Who else hates European soccer (or football)?

In My Humble Opinion
1

So my whole life I hear that soccer (or football as its called in Europe) is the most popular sport in the world. I grew up watching the American sports of baseball, football, and basketball. Then recently I decided to check soccer out. Sure I found it unbearably boring, but my goal was to at least become knowledgeable in it. You know, learn about the best teams, players, etc.

I find out that the best players play in the European leagues. The Italian, German, Spanish, and British leagues are composed of the best players in the world. I learn that Zidane from France is supposedly the best player in the world. I learn about Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Figo, Beckham and their multi-million dollar contracts. But the more I learn about the sport, the more confused (and pissed off) I become.

I find out that each league has its own champion(s). And not necessarily just one. For example, in England a team can win the league, and another team can win the FA cup, and yet another team can win the league championship. And get this: all 3 have the right to call themselves champions. Your team could lose every game, and then win the FA Cup and call itself a “champion”. And similar situations exist in the other countries.

And then you have the European cups, which are designed to determine the best teams in Europe. You have the UEFA Champion’s League, and then you have the UEFA Cup, and then you have the Cup Winner’s Cup, and then you have the Supercup, and lets not forget the Intertoto Cup. Its absolutely ridiculous. At some point in the season, you have about 25 teams in Europe all calling themselves “champions”.

Then I learn that the UEFA Champion’s League is traditionally regarded as the ultimate championship that all teams are shooting for. It is the most prestigious team tournament in Europe. But get this: To get invited to play in it, your team needed to have a strong showing the previous year! This means that you could go to the Champion’s League with a completely different set of players than the ones that got you in. Its like the Yankees finishing as American League champions this September, and then playing the world series the following October (12 months later)!

So while I think the sport of soccer is boring as hell (90 minutes of play ending in a 0-0 tie just doesn’t quite cut it for me), I respect the opinions of those who like it. And since enough people do like it, I can’t really bash the sport too much. But I can bash the organization of it. In any American sport, there is only 1 champion at a point in time while the rest of the teams are not. Baseball: Yankees, Football: Ravens, Basketball: Lakers, Hockey: Devils. See how easy that was? So what’s the deal in Europe?

Maybe someone else has a good explanation. What do you think?

2

I agree with one of your points: the set-up of the European cup competitions is ridiculous. I belive it’s going to be entirely revamped, with at least one of the cups (the ECWC, I think) dropped and the others simplified. Hopefully the Intertoto, which is a Mickey Mouse thing, will go too.

You’re not entirely correct about qualifying for European cups – only the holder automatically qualifies. Other entrants are awarded places based on a complicated set of rules – they usually have won a national cup competition, or were runners-up in their national league. Clubs from certain countries receive extra places depending on how well clubs in general from that country have performed over the last few years in European competition. For example, German clubs have performed poorly recently, so England will get an extra place (I believe) next season.

Having said that, the idea of separate league and cup competitions has been a staple of football since the 1800s. What’s so difficult to understand? In the league clubs are pitched against teams theoretically of similar quality for an entire season. The team that wins is generally more highly regarded than any cup winner, since it has proved itself against similar quality opponents over 38-odd matches.

A cup competition is a simple knockout competition usually. Anyone can participate, the idea being that the bigger clubs rise to the top – the excitement being when a small club beats a more glamourous rival.

The “champion” is whichever club won the league. The cup winner is, well, a cup winner.

3

I wouldn’t say I hate it, cause hate is a really strong word. Besides, I’m usually too busy sleeping while it’s on to bother hating it :smiley:

Soccer?
Snore…

4

Well at least having champions from several nations compete for a trophy, and don’t forget the world club trophy, gives the sport a little more credibility than declaring yourselves world champions at a sport that no-one else plays.

American sport was designed around the message break, to pull in money from the tv rights.

European sport may alter schedules to suit viewing audiences but the rules are not geared directly to advertising revenue in such an obvious way.

Soccer, where maybe hundred and fifty teams take part in a 2 year long competition which culminates in a final soccer festival and whoever wins declares themselves world champions.

American football, where one country runs a tournament of matches of teams from within that same country, no outsiders whatsoever, and the winner declares themselves world champions.This is truly exciting.

