# Shut up USA **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 17, 2002, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601 "2002-06-17T23:15:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/61 "2002-06-18T11:30:28Z")
There are knuckle-heads in life and it comes as no surprise to me that football has more than its fair share. The idea of this board, I thought, was to get beyond the tabloid mentality and, in this case, enjoy reasonably informed discussion of the matches and the sport. **lobley** – You’re demonstrating all the symptoms of a reactionary, knuckle-headed tabloid whore. Get a grip or go away. Please. ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/62 "2002-06-18T11:31:21Z")
I should probably acknowledge that yes, I am aware that there’s a minority of England supporters who are nationalistic idiots. What I’m trying to say is that a statement like “And this is coming from and England supporter” is an unfair snipe. The majority of England supporters _aren’t_ like that. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/63 "2002-06-18T11:32:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > \*\*Ah, but how sweet would it be to kick the world’s collective asses at a game we don’t even give a shit about? > > Oh, wait. [We already did.](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/1999/womens_worldcup/news/1999/07/23/out_of_this_world/) > > 😛 \*\* Your lack of knowledge about football betrays you. Women’s football is popular in any vaguely large way in precisely two countries - America and CHina. Guess who met in that final. Example, BBC News’ page about football, try and find where it mentions women: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/football/default.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/football/default.stm) ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/64 "2002-06-18T11:43:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Francesca \* > \*\*I should probably acknowledge that yes, I am aware that there’s a minority of England supporters who are nationalistic idiots. What I’m trying to say is that a statement like “And this is coming from and England supporter” is an unfair snipe. The majority of England supporters _aren’t_ like that. \*\* Sorry Frannie, but some England supporters can be insufferable. I hope the team do well, and I would be happy for you all if you won it, but the Media bleating for the next 40 years would be insufferable, coupled that it would bring out the worst “superior” attitude amongst alot of England fans. You may not agree with me, but next time that England play Germany, just listen to how loud the crowd will chant “2 world wars and one world cup, doo dah, doo dah”. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/65 "2002-06-18T11:56:57Z")
Ah, the chanting is all in good fun! Besides, the Limeys needed the Yanks for that second world war. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/66 "2002-06-18T12:04:49Z")
Meh. They both needed the Russians 😉 Which reminds me. The Rioting in Moscow may have a lot to do with Russian animosity for Japan. After all, the two countries really do hate each other. I think the riots (which were fueled by alcohol, and a very small police presence didn’t help) did have more to do with the fact that they lost to Japan, rather than the fact the lost. Football dosent encourage people to hate each other, rather it gives a minority an excuse to cause trouble and incite hatred. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/67 "2002-06-18T12:36:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by amanset \* > Your lack of knowledge about football betrays you. > > Women’s football is popular in any vaguely large way in precisely two countries - America and CHina. Guess who met in that final. Whiner. You’re just bitter because you got your asses kicked by a bunch of American girls. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/68 "2002-06-18T12:41:55Z")
There’s nothing quite like the diplomatic touch. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/69 "2002-06-18T13:22:37Z")
except for the Bad Touch. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/70 "2002-06-18T13:33:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Squish \* > ROTFLMFAO! Omigods, you really think that? You really, really, really think that? > > It’s far more likely that the (American) sports announcers would solemnly pontificate on how wonderful Croatia is because it won a basketball game. Then there would be a five-minute special on Croatia’s recent history. Then there would be close-ups of the happy Croatians. The next morning, there would be interviews with Happy Croatian Basketball Players. And then they’d all gripe about how the American basketball players have all gone soft due to high salaries and other perks, and talk about how they got lazy and flabby, and how the Croatians really tried hard because they weren’t expecting anything and had nothing to lose. And the American sports shows would have analysts debating about salary caps and so on… ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/71 "2002-06-18T13:43:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > \*\*You’re just bitter because you got your asses kicked by a bunch of American girls. \*\* That sounds quite pleasant actually. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/72 "2002-06-18T14:08:58Z")
[qoute]_Originally posted by TwistofFate_I think the riots (which were fueled by alcohol … [/quote] Much as their economy and automobiles, yes. At any rate, I find this entire thread rather sad. In many, many ways. One of which being the utter lack of knowledge of “football” on the part of the majority of Merkins. I’m not singling people out: I’m one of them. Before I read this thread, all I know about the current sports situation was that the US beat mexico in soccar and we are going to play Germany next. That’s all I knew. I didn’t even know why they were playing. I thought countrys just played soccar. I didn’t know it was a big event that only happened every several years. I’m also far from the first to have admitted as much in this thread. Just goes to show how little most Merking really care about it. I personally only watch American football. And I don’t really even pay much attention to it. I like to watch the games, but I don’t care who wins. I’m certainly not going to get upset if my team loses, though I’d be excited if they won (go Philly!!!). From what I’ve seen in the news tha past few days, the US is far from the worst country as far as this sports fever thing goes. A Korean guy lit himself on fire. A guy (I think in the Phillipines) shot his wife because she turned off the game. Brawls happen at just about every game around the world and wherever people are watching it. It really isn’t worth it, and I think some young children in England [coughLobleycough] should pay more attention to their homework and leave world affairs to the adults. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/73 "2002-06-18T14:14:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gorgon Heap \* > **A guy (I think in the Phillipines) shot his wife because she turned off the game.** Hmmm. A tough one. Was it half time? If not, then I’m inclined to understand the guy. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/74 "2002-06-18T14:30:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Brawls happen at just about every game around the world and wherever people are watching it. Brawls happen at most bars and clubs too… Hell, I’ve even seen politicians brawl in parlament. When you have a sufficiently large amount of people and passion in the same place, there is always going to be some sort of flare up. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/75 "2002-06-18T14:32:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mayberrydan \* > \*\*Okay, for all of you giving poor **lobley** a hard time, imagine this… > > Next summer olympics during the basketball competition, Croatia comes in shooting the lights out and take out USA in the semifinals. How do you figure you’d all feel about that? You know good god damn well the persident would impose trade sanctions or some bullshit…\*\* That’d take one hell of an imagination! The most that’d happen is we’d be subjected to a half-hour soft-focus TV ‘special’ on how the Croatians are a “Cinderella” team, complete with vacuous non-interviews and “personal interest” bits. The president might deign to notice with a 10-second sound bite, or, actually, probably not even that much. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/76 "2002-06-18T14:43:15Z")
10 seconds is a _speech_ to George W. Bush, not a sound bite. 😉 [sub]Ow! Alright, alright. Too easy.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/77 "2002-06-18T14:56:24Z")
😛 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/78 "2002-06-18T15:06:30Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Coldfire_ > 10 seconds is a speech to George W. Bush, not a sound bite. [sigh] If only that were true. If he kept his speaches shorter he’d make more damn sense. That and he’d have less time to screw up. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/79 "2002-06-18T15:29:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Was it half time? If not, then I’m inclined to understand the guy. Well, only if he had enough time to get down pub for the second half . . . ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601/80 "2002-06-18T15:49:19Z")
What I find endlessly amusing is the notion that any country on the Planet Earth does what the USA has done so far in the Cup and their fans act any differently. “We’re going to win!” My, what an insult. :rolleyes: You Americans are all just so, so … _happy_ … and, and … _excited_ … and … _proud_ … and … _confident_! It’s just not fair!! No other country’s soccer fans would ever **think** of acting so boorishly! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shut-up-usa/114601.md?page=5)