North Carolina Tar Heels

[aTm]

Discussing differences of opinions is one thing, Outright ignorance quite another.

[sardis]

I guess hope springs eternal...

[aTm]

American coaching and scouting is very good and very experienced at identifying athleticism. Even in a skill driven sport like baseball, the first thing you ever do at any tryout is see how fast you can run and then see how hard you can throw. I'm much more worried about good skilfull soccer players not being identified as prospects by an inexperienced and young American development system than I am of getting more athletic players into the system.

[innocentbystander]

Discussing differences of opinions is one thing, Outright ignorance quite another.

Heh.

Having stadiums designed specifically for soccer is very promising aTm. I would not have guessed that, (very surprised and pleased at the same time) but I am not all that interested in following boring sports like soccer. To me, its just a kids game played for the purposes of protecting self-esteem and everyone gets a participation trophy.

http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2014-06-25.html

http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2014-07-02.html

Perhaps Ann is also ignorant?

[AlabamAlum]

There can be no doubt.

[hedge]

"Having stadiums designed specifically for soccer is very promising aTm. I would not have guessed that, (very surprised and pleased at the same time)"

I'm glad to see you didn't break your usual protocol of not letting total ignorance of the facts (happy as you claim to be to learn of them later) keep you from spouting off like an fucking dumbass...

[aTm]

Ann Coulter is on his side though.

[Owlman]

partially agree with Jabbar, but I think there is one other factor that makes it tough. Yes, not enough scoring, but also, not enough bathroom time. It may pass hockey eventually, but I doubt it touches the other big 3.

[innocentbystander]

"Having stadiums designed specifically for soccer is very promising aTm. I would not have guessed that, (very surprised and pleased at the same time)"

I'm glad to see you didn't break your usual protocol of not letting total ignorance of the facts (happy as you claim to be to learn of them later) keep you from spouting off like an fucking dumbass...

...and we are all still waiting for you to stop (at anytime) from spouting off like a fucking dumbass.

[Owlman]

Perhaps Ann is also ignorant?

yes

[Owlman]

Is IB married??

[Bklyn]

aTm is busting people down for spreading soccer lies and misconceptions today. A mighty "huzzah!" to the Batman of soccer!

Hey, I hear soccer is boring and no one ever scores any goals!

No way I was "busted down." I George Bush'd him anyway...my right or wrongness can not be judged for another 10 years.

[AlabamAlum]

aTm is busting people down for spreading soccer lies and misconceptions today. A mighty "huzzah!" to the Batman of soccer!

Hey, I hear soccer is boring and no one ever scores any goals!

No way I was "busted down." I George Bush'd him anyway...my right or wrongness can not be judged for another 10 years.

I was actually talking Sardis' and IB's beatdown.

[innocentbystander]

aTm is busting people down for spreading soccer lies and misconceptions today. A mighty "huzzah!" to the Batman of soccer!

Hey, I hear soccer is boring and no one ever scores any goals!

No way I was "busted down." I George Bush'd him anyway...my right or wrongness can not be judged for another 10 years.

I was actually talking Sardis' and IB's beatdown.

I have to admit, I was pretty shocked that there are dedicated soccer stadiums anywhere in the United States. I have to re-evaluate my impression that fandom has of professional soccer.

[sardis]

You all can get excited about soccer all you want, but the reality is that attendance at professional Soccer matches here in US haven't changed that much since the late 70s NASL days.

[AlabamAlum]

I heard that MLS outdrew the NBA and NHL on average attendance last year.

[10ac]

If you divide the number of attendees by the number of games played, how does that come out?

[sardis]

And the price of a ticket.

[CAT]

I am not going to look up the the statistics, you can do that yourselves! BUT. Every MLS game played in their dedicated stadiums and the couple of American Football stadiums we have to borrow while the real Football stadiums are being built have been to sell out capacity. Aside from the couple of more well known Baseball teams, the ticket sales are dropping, same as American Football. More Americans watched the World Cup than the Super Bowl and I just read that even to my amazement, the World Cup commercials were voted more popular than the Super Bowl. (That really did surprise me!). We have a second league Soccer Team in Sacramento ( Preki is the coach, ATM) and every game is a sellout. There is controversy over the new Kings basketball stadium with the people voting against it but private financing was found, but people in Sac County are wanting a MLS stadium built in Elk Grove and another MLS team formed. Every weekend the parks are full of people---not just kids, we have several adult leagues in this small town alone ---playing SoccerFor the idiots who argue that the scoring is boring, if an American Football. (Stupid bloody name when the ball is only kicked a couple of times) goal was 1 point instead of 7 it would be comparable. The fitness of Soccer players is rated # 1 and of course they have the most beautiful bodies, do I want to see a fat baseball player take off his shirt?? He'll no! But those soccer players could play stark neckkid as far as I am concerned and it would be pure eye candy! Ok you may not agree with that one but as long as my friend David keeps sending me pics of him in his undies I am a happy pussycat! !

[Owlman]

A large number of people watched skating and gymnastics at the Olympics. The miracle on ice didn't cause hockey to surpass the other big 3 and I don't think this will cause soccer to pass the BIG 3 in the U.S. either. Nothing against soccer, but looking at these ratings does not equate to watching every day. Baseball attendance is down, but profits for the teams are up. Some football teams (American) can't sell out their stadiums, but the popularity of the sport has never been higher. The draft set records in viewing. Looking at attendance is not the way to evaluate the sport nor is looking at the ratings of an every 4 year event. The real key is looking at the TV dollars. That's where both hockey and soccer have issues in the U.S. It's improved, but it'll be a long time before it passes up the BIG 3.