I have to do a poll here. I’m European but I’ve spent time living on both sides of the pond. I find football (soccer) a very exciting sport when both teams are in good form. I can totally understand how it’s the world’s number one sport.
On the other hand, I just don’t “get” American football. To me, it’s hopelessly boring no matter how hard I try to get into it.
But from my experience Americans tend to think American football is superior to football (soccer) and everyone else in the world thinks the opposite. Another intriguing thing is that nobody tends to like both. I have not yet encountered a person who didn’t fit into this pattern, so a poll would be in order. I don’t even know what’s up with that.
And I want to see what mostly the reason behind this. Is it about national pride or a cultural thing? Did the people who dislike the other sport actually watch it/know the rules/give it a chance?
Indeed. Also, I think “exciting” is a bad metric. To be honest, generally American Football is more exciting, it is designed that way. However, I prefer soccer/football due to a whole number of additional factors, some cultural, some to do with the league and cup systems and others just because.
I can certainly see why a lot of Americans don’t like football/soccer though, especially if all they really see is the World Cup, which is about as boring as footie gets.
I grew up playing and watching American Football (and baseball too for that matter). At one time you could say that I loved the sport. I don’t play anymore and rarely sit down to watch a whole game but I still appreciate the Game and all of its intricacies.
My kids grew up playing soccer. My oldest only played for a few years but my youngest is still playing goalkeeper for a S2 U15 team that he has been with since he was 5 years old. I have come to truly love and appreciate the width and depth of the sport of soccer. I don’t think it deserves to be compared to American Football in any way. It is simply a different sport. And, as far as I’m concerned, it is not nearly as boring as American Football or baseball simply from the fact that play never stops.
I know the basic rules of soccer, played the game at the intramural level. Don’t really care anything about it, but I will watch the U.S. team in the World Cup.
Football is different. Considerably more violent, more scoring, and more closely tied in with American culture. I grew up playing football. I played in the first live soccer game I ever saw, and that was in college. Just don’t have the same connection to it.
Like everything else, what you are used to seems superior to you. This applies to speech, cooking styles, spelling variations, and, indeed, the sports you watch.
I like both sports, but selected “American Football”, since it’s a far superior game. But I watch European, South American and World Cup soccer whenever I can. But unless it’s an important soccer match, such as the World Cup, Champions League or big EPL, La Liga or Serie A game, I would always watch the American Football game if they were on TV at the same time. And that includes college football as well.
As for baseball, well, nothing comes ahead of baseball.
I don’t understand why these two sports are compared so often. They have nothing in common. If it was “rugby vs. American football” or “soccer vs. hockey” then that would make sense. But why are people always so intent on comparing these two sports?
Neither is my favourite sport, but I do like both.
My two favourite sports are cricket and baseball, a pair of sports which I suspect will be equally divisive, depending on whether or not you’re from North America.
I’m North American, like both a lot, but prefer soccer to football (prefer cfb to NFL). I grew up with football, but gradually have become bored by the NFL, and playing soccer now helps me like it even more.
But I watch European, South American and World Cup soccer whenever I can. But unless it’s an important soccer match, such as the World Cup, Champions League or big EPL, La Liga or Serie A game, I would always watch the American Football game if they were on TV at the same time. And that includes college football as well.
Your opinion is at least as opiniony as mine.