joke there.:D )
i dont know if you'll want him back now... hes already been tainted by tom cruise's friendship
I read the 'soccer' article, he's an amusing fellow, clever some might say. Personally I don't see that running down the game of football (soccer) in order to justify a nations inability to persevere with, or have any real interest in it actually achieves anything apart from making the nation sound like a spoilt child.
"Won't play that, cos can't win at it..and anyway we got our own gang, don't need to play with anyone else"
Say what you like about it, all the derogatory things you can come up with, thing is we think that x50 about your football, baseball, basketball and hockey, or at least most of us do. They're minority sports to us, novelty sports almost, you love em,...we don't. To us basketball is like skateboarding, or playing pool, only a keep fit alternative.
You could say when it comes to the NFL, apart from Americans half the world is apathetic about it, and the other half couldn't care less.
Football (soccer) is the greatest game in the world, at least we think so...that's we as in the whole rest of the world. So who's right and who's wrong? You, or the rest of the world?
Just saying like.
Outside of American football I would argue that a lot of the sports we do follow are liked in other areas the world, just not to the level of futbol.
For Baseball look at Latin America and Asia
For Hockey there's certainly Canada, Russia, Scandanavia
For Basketball there is also latin america, italy, germany, greece
are any of these as popular as futbol, no, but they aren't exactly watching paint dry in those countries.
98 MSG I
04 Boston I
06 Hartford, Boston I+II
08 Hartford, Mansfield I+II
08 EV Solo Boston I+II
i dont know if you'll want him back now... hes already been tainted by tom cruise's friendship
He went to seed, he left England five years ago for Madrid because his missus thought it more glamorous. He's won next to piss all since he left Manchester United, he forgot what it was all about :( pity, because that man was a super talent, he was the real deal...til his wife told him he was a superstar, then he got more interested in Pepsi ads and underwear modelling. Shame.
Outside of American football I would argue that a lot of the sports we do follow are liked in other areas the world, just not to the level of futbol.
For Baseball look at Latin America and Asia
For Hockey there's certainly Canada, Russia, Scandanavia
For Basketball there is also latin america, italy, germany, greece
are any of these as popular as futbol, no, but they aren't exactly watching paint dry in those countries.
Tiny, tiny minority sports in those countries, apart from Canada and the hockey obviously, and maybe Japan with the baseball.
Other than that, I'm afraid, as taking them really seriously goes, you're on your own.
Tiny, tiny minority sports in those countries, apart from Canada and the hockey obviously, and maybe Japan with the baseball.
Other than that, I'm afraid, as taking them really seriously goes, you're on your own.
Not true. Baseball is probably THE most popular sport in Japan, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Venezuela. It's becoming more and more popular in Mexico. So is basketball and "American Football". Not to defend baseball as exciting - it's boring as hell. But it's our national pastime, as they say, and the playoffs are at least fun to watch.
IMO soccer is far too simple and lacks the complexity to call it the world's best game- and that isn't me knocking soccer in the least bit. It's too simple, it's too basic to be glorified as anything more than just a game.
If that's what you think about soccer then you really don't understand the complexity of it. You and the writer think the same way, the way we did when we were eight years old playing soccer. There is every bit as much strategy involved in soccer as football or baseball, I'd say. And football - American football - is my favorite sport to watch.
But you're also right about it being easy to learn and cheap to play. The only essential piece of equipment you need is one round ball. Everything else is a bonus.
I don't think you can pin the tag 'the greatest game in the world' to soccer just because more people play it. More people play soccer because it is cheap and simple to play. If 3rd world countries could afford to play other sports they would. IMO soccer is far too simple and lacks the complexity to call it the world's best game- and that isn't me knocking soccer in the least bit. It's too simple, it's too basic to be glorified as anything more than just a game. But just because more people play soccer doesn't mean it's the best- after all American Idol is the highest rated show on TV here but it's not the best.
My favorite sport is American football, but I think the best sport created is baseball. It blends athletic ability and skill with crazy strategic moves. It's not my favorite sport, but I will say it is the best in terms of the game itself. It's play structure and rules are almost flawless when soccer has clear flaws (extended time is stupid, the fouls are ticky tack for the most part and just guys flopping like sissies) Again not to knock soccer because I do respect it's existence- but it is just so basic. I know there is some strategy because I used to play it, but it's almost like you start the game and just shut your mind off. The only time you score is on a corner kick, free kick or is someone screws up enough on defense. It seems like a giant slop pickup game for the most part and lacks the depth of playcalling and trying to counter your opposition by using your minds.
I do watch most American sports but was raised on football so it will always be the main sport I follow.
Re your first point if it was all about money why haven't for example the European nations moved on from football? ... and as for simplicity and entry cost I would argue that basketball fits that criteria as well.
... and to take the opposite view on your second paragraph NFL and baseball can at times seem like the players are trained skilled robots following orders from the touchlines and not actually thinking for themselves whereas football players get comparatively little coaching and direction during a game and so are acting more on their own insight and instincts in the game. ... and with so many people playing football from a young age and such a huge worldwide pool of talent therefore those that reach the top must have huge skill and athletic ability ... simply being able to run around for the 90 minutes.