Hmmmm, American major league sport, where you can’t get bored with the game because it does not have a long enough continuation of play to do so, and those adverts are so interesting, in fact they are really the whole point of the game which is just a side issue.

One consolation, you go to a US sport event and they even stop the clock between plays just so you get the full hour or so of play, and they can cram more of those adverts in between, meanwhile the stadium can sell even more goodies to the fans who stay there for three or more hours.

American sport, where you can do several other things because there are so many breaks, the true meaning of multi-tasking.

I know lets have teams with 40 or more players who take it in turns to walk around the field whole the adverts are running, we wouldn’t want the darlings to get all puffed out now would we ?

They show American football on UK tv but all the breaks are edited out and you know what ? it looks like an entertaining sport, but when the superbowl is on live and consequently there is no editing, all I do is keep wondering , why the hell don’t they get on with it and play ?

On a more constructive note, just watching football, which is the real name of what you call soccer you are not too likely to appreciate the skills involved, going out and playing does, take the kids out and knock a ball about and you will learn more about soccer than ever you will watching and listening to tv pundits.

5

And they say Europeans are snobby…pft!

Dear, dear casdave, you have so much to learn. But then again, what should we expect from a completely average bloke like yourself.

If you look closely in your refrigerator, you will see a bottle of beer - Oops! wrong country. OK, if you look in you oven, you will find a disgustingly warm bottle of beer. Open it up, drink it, and RELAX already! :smiley:

I suppose if you consider that most of the world is far behind the greatest country in the world (the good old US of A!)in terms of many many things, not the least of which is economic prosperity, then it is easy to see why they can sit around and watch a boring sport like soccer for 90 and not be given the opportunity to buy a single thing - cause they’ve got no money, laddy!

Anyway, I’m just giving you a hard time, casdave. Remember, it’s just a ball and some grass and some guys. Not really something smart folk like ourselves should be arguing about :smiley:

H
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b
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!

6

I don’t suppose there’s anyway of convincing somebody who doesn’t like soccer to change his mind. You could point out the rich tradition - the complicated strategies - the beauty of a give and go - the power of a 60 mph shot into the upper corner - none of it will do any good. Why?

[whine]Because soccer’s boring[/whine]

Ok. We’ve rooted out the problem. You think soccer is boring. Fine.

I have one word for you: Base-freakin-ball!

This is what you call an exciting sport?

Johnson steps up to the plate. The pitcher Jones looks in for the signs. He shakes off the first one. Looks like he’s shaking off the next one. Jones steps off his rubber, for a toss of the ol’ rosin bag. Johnson fiddles with his cup a little while he stares down the third base line to figure if he’s suppose to swing or not. Jones is back on his rubber looking in once again for signs. He shakes the first on off. Looks like he’s shaking the next one off. And Jones is off the rubber again. Smith, his catcher is coming out to the mound to get straight the signs that neither he, the pitcher nor the coach will agree on anyway. Whoah, here comes the pitching coach to talk things over too. Ok, the five minute mini-conference is over, back to the action. Johnson fiddles some more with his cup. I think he’s finally figured out what the hell the third base coach is flailing his arms about. Jones stares in for the signs. He shakes the first one off. Looks like he’s shaking the next one off …

I could go on and on before a friggin’ ball is even put into play!
Egad, I’d biting my nails with all this exciting action going on too.

7

The shrieks of the rioting crowd - the crash of broken glass - the groans of tearing metal as cars are overturned - the feel of a fire hose spraying you as the riot police move in - the snicker-snack of soccer fans stabbing, beating and maiming each other - the smell of the stadium burning down. It’s a very interesting sport.

This, of course, is why Europeans of good taste and decent values all left Europe years ago and came to North America; so they could avoid sports where the object is to stab opposing fans and enjoy real sports like baseball and basketball, sports that demand rigorous attention and years of study to truly appreciate them, sports that require a dedication to learning the fine points of an athletic endeavour that demands both physical and mental excellence. I suppose soccer does offer the possibility of getting free merchandise from the stores you loot.

It’s a good thing Europeans don’t like baseball, though, because I prefer to attend baseball games knowing it’s unlikely I will be trampled to death, bludgeoned, or shot.

