Russia and Qatar win 2018 & 2022 WC!

[salsadancer7]

How so? I don't see people clambering to go to an MLS game. Arena Football was a bigger draw.

Sure soccer is popular in Europe & Asia, but not North America.

The ONLY reason that no one goes to MLS is because they do not have the best players in the world. MLS is the same as XFL. IF the BEST players in the world play in the MLS...it would draw very well. The WC proves that. No one cares what country plays, so long as the best players from the countries play.

 

[SamCdbs]

Keep telling yourself that. The numbers simply tell another story. A story of a niche sport with an unearned attitude.

I'm thrilled to see this deal in countries multi-time zones away.

 

[SandraC]

Simple math. Every second devoted to soccer is a second NOT devoted to something else. And, since pretty much EVERYTHING else is more popular, there you go.

We're talking ESPN here...

If you really need to be force-fed even more of Brett Favre's latest drama, or Lebron's lastest shooting night, I feel sorry for you.

I'm a Jet fan and I'm sick of the constant ESPN hype for tonight's game. Regardless of the outcome both teams will make the playoffs, and could quite possibly meet in January...when the game will REALLY matter.

But it's ESPN, so tonight's game gets jammed down our throats for a week, like it's the most important game ever played. Until next week's most important game ever played. Jeez.

Would be refreshing to hear them talk about something...ANYTHING...else for a change.


Sandra

 

[RandallA]

Sure soccer is popular in Europe & Asia, but not North America.

You mean the USA, right? Because technically, North America includes Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribean where football is very popular.

 

[salsadancer7]

Keep telling yourself that. The numbers simply tell another story. A story of a niche sport with an unearned attitude.

I'm thrilled to see this deal in countries multi-time zones away.

Do you HONESTLY believe that IF the ONLY professional football that was played in the US was something like the UFL/XFL/USFL whatever they are calling...that people would watch it....REALLY? You really need to use your own advise on that one. This so called niche sport is viewed by more people world wide than any other sport...the ONLY sport that comes close is basketball.

 

[Derwin0]

You mean the USA, right? Because technically, North America includes Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribean where football is very popular.

Actually I meant the U.S. and Canada, where soccer rates very low.

But yes, it's popular in Latin America but so is baseball, moreso than here. But the same argument applies as with Europe & Asia, they are not here and don't matter to the sports popularity in the U.S.

 

[Derwin0]

Do you HONESTLY believe that IF the ONLY professional football that was played in the US was something like the UFL/XFL/USFL whatever they are calling...that people would watch it....REALLY? You really need to use your own advise on that one.

Why not? Baseball is widely popular in Japan, yet the best players are here. Same with basketball in Europe, and hockey in nortern Europe.

Was going to mention that NCAA football is more popular in parts of the US than the NFL, but noticed at the last minute that you stated professional.

This so called niche sport is viewed by more people world wide than any other sport...the ONLY sport that comes close is basketball.

True, but worldwide appeal has nothing to do with the US. If what the rest of the world mattered, we'd be metric.

Every area has it's own appeal. Go north of the border and everything pales to Hockey. Here it happens to be Football.

 

[salsadancer7]

Why not? Baseball is widely popular in Japan, yet the best players are here. Same with basketball in Europe, and hockey in nortern Europe.

That's because the BEST LEAGUE is here. IF the best league in the world was here, it would draw EASILY as much as baseball and I would dare say as much as the NFL. But we will never know because that will never happen.

Was going to mention that NCAA football is more popular in parts of the US than the NFL, but noticed at the last minute that you stated professional. True, but worldwide appeal has nothing to do with the US. If what the rest of the world mattered, we'd be metric.

LOL...What, you don't think the players in the World Cup do get some kind of "bonus" or "monies for competiting"...? AND, you just personified the "ugly American" with "If what the rest of the world mattered....". But I will not into a political debate about this.

Every area has it's own appeal. Go north of the border and everything pales to Hockey. Here it happens to be Football.

Ahhhh...no. Go ANYWHERE in the WORLD, outside of the US..other than Canada....and it's soccer.

BUT, hey....again. The moment a soccer thread is open...it's the usual....LOL!

 

[SamCdbs]

- You could move Manchester United to New York and Real Madrid to Los Angeles, and they would be broke from lack of interest within a few months. Americans do not like soccer. It has nothing to do with the quality of the games played, it has to do with the game played. It is just not interesting to North Americans (defined in the traditional cultural sense to mean Anglo- and Franco- America, i.e. the USA and Canada).

- And actually, there are plenty of places that put soccer in a similar place as well. The Carribbean, particularly the British decended part; Australia and New Zealand; India and the other countries of Indian culture (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc); SE Asia; Japan, etc. Part of soccer's "attitude" is the desire to believe that "the whole world" is watching, lest we oafish colonists. Hardly.

- And, I get in trouble for pointing this out, but spectator sports are a function of leisure time. Two-thirds of the world has no leisure time, because it is involved in a hard and eventually short, struggle to survive on less per day than you spend on gum.