Not bashing any sports as I said I watch most sports but just showing their are other ways of looking at your points
So are we strangers now? Like rock and roll and the radio?
Football (soccer) is the greatest game in the world, at least we think so...that's we as in the whole rest of the world. So who's right and who's wrong? You, or the rest of the world?
Just saying like.
Like it was said before.. you need minimal equipment to play it (a ball, and something to designate where the goals are)... therefore pretty much anyone can play it (even if you are dirt poor in a third world country)... thus it is the most popular game in the world, because a lot of people in this world are at poverty level.
I grew up playing baseball, basketball, and soccer. I played both indoor and outdoor soccer and will admit that it is a fun game to play. Watching it on TV, however, is a whole other story. Unless it is a big game... I find it dull and repetitive. I know that that's just my opinion.. and you guys love it.. that's fine.
I just don't believe that because the majority of the world thinks it's the best game automatically makes it the best game. It's all opinions and demographics..
Whoa, chill bro... you know you can't raise your voice like that when the lion's here.
There is every bit as much strategy involved in soccer as football or baseball, I'd say.
there is no way this is possible. Baseball is the thinking man's game. Everything changes after every single pitch- where most games average over 225 pitches. Think about it, no way can a guy hit a 95mph fastball with a round bat while he is looking for a 75mph curve ball. You have to think during every single pitch as to what the pitcher is going to throw you based on what tendencies are ect. Hitting a round ball with a round bat is the hardest thing to do in all of pro sports -hell, failing 7 out of 10 times for your career gets you in the Hall of Fame! Just that aspect alone wipes the floor with soccer's strategy. Add in the facotrs such as hitting and running, bunting, playing the infield in as apposed to out, shifts for hitters, pitch outs, stealing....forget about it, baseball is a giant chess match played with real people. As with chess, it is boring as hell to watch, but it's not even close to soccer in terms of strategy.
I'll give you an example...If a good MLB hitter faces off against a good MLB pitcher for 100 pitches and they don't count balls, strikes, outs anything- but it varies from batting practice because the pitcher is throwing 95mph and mixes in curves, sliders and change ups.. the hitter could see 100 pitches a maybe hit 25 hard and in play(not assuming they would be hits, meaning he just hit the ball). The reason guys can hit for good averages is because they can guess what pitch is coming, if you take away the count then guys have no clue..and like I said it is impossible to hit a 95mph fastball when your expecting a curve ball...the game is all thought all the time
In admist of all this Euro 2008 hoopla, the US quietly played Argentina to a 0-0 draw Sunday night. They looked much better than against England. Johnson still looked pretty sorry though. The guy just isn't a closer. He's had way too many looks on goal not to at least score once.
Comments
It's just Chuck Klosterman, he gets pretty crazy with his writing sometimes. He also wrote that PJ only has one 'great' song (Corduroy) in a article complimenting them..which can be found below
http://www.spin.com/articles/january-1995
Okay, now I really hate the guy.
I had this convo here last year when he first went to the US, our news was making out like you lot(usa people) were really excited, I never believed for one minute it would catch on. You guys are too far down the road with your own sports to be bothered about a new one, that's pretty obvious to anyone.
I read the 'soccer' article, he's an amusing fellow, clever some might say. Personally I don't see that running down the game of football (soccer) in order to justify a nations inability to persevere with, or have any real interest in it actually achieves anything apart from making the nation sound like a spoilt child.
"Won't play that, cos can't win at it..and anyway we got our own gang, don't need to play with anyone else"
Say what you like about it, all the derogatory things you can come up with, thing is we think that x50 about your football, baseball, basketball and hockey, or at least most of us do. They're minority sports to us, novelty sports almost, you love em,...we don't. To us basketball is like skateboarding, or playing pool, only a keep fit alternative.
You could say when it comes to the NFL, apart from Americans half the world is apathetic about it, and the other half couldn't care less.
Football (soccer) is the greatest game in the world, at least we think so...that's we as in the whole rest of the world. So who's right and who's wrong? You, or the rest of the world?
Just saying like.
I don't think you can pin the tag 'the greatest game in the world' to soccer just because more people play it. More people play soccer because it is cheap and simple to play. If 3rd world countries could afford to play other sports they would. IMO soccer is far too simple and lacks the complexity to call it the world's best game- and that isn't me knocking soccer in the least bit. It's too simple, it's too basic to be glorified as anything more than just a game. But just because more people play soccer doesn't mean it's the best- after all American Idol is the highest rated show on TV here but it's not the best.