8

And we all know of course that we civilized Americans never cause even the slightest ruckus over a sporting event. :rolleyes:

Everytime a champion is crowned in any sport in this country, the really diehard fans celebrate by burning down the whole friggin’ city.

Soccer riots, schmocker riots. You get that many people in one place, give them that much beer and it wouldn’t matter if they were watching a quilting bee, there would be a riot.

9

Lads, lads, lads. Let’s keep this civil, OK?

If you want to learn everything about “How not to behave in a football-related debate”, do a search for the name “Krispy Original” and the word “soccer”. 'Nuff said. We don’t need that again.

We’re talking about different cultures, different people, and, hence, different sports. One’s not necessarily better than the other. And tossing with “arguments” like “stabbing opposing fans is the point of the game” isn’t very contructive, and moreover, comes across as very ill-informed.

Having said that, the OP does make a few valid points about the enormous amount of intercountry tournaments in Europe. We’re sort of losing track ourselves, over here. I long for the late 80’s, when the international UEFA tournaments where logical and you didn’t have to spend 4 nights a week in front of the telly to keep up with things.
On the other hand, these international tournaments are easily explained by the fact that, in contrast to the US, we actually HAVE tournaments that lets teams from various countries compete against each other. And putting a little nuance in casdaves words: the set-up of many North American sports (Basketball, American Football) makes this less managable in the US (and Canada). And although the winners of the NBA play-offs probably ARE the best basketball team in the world, it still comes across as pretty bizarre to the rest of the world when you call yourself world champions after winning a national league. Whereas football has actual world championships: of course, this too stems from the fact that the sport has an actual global popularity.

But in the end, it’s all taste. Cultural Anthropology aside, some people will like “soccer”, and some won’t. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing the ever-improving US team at next years World Championships.

10

Baseball has been around since the time of the Civil War (1861-1865). A good 90 years before TV became available to the masses.

Basketball was invented in, IIRC, 1890-something. A good 60 years before TV became available to the masses.

They were playing American football in the late 1800’s, a good 80 years before TV became available to the masses.

Clearly, American sport was not designed around TV.

You guys think it’s confusing naming a soccer champion? Try naming a chess champion. Currently, no fewer than three men hold the title of “World Champion,” depending upon whom you ask. At times a computer has also held that title. One man holds the championship in the league that he created!

Well, I’m going to put an end to all this foolishness now.

  1. Soccer: I hereby declare that my brothers and I are the World Champions of football/soccer. If anybody wants to challenge me on it, they can meet me at Memorial Stadium, 2100 North Grand Avenue East, Springfield, Illinois for a match to settle the matter. My fee is $5 million.

  2. Chess: I hereby declare that I am the Champion of the World in chess. If Kasparov (or anyone else) wants to challenge me on it, name the time & place. My fee is $5 million.

What the hell, while I’m at it I’ll also declare myself (and/or my brothers) the champion(s) of bocci (sp?) ball, cricket, shuffleboard, and tiddleywinks. Again, if anyone wants to challenge me on it, name the time & place. My fee is $5 million.

11

You might have a point if this scenario happened with any kind of regularity. Given that the average pitcher’s repertoire is only a few pitches, is it likely that he will shake his catcher off (let me count) SIX times? SIX times? And, no, the catcher does not hop out to the mound at the drop of a hat.

The only conclusion I can draw from this ridiculous scenario is that you sure love talking about guys fiddling with their cups.

12

Well, we think it’s pretty bizarre, too, you know. The average American fan didn’t go tell the NBA to say something dumb like that.

13

For my sarcastically challenged, sports editor buddy (and soon to be dressed-up-like-a-boat running partner):

Main Entry: hy·per·bo·le
Pronunciation: hI-'p&r-b&-(")lE
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin, from Greek hyperbolE excess, hyperbole, hyperbola, from hyperballein to exceed, from hyper- + ballein to throw – more at DEVIL
Date: 15th century
: ***extravagant exaggeration ***(as “mile-high ice-cream cones”)

But come on. Baseball isn’t exactly the edge of your seat every moment of the game nail biting, oh my god I’m going to pee in my pants kind of activity to watch. In fact the only thing I like about baseball are the highlights. And going to the park is kind of fun.

When watching a soccer game, I watch as much of the field as possible, trying to figure out what the next move will be/could be/should be. I marvel at the skill a player may show in a simple pass. And the pathos is palpable.

