Real Americans hate soccer

[redtiger 1,740]

or at least they do according to Ann Coulter.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/ann-coulter-world-cup-column-182845703.html

 

I thought about putting this in the political discussion forum or the soccer forum but decided here would be more appropriate since she seems to be irritated by the World Cup. I think she may be wrong on this one. While I think most of us would agree shes an idiot I am curious as to why Right Wingers keep making statements like this? If anything all this does is make her(and the Republican Party by extension) look disconnected with America.

 

For whats its worth I have caught part of every World Cup game possible and have watched the U.S. games in their entirety and I definitely don't have a soccer background. OH and my family has been here for more than just a few generations. 

[mavsgrad 28]

Yeah, I think she is out in left field on this one. I do believe our government is more and more pushing us into a socialistic society where they take from the hardworking to give to others who they claim need it more but I think some people who feel similar to me on this go on too many witch hunts and see socialism creeping in in places where it is not.

 

As far as soccer and the world cup, I will check espn.com to see how the US is doing as long as we are still in the tournament but if and when they are eliminated I won't pay it a second thought. I give soccer players props for their athleticism and talent because you have to be in very good shape to play soccer. That being said, that is all the credit I will give them. There isn't nearly enough scoring. To use a football term, the ball isn't in the red zone that often so there isn't even the threat of scoring very often.

 

In my opinion it is just boring. I looked at a soccer stats sheet and with the exception of goalie saves the only stats you can record is offsides, fouls, corner kicks, assists, and goals. So basically if you aren't committing a penalty or scoring a goal you did nothing significant during the whole game lol. In baseball you have hits, rbi's, obp, doubles, triples etc. in addition to actually scoring. Same in basketball rebounds, assists, steals; Football passing yards, rushing yards, sacks, interceptions etc.

So in my opinion soccer isn't communist just boring lol.

69 days until Professional American Football season starts!!!!

[Bearcat Bob 491]

Ann Coulter represents one person, Ann Coulter.  Just like the rest of us, she is entitled to her opinion.  I don't like soccer and here is why:

 

(First. let me say this...because I do not like soccer, I do not think less of those who do...to each his own)

 

Both my boys played when they were 7-8 years old.  Thought it would be good exercise.  Neither played after one season.  In their league, if a player scored a goal, he/she was not allowed to score again that game (Match?).  At the end of the game, every kid who had not scored was given "Penalty" kicks until they scored -- with a coach manning the goal to ensure no blocks.  Every game ended in a tie so no feelings were hurt.  Soccer, at least at that level, is epitomic of socialism.  "No one is better than anyone else...talent  and hard work do not matter...it is not your fault your are not as fast or strong as others".

 

In the FIFA world, soccer allows players to lie on the ground moaning and crying like their leg is about to be amputated, carried away on a stretcher, only to return moments later, after they have all this attention bestowed on them.  And for crying out loud, the way they act after scoring a goal is just embarrassing.  If you think NFL TD dances are over the top (and I do); how can anyone justify the wild celebrations of a soccer goal? 

 

I think Coulter is right in some aspects.  Many Americans believe in giving everyone a chance but do not begrudge those who are more talented or work harder (like my son's experience in little league soccer).  IMHO, soccer is the liberal answer to sports. 

 

I will say that it is nice to see many people pulling for the US...seems to bring us together every four years as it is about the only true "world sporting event". 

 

Somebody pass me an orange slice and a chocolate milk!

[Ryan4VT 4,554]

So Ann Coulter thinks that soccer is the mark of US demise? SOCCER HAS MADE IT!!

 

In all seriousness, that is about the stupidest article I've ever read. Ever.

 

1. She said at one point "I've held off on writing about soccer for a decade which is about how long a match takes." This is absolutely comical, because a fixture is easily the shortest of any professional sport. Football and baseball last 3-4 hours. NBA takes 3 hours. NASCAR takes 4 hours. Golf takes all day. Every match takes 2 hours. 90 minutes of game play and 20 minutes of halftime.

 

2. As for the no individual accompaniment goes, isn't that the way it's supposed to be? Everybody in this country gets mad that we raise Lebron and the superstars on a pedestal. Yet you get mad that soccer is the total team sport?

 

3. Soccer is not boring if you know what you're watching. I understand that soccer is hard to learn at first. But so is football. In fact, football is probably harder to learn.

 

4. @mavsgrad I don't know about you, but when I watch football, I hope for a hard fought defensive game. Those are the exciting ones. I'll take a 10-7 game over a 52-42 game any day. That is precisely what soccer is. It's defensive. It's about all 11 players playing as a unit to not only keep the other team from scoring, but to try and time it right and go get a goal. There is no other sport in the world that scoring is at such a premium. 1 goal in soccer is quite possibly all it takes. 1 touchdown is never guaranteed to win. 1 run in baseball is easy to overcome. One made basket in basketball will be overcame in about 10 seconds.

