I cant watch it anymore

[vash23n]

This is out of topic, but its really hard to understand how come America has 4 most popular sports(Basketball, Hockey, American Football, and Baseball) where about no other place on earth are popular , yet Soccer which is popular in every place in the world they have no idea about it.

But I would like to go to a hockey game, I hear you can beat out other players if you don't like them.

To be honest, I don't know precisely why soccer isn't more popular in the United States - note, however, that all the sports that you mentioned were either invented (or rather re-imagined) either in America or a skip north in Canada (and mind you that hockey is the least popular of the popular sports you mentioned). It may be our lack of heritage in the sport... also, to be perfectly honest (and I hope this doesn't rub anyone the wrong way), I went to a professional soccer game - I think it was USA versus Venezuela - I had been very open and excited about seeing the sport being played, but I felt underwhelmed by it. This may sound like a really stupid complaint, but to me the field was just too fucking big. I think there were about 12 shots the entire game. This is fine and all, but when you see a similar archetype being played out on a much smaller "field", with players being able to propel themselves faster by means of skates, faster and more plentiful shots, and the players' ability to knock the snot out of damn near anyone whenever they feel like it leaves alot of American sports fans appreciative of soccer, but with little incentive to watch it when there's a perfectly good hockey season running for most of the year. That said, I do find myself greatly enjoying indoor soccer, but what I'd like to know is why the hell lacross isn't more popular - dear GOD, what a sport!

That's one thing with North American sports... aside from baseball, speed has become a necessary element in order to garner interest. Soccer is coming up a bit in the States. I think there is some new league. Actually, it might not be a new league, but maybe just a new team in that league based in Philadelphia. This may mean more televised gains in our area or even on the East coast. Soccer is a strategic sport, however, based on lengthy setups resulting in very few, quickly executed finishes. I really respect the sport and find it amazing how players master a field of that size. I can understand how it does not appeal to a lot of North Americans. Baseball has always taken a lot of criticism for being too slow and boring as well. I wonder if indoor soccer was created in North America. It would make sense. Take the game and speed it up. Just like we did with American football, create an indoor version that is even faster. Traditional lacrosse was slower paced like soccer, which is why the most popular version of the game is the fast paced indoor one. I have met people that assumed indoor lacrosse was the only version of lacrosse. When attending an outdoor game they are surprised at how much slower and more strategic is. I personally don't really like lacrosse, I went to Philly Wings game once (indoor) and found that the rules were completely strange. It seemed they would just make them up as they go along to keep it entertaining. Like guys will swing their sticks at other players like baseball bats and it is legal, but then a guy trips someone by accident and it is a penalty. Again, I am a hockey fan and I know we have rules that seem bizarre to most.

[Josh]

Overall, I don't really like Football, or Soccer. However I love Baseball and Hockey. I can't really give much of a convincing reason why I like these sports, I just do.

And Vash, you wouldn't happen to know where you can see KHL games online, would you? I figure it'd be interesting to see how they run things.

[vash23n]

Overall, I don't really like Football, or Soccer. However I love Baseball and Hockey. I can't really give much of a convincing reason why I like these sports, I just do.

And Vash, you wouldn't happen to know where you can see KHL games online, would you? I figure it'd be interesting to see how they run things.

Man I have been trying to find that out for a while. I doubt it is easy considering how much the NHL wants to prevent their market from being tempted away. Not sure if there are any fly by night streaming websites. Probably hard to find as I imagine they are not around very long. Strange you say that about baseball and hockey as they are the only two sports I am into as well. Pretty much at opposite ends of the speed and intensity scale. Maybe if soccer were televised more regularly I could get interested in it.

EDIT: Also I agree that watching the KHL would be awesome. I have been trying to find out differences to rules - like do they have the trap behind the goal, no touch icing, delayed offsides, shootout after 4 on 4 overtime, etc. I am pretty sure they use the International sized rink and not the smaller NHL sized rink. That's about all I know.

[Luke]

This is out of topic, but its really hard to understand how come America has 4 most popular sports(Basketball, Hockey, American Football, and Baseball) where about no other place on earth are popular , yet Soccer which is popular in every place in the world they have no idea about it.

But I would like to go to a hockey game, I hear you can beat out other players if you don't like them.

American Football and basketball are gaining a lot of popularity in Western Europe, and baseball is HUGE in Japan.

Soccer hasn't worked in the States because the MLS doesn't know how to market themselves. I guess they have a star in Beckam, but I know him better for being married to a Spice Girl more than anything else.

And yes, fighting is permitted in the NHL and most minor leagues, but not in College hockey.

[tahoe2]

Overall, I don't really like Football, or Soccer. However I love Baseball and Hockey. I can't really give much of a convincing reason why I like these sports, I just do.

And Vash, you wouldn't happen to know where you can see KHL games online, would you? I figure it'd be interesting to see how they run things.

Man I have been trying to find that out for a while. I doubt it is easy considering how much the NHL wants to prevent their market from being tempted away. Not sure if there are any fly by night streaming websites. Probably hard to find as I imagine they are not around very long. Strange you say that about baseball and hockey as they are the only two sports I am into as well. Pretty much at opposite ends of the speed and intensity scale. Maybe if soccer were televised more regularly I could get interested in it.

