Why soccer will never be accepted into the mainstream in the United States.
Please keep in mind- I am a HUGE European Football fan and GREATLY support the Netherlands side during the World Cup.
I write this entry in absolute jest, but at the same time – the sport simply does it to itself.
There are two very specific reasons that Soccer or European Football will never become a popular mass culture sport in this country.
Exhibit A: The length of the matches and the fact that a game can end in 0 – 0 tie will inevitably doom soccer in this country. The average American is conditioned to watch maybe 4 – 5 solid minutes of programming and then be saturated by 9-10 minutes of pure commercial bombardment. In addition to the Pavlovian conditioning of the average American sports spectator- as a culture- we are taught to win! The game is not over until someone has outscored, outplayed, or just plain killed the opponent. European football can go a full 45 minutes (per half) without a score and then resume and conclude in the exact same way after another 45 minutes plus stoppage time. The matches are usually presented without a break in play between the 45 minute halves, and as shown in the SWEDEN V. TRINIDAD & TOBAGO opening Match- can and will end in a 0-0 tie, thus causing the average American spectator to either:
1.Fall asleep
2.Hurt small animals
3.Hurt small animals while sleeping.
Exhibit B. The Gayness of it all..
Please see pictures for summation of point…
posted by Dad of Henry.. @ 3:46 PM
2 Comments:
That's all good and well, but until American Football produces a specimen as pleasing to the eye as Beckham, I'm with soccer mate, all the way! (Let's hope England don't f*ck themselves over as usual) and I hereby announce the SAVE THE ANIMALS FROM SOCCER campaign - what color should I make my ribbon?
I think a big reason is the lack of atmosphere surrounding the sport here. Soccer's no more boring than hockey, yet I think there are some people who still watch that (for some reason). But soccer kind of loses its appeal if you watch it alone and with the sound off -- you need to be surrounded by plenty of beer and grown men alternating between brawling and crying. Then you can start appreciating the nuances of the game.
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