But when I’m watching a baseball game … it’s like watching old people screw. Sure there could be a pay-off at any time, but do I really have to watch all the boring stuff in between. Strike-outs are boring. The only things more boring than strike three are strikes one and two.
I’m with George Carlin, none of this three tries at it, and no walking. One swing, “Strike!”, Fuck you, sit down. Next!

Ok, enough of this clap-trap. I’m tired and just spewing - diaharea of the mouth - you know how it goes. But tell me there isn’t an awful lot of nothing going on in your average baseball game.

14

Very clever deployment of the “when-somebody-calls-me-on-my-dopey-remarks-I’ll-go-back-and-claim-sarcasm” defense. I applaud.

All I can add to this is, be glad that baseball has evolved into the fast-paced, thrill-a-minute game that it is … at least, compared to the early rules. Three balls and two strikes too much for you? How about NINE balls and FOUR strikes, which is what it was for the first few years. And only when the batter swung the bat was it a strike. The notion of a “called” strike didn’t come about for quite some time. A batter could sit there for even longer than he does now, waiting, waiting …

15

I love it in baseball when its called a strike, it’s the one thing the hitter fails to do. :slight_smile:

16

Re: Multiple champs. Bleah. And I thought this was bad in boxing (will we ever have an undisputed champ again, ever?).

The solution is incredibly obvious…playoffs! See, in American team sports there are also a bunch of championships, but only one BIG championship, if you catch my drift. The division champions are decided in the regular season (along with the wild cards). Then, once the playoffs reach the final four (uncapitalized…remember, CBS trademark!!), there’s the conference championships. And finally the league championship. Baseball is a little different; after the division championships is the “pennants”, i.e. the league championships (there are no conferences, hence no conference championships). Then the World Series to decide the “world championship”…actually the national championship, but never mind.

So what I’m proposing is a similar multitiered system for the European leagues: 1) Regional/divisional championships. 2) National championships. 3) League championships. 4) Conference (or whatever) championships. 5) European championship. Wild cards given, of course, to only the winningest teams to not win a region/division.

Alternatively, they could do what tennis does and simply throw everyone into a big single-elimination winner-take-all tournament. Plenty of excitement, every game is do or die, and the only danger is that a favored team will get unlucky and be knocked out…and this doesn’t seem to be a huge problem in tennis.

Or maybe everyone secretly wants all these champions because, well, they’re good athletes and don’t deserve to go away empty-handed. Kinda like Divison 1-A football and all the bowl games. Admirable if it’s true, but I’d think professionals wouldn’t require this kind of wishy-washy “esteem” building.

17

by Jack Batty:

Yeah, baseball is so boring that instead of playing it, a game like it but even more drawn out and boring is played over there instead. It’s called cricket.
Rastahomie said:

And then, of course, there’s boxing. Quite possibly the most corrupt sport (even though soccer in some countries could make a case) in existence. How many champions are there? How many for each different weight class? From what I can tell there are more than a few.

18

Do you have any statistical evidence to back up this hyperbole, or are you judging thousands of games in dozens of countries purely on a few media-frenzied examples?

No? I didn’t think so.

19

I dont find soccer boring, I find it frustrating. It’s like bring constantly being brought to the brink [sexual metaphor] and then getting nothing. At some point I just begin to feel that I might be better off just watching the highlights. Whereas with baseball, football and basketball I can reasonably assume that I will get off at least a few times. With basketball that’s not an issue at all. Although football and baseball do have their occasionaly.

Although personally I feel that sports (or sport for the Brits) go WAY better with radio. You have the game on in the background and you do something else. Maybe barbecue, have a family gathering, read the paper, whatever.

The only sports that work better on TV then on radio are sumo and racing. I used to LOVE NASCAR but then Davy Allison, the driver I rooted for, died and I was never able to really get into it again. Coming from Hawaii we get some sumo and it’s exciting and over so quickly you don’t get bored. Unles you watch all the matches in a day then they start to blend into each other. But you got to love a sport where they can replay the entire match during the news.

Perhaps this was a typical American reaction. We want more scoring!!

20

Ok, you see I’ve got 4 windows open and am downloading stuff too, hence I forgot to finish my thought here. What I was going to say was