My favorite sport is American football, but I think the best sport created is baseball. It blends athletic ability and skill with crazy strategic moves. It's not my favorite sport, but I will say it is the best in terms of the game itself. It's play structure and rules are almost flawless when soccer has clear flaws (extended time is stupid, the fouls are ticky tack for the most part and just guys flopping like sissies) Again not to knock soccer because I do respect it's existence- but it is just so basic. I know there is some strategy because I used to play it, but it's almost like you start the game and just shut your mind off. The only time you score is on a corner kick, free kick or is someone screws up enough on defense. It seems like a giant slop pickup game for the most part and lacks the depth of playcalling and trying to counter your opposition by using your minds.
http://seanbriceart.com/
See my post above that last one, I know you guys aint interested, I understand and accept the point of view. It didn't work in the 70's when they sent all the world stars there, if my memory serves, you guys just wanted to change all sorts about it....which of course is sacrilige
You have yours, we have ours, I don't see a problem other than that clever clogs writer trying to run ours down in an amusing fashion in the name of justification of the nations distain for it. No need to justify, or ridicule, or lambast, just say "nah, no thanks" and we'll leave you alone and we'll get David back home (say, I nearly made a joke there.:D )
http://seanbriceart.com/
Outside of American football I would argue that a lot of the sports we do follow are liked in other areas the world, just not to the level of futbol.
For Baseball look at Latin America and Asia
For Hockey there's certainly Canada, Russia, Scandanavia
For Basketball there is also latin america, italy, germany, greece
are any of these as popular as futbol, no, but they aren't exactly watching paint dry in those countries.
04 Boston I
06 Hartford, Boston I+II
08 Hartford, Mansfield I+II
08 EV Solo Boston I+II
He went to seed, he left England five years ago for Madrid because his missus thought it more glamorous. He's won next to piss all since he left Manchester United, he forgot what it was all about :( pity, because that man was a super talent, he was the real deal...til his wife told him he was a superstar, then he got more interested in Pepsi ads and underwear modelling. Shame.
Tiny, tiny minority sports in those countries, apart from Canada and the hockey obviously, and maybe Japan with the baseball.
Other than that, I'm afraid, as taking them really seriously goes, you're on your own.
Not true. Baseball is probably THE most popular sport in Japan, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Venezuela. It's becoming more and more popular in Mexico. So is basketball and "American Football". Not to defend baseball as exciting - it's boring as hell. But it's our national pastime, as they say, and the playoffs are at least fun to watch.
If that's what you think about soccer then you really don't understand the complexity of it. You and the writer think the same way, the way we did when we were eight years old playing soccer. There is every bit as much strategy involved in soccer as football or baseball, I'd say. And football - American football - is my favorite sport to watch.
But you're also right about it being easy to learn and cheap to play. The only essential piece of equipment you need is one round ball. Everything else is a bonus.
I do watch most American sports but was raised on football so it will always be the main sport I follow.
Re your first point if it was all about money why haven't for example the European nations moved on from football? ... and as for simplicity and entry cost I would argue that basketball fits that criteria as well.
... and to take the opposite view on your second paragraph NFL and baseball can at times seem like the players are trained skilled robots following orders from the touchlines and not actually thinking for themselves whereas football players get comparatively little coaching and direction during a game and so are acting more on their own insight and instincts in the game. ... and with so many people playing football from a young age and such a huge worldwide pool of talent therefore those that reach the top must have huge skill and athletic ability ... simply being able to run around for the 90 minutes.
Not bashing any sports as I said I watch most sports but just showing their are other ways of looking at your points
Like it was said before.. you need minimal equipment to play it (a ball, and something to designate where the goals are)... therefore pretty much anyone can play it (even if you are dirt poor in a third world country)... thus it is the most popular game in the world, because a lot of people in this world are at poverty level.
I grew up playing baseball, basketball, and soccer. I played both indoor and outdoor soccer and will admit that it is a fun game to play. Watching it on TV, however, is a whole other story. Unless it is a big game... I find it dull and repetitive. I know that that's just my opinion.. and you guys love it.. that's fine.
I just don't believe that because the majority of the world thinks it's the best game automatically makes it the best game. It's all opinions and demographics..
there is no way this is possible. Baseball is the thinking man's game. Everything changes after every single pitch- where most games average over 225 pitches. Think about it, no way can a guy hit a 95mph fastball with a round bat while he is looking for a 75mph curve ball. You have to think during every single pitch as to what the pitcher is going to throw you based on what tendencies are ect. Hitting a round ball with a round bat is the hardest thing to do in all of pro sports -hell, failing 7 out of 10 times for your career gets you in the Hall of Fame! Just that aspect alone wipes the floor with soccer's strategy. Add in the facotrs such as hitting and running, bunting, playing the infield in as apposed to out, shifts for hitters, pitch outs, stealing....forget about it, baseball is a giant chess match played with real people. As with chess, it is boring as hell to watch, but it's not even close to soccer in terms of strategy.
I'll give you an example...If a good MLB hitter faces off against a good MLB pitcher for 100 pitches and they don't count balls, strikes, outs anything- but it varies from batting practice because the pitcher is throwing 95mph and mixes in curves, sliders and change ups.. the hitter could see 100 pitches a maybe hit 25 hard and in play(not assuming they would be hits, meaning he just hit the ball). The reason guys can hit for good averages is because they can guess what pitch is coming, if you take away the count then guys have no clue..and like I said it is impossible to hit a 95mph fastball when your expecting a curve ball...the game is all thought all the time