Originally Posted by The Porn Nerd (Post 20134438)

We cannot be 'threatened' by something we don't understand

Originally Posted by Rob (Post 20134255)

We [Americans] are programmed NOT to like soccer from birth. Even as a young kid, if you played one of the major three American sports; Football (the one you can use your hands and hit people without them flopping), baseball, and basketball, you were in the cool group. To us, soccer players were the weak ones that couldn't make it in the other sports. And that's because we were programmed by the media NOT to like soccer. The reason? There's not a lot of ad revenue to be made in soccer. Could you imagine any station in America showing 90 minutes of continuous sports play without one single commercial break?!?!? What they did is "pushed" the other sports on us and that dealt soccer the American deathblow. The NFL, the most popular sport in the United States takes 3 1/2 hours to play a one hour game. That's 2 1/2 hours of money making ad revenue pouring in and why the NFL is worth Billions.

They tried to have MLS in the U.S. and it pretty much failed. They're still playing, but no one is paying attention. There is no ad revenue and you don't find too many professional soccer players with million dollar endorsement deals. An unproven NFL rookie, just drafted will sign a multimillion dollar endorsement deal. A professional soccer player will sign an endorsement deal for Ed's Pawnshop on the Corner of MLK and 22nd.

It's not that we're threatened by soccer, we're just greedy about money. And from a media standpoint, soccer is not a money making sport - if there's no time for ads, don't waste our time is what the networks say. The MLS is having problems filling up stadiums with just 1,500 seats - and ticket sales and concessions aren't going to make anyone want to invest. So there's your answer, that's why Americans don't like soccer. The media programmed us from the time we were able to watch Sesame Street, and continue to program us to this day.

Originally Posted by J. Falcon (Post 20134446)

Fixed :2 cents:

Originally Posted by dyna mo (Post 20134463)

i don't have a prob admitting I don't understand the game. I don't understand soccer. That said, a quick read of the rules, watch 30 minutes of game play ask a couple questions and I'd bet I'd have a grasp of the sport.

Let's not make it out like it's over people's heads.

Originally Posted by Rob (Post 20134255)

We [Americans] are programmed NOT to like soccer from birth. Even as a young kid, if you played one of the major three American sports; Football (the one you can use your hands and hit people without them flopping), baseball, and basketball, you were in the cool group. To us, soccer players were the weak ones that couldn't make it in the other sports. And that's because we were programmed by the media NOT to like soccer. The reason? There's not a lot of ad revenue to be made in soccer. Could you imagine any station in America showing 90 minutes of continuous sports play without one single commercial break?!?!? What they did is "pushed" the other sports on us and that dealt soccer the American deathblow. The NFL, the most popular sport in the United States takes 3 1/2 hours to play a one hour game. That's 2 1/2 hours of money making ad revenue pouring in and why the NFL is worth Billions.

They tried to have MLS in the U.S. and it pretty much failed. They're still playing, but no one is paying attention. There is no ad revenue and you don't find too many professional soccer players with million dollar endorsement deals. An unproven NFL rookie, just drafted will sign a multimillion dollar endorsement deal. A professional soccer player will sign an endorsement deal for Ed's Pawnshop on the Corner of MLK and 22nd.

It's not that we're threatened by soccer, we're just greedy about money. And from a media standpoint, soccer is not a money making sport - if there's no time for ads, don't waste our time is what the networks say. The MLS is having problems filling up stadiums with just 1,500 seats - and ticket sales and concessions aren't going to make anyone want to invest. So there's your answer, that's why Americans don't like soccer. The media programmed us from the time we were able to watch Sesame Street, and continue to program us to this day.

Originally Posted by slapass (Post 20133735)

I get that it has rules that seem complicated to the average American. But to call it boring, fake, stupid, etc seems so odd. Baseball, football and basketball have more rules. Have more breaks in the action. The skill levels are probably similar in that huge money is on the line.

So why the need to belittle this sport?

PS if you don't take the fan base into account then you are missing a big chunk of soccer.

Originally Posted by Ross (Post 20133768)

the one true tournament that means you are the best in the World.

Originally Posted by bronco67 (Post 20134972)

It's not so much being threatened, as it is just finding it silly to watch dudes running around on a gigantic field, kicking a ball all over the place with no control, with the ultimate goal of putting it into a giant-ass net -- which seems to be almost impossible for some reason.

Originally Posted by stephane76 (Post 20135007)

Speaking of which, I've never understood why the MLB playoff were called the "World Series" and why the Superbowl winners were called "World Champions" :upsidedow

Originally Posted by bronco67 (Post 20134972)

It's not so much being threatened, as it is just finding it silly to watch dudes running around on a gigantic field, kicking a ball all over the place with no control, with the ultimate goal of putting it into a giant-ass net -- which seems to be almost impossible for some reason.

Originally Posted by J. Falcon (Post 20135015)

You may know about other sports, but you seriously sound like you don't know what you're talking about here. No control? Almost impossible?

Originally Posted by bronco67 (Post 20135028)

yeah, no control.

Sometimes a player will just kick the ball wherever and hope a teammate gets it. Don't say that doesn't happen -- a lot.