 

[SandraC]

- And actually, there are plenty of places that put soccer in a similar place as well. The Carribbean, particularly the British decended part; Australia and New Zealand; India and the other countries of Indian culture (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc); SE Asia; Japan, etc. Part of soccer's "attitude" is the desire to believe that "the whole world" is watching, lest we oafish colonists. Hardly.

While there are minor exceptions outside the US, the bottom line is that the Super Bowl is barely a blip on the radar screen compared to the feverish attention of the World Cup. Just how it is.


Sandra

 

[Derwin0]

While there are minor exceptions outside the US, the bottom line is that the Super Bowl is barely a blip on the radar screen compared to the feverish attention of the World Cup. Just how it is.

Yes, but the argument here is about popularity in the UNITED STATES. Worldwide I agree with you and Salsa, but we're talking about popularity within the US.

 

[SandraC]

Yes, but the argument here is about popularity in the UNITED STATES. Worldwide I agree with you and Salsa, but we're talking about popularity within the US.

Well I'm not debating popularity in the US. The argument here is certainly not about just the US, many other coutries were brought up.


Sandra

 

[salsadancer7]

- You could move Manchester United to New York and Real Madrid to Los Angeles, and they would be broke from lack of interest within a few months. Americans do not like soccer. It has nothing to do with the quality of the games played, it has to do with the game played. It is just not interesting to North Americans (defined in the traditional cultural sense to mean Anglo- and Franco- America, i.e. the USA and Canada).

And your are basing this point on what? Hard Facts or your spider senses tingling? IF the best of WHATEVER was here in the US...people would be interested. Perfect example is that ALOT of the people think the United States of America is the best country in the world. The US of A is 3rd just behind China and India.

- And actually, there are plenty of places that put soccer in a similar place as well. The Carribbean, particularly the British decended part; Australia and New Zealand; India and the other countries of Indian culture (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc); SE Asia; Japan, etc. Part of soccer's "attitude" is the desire to believe that "the whole world" is watching, lest we oafish colonists. Hardly.

Again, let's visit this quote, this is based on what? In the Caribbean, the ONLY 3 countries that do not put soccer 1st is Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Every where else, from the Antilles west to Belize...soccer is king.

- And, I get in trouble for pointing this out, but spectator sports are a function of leisure time. Two-thirds of the world has no leisure time, because it is involved in a hard and eventually short, struggle to survive on less per day than you spend on gum.

This last statement, I agree with you except one thing....What got you in trouble is your dislike of the sport and trying to pass of as fact.

So you don't like soccer because it is: Boring/non-American fill in the blank...we get it, just don't disguise it as something other than dislike. It comes off disingenuous and kills any credibility some other point you might make in the future.

Just my 2 cents....

 

[SamCdbs]

Perfect example is that ALOT of the people think the United States of America is the best country in the world. The US of A is 3rd just behind China and India.

I don't know what that statement is even supposed to mean.

Anyway, you berate me for lack of "facts" and then just post things you think. This is what happens when one attacks the "worldwide" nature of soccer. Soccer is more popular worldwide than any other sport. It is not a universal sport. And you have heard of cricket, right? Try telling any Anglo-West Indian he likes soccer better. I think you will find out who is missing a few facts.

And as to the current MLS excuse that it would be more popular if only the players were better, both your and my opinion are just that, opinions. Mine backed up by 40 years of soccer's history, such as the complete rejection of the star-laden NASL by Americans and yours by your keyboard strokes.

 

[Derwin0]

And your are basing this point on what? Hard Facts or your spider senses tingling? IF the best of WHATEVER was here in the US...people would be interested.

Hasn't worked for Hockey.

 

[salsadancer7]

I don't know what that statement is even supposed to mean.

Anyway, you berate me for lack of "facts" and then just post things you think. This is what happens when one attacks the "worldwide" nature of soccer. Soccer is more popular worldwide than any other sport. It is not a universal sport. And you have heard of cricket, right? Try telling any Anglo-West Indian he likes soccer better. I think you will find out who is missing a few facts.

And as to the current MLS excuse that it would be more popular if only the players were better, both your and my opinion are just that, opinions. Mine backed up by 40 years of soccer's history, such as the complete rejection of the star-laden NASL by Americans and yours by your keyboard strokes.

I have plenty to back me up. I live in south Florida, where OUTSIDE of the West Indies...there more West-Indians than ANY other place in entire US. And yes, they LOVE and are PASSIONATE about cricket. They have more cricket tournaments in south Florida than ANY other place in the entire US. I have neighbors from Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba...so yeah, I am VERY familiar with folks from the West Indies. ....and as stated, they are passionate about critcket, but their LOVE is soccer.

As far as NASL, that was OVER 26 years ago AND the very best players IN THE WORLD were not playing in that league. They had SOME stars that were in the twilight of their years. NOT in their prime as they have in Europe.