 

5. @mavsgrad Your stats comment is way off. You said "saves, offsides, fouls, corners, assists, and goals" is all the stats? That's not true. There are also shots, shots on goal, yellow cards, red cards, possession, passes completed, pass %, cross %, and also there are individual match ratings for EVERY player.

[Bearcat Bob 491]

Still no answers to the following...(Not trying to start anything...just trying to understand...)

 

Why is it okay to run like your hair is on fire, drawing all the attention to yourself, after a goal is scored? 

 

Why do the players feign injuries, at seemingly the lightest of contact, only to return moments later? 

 

Why do the youth leagues (at least in my area) go to great lengths to inhibit individual success at the youth level?

 

Why call soccer the total team sport when every goal, every fake injury is an attempt at garnering individual attention? 

 

I don't personally know anyone who is angered by Tiger, LeBron, Jordan, Brady, Manning, Pujols or Trout being hailed for their accomplishments.  Our whole system used to be one of allowing persons the OPPORTUNITY to excel and succeed.  It has only relatively recently started harboring ill feelings/envy toward those who have succeeded.  We used to look at the big house on the hill and aspire to EARN one for yourself.  Now, the mentality seems to be swaying to "I want THAT big house and want someone to GIVE it to me".  This entitlement society that is developing is vastly concerning to me. 

 

Off the soap box now...

[mavsgrad 28]

RyanVT, you are probably right about the stats thing. I just pulled up a soccer stat sheet online and what I posted was what I found. I still thinking keeping stats about passes being completed is weak. Basketball doesn't do that.

I do like defensive struggles in football. But but low scoring games in football might be because of sacks, interceptions, and tackles for loss. Almost every soccer game is low scoring and its not because of some hard hitting defense like in football. Its because of a talented goalie (which is admirable) or because the other team was able to kick the ball to the other end of the field to prevent the other team from scoring.

I understand your point about points in soccer being some of the most important points scored in all of sports but I guess I see it from the other side and that is if 1 score gives you a good chance at winning then after the first team scores, why watch (especially if they go up by 2)? In football one score never ensures that you will win. You can be up by 10 points or even 14 points with 3 or 4 minutes remaining but if the other team already has the ball in the red zone they are just one score and an onside kick recovery away from making it a game. If a team is ahead by 1 or especially 2 goals with under 5 or 10 minutes remaining in soccer there is little chance the trailing team will win.

 

Soccer is the worlds sport but I'll stick with good old American football.

[Deleted Account 5,203]

Ann Coulter is bat**** nuts and derives enjoyment from trolling the media.

 

Wasting words on the woman messes up my qi.

[redtiger 1,740]

I think she really is just a "I will say crazy shit so everyone will look at me!" kind of person. Her saying she is a conservative just hurts the Republican Party and does nothing positive foe this country, total pos imo.

 

As far as Soccer goes a lot of the goals are scored of penalty kicks but the general play is sorta old school football with good defense to me, a lot of positioning and setting up the defense to create a scoring opportunity and if that doesn't work you get a field goal(penalty kicks and such). I can see the beauty in it. Its a lot like football in that its a game of chess, just with the players moving the pieces instead of the Coach, everyone definately has to be on the same page.

 

@Bob to answer your questions I would say,

 

1st I havent seen much of that, they run to a corner of the field but it usually ends up as a group celebration. Not a ridiculous as the NFL imo

2nd its about like the NBA. The WC officials havent been calling a lot of the fake injuries as penalties.

3rd thats sorta the point of youth sports imo. Build solid fundamentals and try to keep down individual achievement to keep players egos down. 

4th I dont see the goals and fake injuries as garnering individual attention. The players running around I think comes from the great difficulty in scoring a goal.

 

Im not a huge soccer fan, im glad the US advanced. If the wouldnt have I would have been disappointed but that's just my 'Murican pride!

I do hate how the US has played well but hasnt really won much but are still considered to be having a good WC. In typical American fashion I want a W-L setup. I would prefer not to have ties. But I can respect how playing well is rewarded over the entire game being thrown away for a few kicks at the end to decide a "winner"

[Bearcat Bob 491]

Appreciate the input...still don't get it though.  God bless those who do. 

 

But I would disagree about the youth leagues...kids have to learn that some people are just more talented.  They also need to learn that hard work trumps talent.  And more importantly, not everybody gets a trophy in the real world.

[futbolking 766]

 All I can say is 750 kids playing at East River Soccer Complex this spring....16 teams in the U-8 Division alone.... must be doing something right...

 

 

I love soccer, my kids love soccer....that's all that matters to me....doesn't matter what anybody else thinks... that's what's great about this country.

[futbolking 766]

I think she really is just a "I will say crazy shit so everyone will look at me!" kind of person. Her saying she is a conservative just hurts the Republican Party and does nothing positive foe this country, total pos imo.