Originally Posted by bronco67 (Post 20134972)

It's not so much being threatened, as it is just finding it silly to watch dudes running around on a gigantic field, kicking a ball all over the place with no control, with the ultimate goal of putting it into a giant-ass net -- which seems to be almost impossible for some reason.

Originally Posted by crucifissio (Post 20134967)

they are not good at it :1orglaugh...americans actually tried to change the rules and introduce wider goals and 4 quarters instead of 2 halftimes and no offside :1orglaugh

also the NBA and NFL is jacked up on steroids like nobody else, I remember during some olympics they did not let the olympic anti doping committee test the NBA LOL, so is baseball and everything else american = fake doping crap for the media...

steroids do not mean much in football...yes the players fall sometimes like bitches and fake injuries but its nowhere near the american fake standard of everything...

last but not least: how funny is it that americans call rugby "american football" :1orglaugh:1orglaugh foot.......ball......LOL (foot as in foot not hand LOL)

fake is the norm in the USA :1orglaugh

Originally Posted by J. Falcon (Post 20134476)

It's pretty simple actually, not hard at all to understand. It's idiots like The Porn Nerd that want to make it sound like Americans have no interest in learning it, because, well, it's boring and not a real sport. :)

Originally Posted by The Porn Nerd (Post 20135092)

Aww a little butt hurt that Americans don't give a fuck about your wee wittle kicky kicky 'game'? What the fuck do you care how Americans feel? You're the idiot for thinking Americans don't "understand" something ridiculously simple.

We DO understand soccer/futbol. It's just that we also find it BORING and UNINTERESTING. Again, we need more to amuse us than kick, pass, yawn. We understand the subtlety and complexity of the game just fine. We Americans have just judged the entire sport to be lacking in excitement.

Originally Posted by J. Falcon (Post 20135096)

You don't care but you continue to post about it and you even started a thread asking people to explain it to you because you can't understand for yourself.

Originally Posted by Rob (Post 20134255)

We [Americans] are programmed NOT to like soccer from birth. Even as a young kid, if you played one of the major three American sports; Football (the one you can use your hands and hit people without them flopping), baseball, and basketball, you were in the cool group. To us, soccer players were the weak ones that couldn't make it in the other sports. And that's because we were programmed by the media NOT to like soccer. The reason? There's not a lot of ad revenue to be made in soccer. Could you imagine any station in America showing 90 minutes of continuous sports play without one single commercial break?!?!? What they did is "pushed" the other sports on us and that dealt soccer the American deathblow. The NFL, the most popular sport in the United States takes 3 1/2 hours to play a one hour game. That's 2 1/2 hours of money making ad revenue pouring in and why the NFL is worth Billions.

They tried to have MLS in the U.S. and it pretty much failed. They're still playing, but no one is paying attention. There is no ad revenue and you don't find too many professional soccer players with million dollar endorsement deals. An unproven NFL rookie, just drafted will sign a multimillion dollar endorsement deal. A professional soccer player will sign an endorsement deal for Ed's Pawnshop on the Corner of MLK and 22nd.

It's not that we're threatened by soccer, we're just greedy about money. And from a media standpoint, soccer is not a money making sport - if there's no time for ads, don't waste our time is what the networks say. The MLS is having problems filling up stadiums with just 1,500 seats - and ticket sales and concessions aren't going to make anyone want to invest. So there's your answer, that's why Americans don't like soccer. The media programmed us from the time we were able to watch Sesame Street, and continue to program us to this day.

Originally Posted by The Porn Nerd (Post 20135105)

Ah missing the point again, as so many do here on GFY. I wonder why I even bother at times...

My thread was asking what the APPEAL was, not asking about the sport or trying to understand it. People explained their opinion to me as to why they think soccer is so universally loved but not in America. I understood their responses. But at the end of the day i STILL do not see the appeal of the game.

WHY do you soccer fans like to watch people kick a ball around for 90 minutes? That's my point. Not if the game is hard to 'get' or not. We GET it. We just don't LIKE it.

Someone fucking score already.

Originally Posted by Ross (Post 20135122)

I understand that NFL, MLB etc are worth a ton of money, it's apparent with the salaries that the players get but think about the top soccer players in EU and what they earn, it's on par with your top Baseball/Basketball players, there isn't many of them making that kind of money but the top top guys can pull in $30-40 million a year with salary and endoresements.

High level players make anywhere up to $300,000 a week and your average players in major leagues are making $30-70k a week, so while the top range isn't enjoyed by the majority, the average range is certainly higher than what your average NFL guy will get.

My point is, there is huge advertising revenue in EU Football, the Barclays Premier League just renegotiated their TV deal for $3 billion per season, just for the top tier league which is 20 teams. Put merchandise, season tickets, other competitions, player sales etc all on top, the biggest teams are worth more than your biggest NFL or Hockey team.

Source NFL top teams: http://www.forbes.com/nfl-valuations/
Source EU top football teams: http://www.forbes.com/soccer-valuations/

Originally Posted by J. Falcon (Post 20135018)

In all fairness, I doubt any team in the world would be able to beat either the NFL or MLB champions.