EDIT: Also I agree that watching the KHL would be awesome. I have been trying to find out differences to rules - like do they have the trap behind the goal, no touch icing, delayed offsides, shootout after 4 on 4 overtime, etc. I am pretty sure they use the International sized rink and not the smaller NHL sized rink. That's about all I know.

You can watch them on ustream an other streaming websites. I'd rather watch NHL. It's more interesting to me. If i lived in europe, I would think KHL was.

[vash23n]

Overall, I don't really like Football, or Soccer. However I love Baseball and Hockey. I can't really give much of a convincing reason why I like these sports, I just do.

And Vash, you wouldn't happen to know where you can see KHL games online, would you? I figure it'd be interesting to see how they run things.

Man I have been trying to find that out for a while. I doubt it is easy considering how much the NHL wants to prevent their market from being tempted away. Not sure if there are any fly by night streaming websites. Probably hard to find as I imagine they are not around very long. Strange you say that about baseball and hockey as they are the only two sports I am into as well. Pretty much at opposite ends of the speed and intensity scale. Maybe if soccer were televised more regularly I could get interested in it.

EDIT: Also I agree that watching the KHL would be awesome. I have been trying to find out differences to rules - like do they have the trap behind the goal, no touch icing, delayed offsides, shootout after 4 on 4 overtime, etc. I am pretty sure they use the International sized rink and not the smaller NHL sized rink. That's about all I know.

You can watch them on ustream an other streaming websites. I'd rather watch NHL. It's more interesting to me. If i lived in europe, I would think KHL was.

I just want to watch a couple games for comparison. Especially because there are some NHLers that I miss like Robert Esche who apparently tears it up in the KHL. Thanks for the info!

[bigllama99]

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[RCBH928]

I think it finally hit me why soccer fails in the US. Its because the US is way too capitalist.
I will show you the connection.
In the USA you have like a federation for each game and its just a matter of how much you market that federation. Which is very weird at least for me. One friend told me that clubs in America can change areas, for example, Chicago bulls next year can be Los Angeles Bulls which kept me at complete shock!

I don't know if you know this but in the outside world there is ONE federation for the whole country and EACH soccer club has to play in that federation, in a way uniting the nation. Clubs do not change areas, for example Chicago bulls will always represent Chicago no matter what. In fact, teams outside the USA represents their cities more than anything. For example, there is a soccer club in Britain named Arsenal. Although it has no city name tied to it, its really important to know they represent London. I have to add its possible to have more than one club representing the same area.

So Chicago Bulls if they win, that makes Chicago the champions of the USA , not the NBA. So all this makes a competition and makes things go on a personal level. But in the USA, Chicago bulls can be the champions of the NBA, but not the KMBF , which is KIngmohd Basketball Federation. Get the idea?

Another thing I heard about Soccer is that its too slow for America. I think NFL and baseball were slower. Throw the ball, run, stop. For baseball, throw the ball , hit it back , run, a new batter is up. in Soccer you got like 45 min non-stop action in soccer. So that makes it a "faster" game than American football and baseball.

Also I do agree that a soccer game can be too long and a bit boring, but I came to the idea that Americans just wants to see scoring. I am not a huge soccer fan, but from what I understand, soccer fans are all about skills. How do you shoot, how do you pass, how do you strike, how do you maneuver the ball, they appreciate all these tiny details.

Last thing is I am amazed that you would say a soccer pitch is huge, I thought NFl and Baseball has much larger pitches.

I am not defending soccer, I am just talking, I don't follow soccer much.

[Kebo]

I'm a big fan of football, basketball, hockey and baseball. Tennis to a lesser extent.

I find it hard to understand why people like soccer. Hockey, of those four, is my least favorite. Why? Because the only tangible 'progress' is a goal. You have very little to root for if your team is shutout. In football, field position is something you can cheer for. There's field goals to make up for no touchdowns. Basketball obviously has a lot of scoring, and baseball has 'progress' toward points, getting men on base, balls and strikes. Hockey and soccer don't have these. It's all or nothing. So while a score is exciting, being shutout is awful, and it's hard to get excited for plays when most of them don't end in a score and they're over in a second (so the 'big exciting play' ends up being only a couple seconds...and nothing results from it. It's like a hail mary pass that isn't caught. Who cares?)

Now people shouldn't get the perception basketball isn't popular around the world. It's extremely popular. In fact, I suspect that in a few generations, it will actually be more popular than soccer. It's easier to get games together, the playing space is smaller, and it's far more intuitive (we're naturally better with hands than our feet). I'm surprised a game where you control the ball with your feet ever got as popular as it did, especially with its scoring system. Hockey is similar to soccer but it's considerbly faster paced (obviously, they're on skates), the shots are faster, the goals are smaller yet they still score similar amounts, and there are big, physical hits. But it is without a question much faster. Skating down the rink is far faster than running down the soccer field.

So can someone explain to me, just how did soccer become so popular? I do not understand the appeal for the sport itself. It's almost as if it's popular because it's popular, just a tradition carrying itself on. I played on a team back in middle school, it was relatively enjoyable to play. But to watch it? I just don't see it. Team sports should be about winning, not about skills. And to win you have to score points.