 

As far as Soccer goes a lot of the goals are scored of penalty kicks but the general play is sorta old school football with good defense to me, a lot of positioning and setting up the defense to create a scoring opportunity and if that doesn't work you get a field goal(penalty kicks and such). I can see the beauty in it. Its a lot like football in that its a game of chess, just with the players moving the pieces instead of the Coach, everyone definately has to be on the same page.

 

@Bob to answer your questions I would say,

 

1st I havent seen much of that, they run to a corner of the field but it usually ends up as a group celebration. Not a ridiculous as the NFL imo

2nd its about like the NBA. The WC officials havent been calling a lot of the fake injuries as penalties.

3rd thats sorta the point of youth sports imo. Build solid fundamentals and try to keep down individual achievement to keep players egos down. 

4th I dont see the goals and fake injuries as garnering individual attention. The players running around I think comes from the great difficulty in scoring a goal.

 

Im not a huge soccer fan, im glad the US advanced. If the wouldnt have I would have been disappointed but that's just my 'Murican pride!

I do hate how the US has played well but hasnt really won much but are still considered to be having a good WC. In typical American fashion I want a W-L setup. I would prefer not to have ties. But I can respect how playing well is rewarded over the entire game being thrown away for a few kicks at the end to decide a "winner"

I agree whole heartedly, as a youth soccer coach....I and most of the other coaches at ERSA coach fundamentals, teamwork and above all sportsmanship to the young ones.  Celebrating individual accomplishments can come later.  I see nothing wrong with giving a kid a trophy for buying into the team concept.  IMO, it's a little too early to be learning about the "real world" when you have just recently learned to tie your own shoes....Let kids be kids, while they are still kids....they have plenty of time to learn about the real world when they get a little bit older....  By the way, I gave trophies to my 6-8 year olds...and even fed them pizza and snacks after their last game....we had snack bags after each game.  Anything to encourage kids to keep coming out and playing the sport.  I feel that while they are kids, it needs to be for "FUN" and they should enjoy it, otherwise they may decide they don't want to come out next season....

[sixcat 2,919]

I have refereed youth soccer on a volunteer basis in Galax for 8 years.  When I started, we had teams in every age group through high school.  Now we have 7U and 10U, only.  Because of the high latino population of this area, we couldn't schedule matches.  Our 13U team defeated Pulaski 10-0 and could have beaten them 20-0 if the kids hadn't gotten together and decided among themselves to not shoot anything on goal for the entire second half.  After that match in 2009, our teams started showing up to matches in empty fields.  Teams started no-showing our kids without warning and forfeiting matches.  The following season, we were only able to schedule matches with North Carolina teams as all neighboring localities refused to schedule us.

 

The result has benefited Galax soccer in ways unimaginable.  We are playing many more matches and against significantly better competition.  Our varsity program, many of which were members of the team in the previously mentioned Pulaski game, won the VHSL state championship.

 

Given these kids lineage, I would assume this lady wouldn't approve.  They have, however, been awarded the VHSL state tournament sportsmanship award every year they have qualified for state competition since Galax began it's soccer program.  All while receiving blatantly racist harassment, ridicule, abuse and even, in one instance, physical assault.

 

I love the game!  it is simplistically complicated and, like most sports, teaches lessons far beyond the pitch!

[Bearcat Bob 491]

Being active in something (sports or otherwise) is the main thing at any early age.  Personal preferences will decide what sport/activity is continued...not some old f&^% like me on a message board or some talking head on TV.   

[redtiger 1,740]

To further expand on how popular soccer has become locally, I was in a store yesterday and overheard a man talking to his coworker, apparently he as trying to get a 3rd co worker to work his Tuesday and he would work her Friday. Yes this guy was willing to work the day of the 4th in order to get Tuesday off to catch the US/Belgium match. 

 

and because it apparently matters the guy was light skinned with red hair and a distinct Appalachan accent.

[sixcat 2,919]

Another significant event that has helped the Galax high school soccer program has been the addition of Graham to the MED.  Before the addition of Graham, Galax had never lost a district soccer match.  This season, Galax's only loss heading to a group 1A state title was a 4-3 decision to Graham.

 

It has become a very good rivalry in more sports than just football, and we all like rivalries.

[legend11 32]

I remember playing rec league basketball as a youth, and we would have an "A" squad made up of the better players and a "B" squad made up of the lesser players.  The A's would play the first and third quarters, the B's would play the second and fourth.  

 

Trying to build fundamentals and equalize talent at an early age isn't just limited to soccer in this country.  

[Beamerball 566]

Both my boys played when they were 7-8 years old.  Thought it would be good exercise.  Neither played after one season.  In their league, if a player scored a goal, he/she was not allowed to score again that game (Match?).  At the end of the game, every kid who had not scored was given "Penalty" kicks until they scored -- with a coach manning the goal to ensure no blocks.  Every game ended in a tie so no feelings were hurt.  Soccer, at least at that level, is epitomic of socialism.  "No one is better than anyone else...talent  and hard work do not matter...it is not your fault your are not as fast or strong as others".

 

 

Isn't that the same as PTO basketball and some other youth/rec. leagues ???