Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Thread

#1,227
#1,227
Well today's radio airwaves are overrun with the predictable but probably true declarations that US soccer is going back in the closet for 4 years. I'm old enough to remember the heyday of the NASL and the prediction that Pele was going to turn us to the sport when he came to the Cosmos. Two failed professional leagues and a third one that is on life support in all but a handful of cities; the rise, dominance and failed professional leauge for US women's soccer; Pele and Beckham; the return to WC qualification and multiple knockout round appearances; and the popularity of youth soccer. I've seen all of this and I can't say that soccer is any more popular in this country than it was in the 1970s, unless you're talking about the Hispanic community. If you disagree with this observation then it's very likely that you're deeply embedded in the niche that serves as US soccer culture and can't see the forest for the trees. Hopefully NBC doesn't decide to drop their experiment with the EPL coverage.
 
#1,229
#1,229
VolunteerHillbilly said:
Well today's radio airwaves are overrun with the predictable but probably true declarations that US soccer is going back in the closet for 4 years. I'm old enough to remember the heyday of the NASL and the prediction that Pele was going to turn us to the sport when he came to the Cosmos. Two failed professional leagues and a third one that is on life support in all but a handful of cities; the rise, dominance and failed professional leauge for US women's soccer; Pele and Beckham; the return to WC qualification and multiple knockout round appearances; and the popularity of youth soccer. I've seen all of this and I can't say that soccer is any more popular in this country than it was in the 1970s, unless you're talking about the Hispanic community. If you disagree with this observation then it's very likely that you're deeply embedded in the niche that serves as US soccer culture and can't see the forest for the trees. Hopefully NBC doesn't decide to drop their experiment with the EPL coverage.
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Yep, I'll call BS on this one if for no other reason that my parents grew up in the 60s and 70s and played every sport growing up. Coming from a college football player and a college tennis player they sure seem inclined to note how far soccer has come. Sure, soccer was the sport that my brother and I benefited the most from, so I'm sure that they "can't see the forest for the trees" either.

That being said, as has been discussed on here, MLS continues to break attendance records and has now surpassed NBA and NHL in attendance averages. NASL could was around for 16 years. You know, 3 years younger than what MLS is right now?

Good one though. I've just got to quit taking the jabs at soccer so personally. I get it, it's not a sport for everyone.
 
#1,230
#1,230
Persian Vol said:
lol when people compare soccer with socialism.

Of course if you don't know the players, the strategy, the teams, ect, your going to think it's boring. But if you understand the sport, follow a team, follow the league, it's great. When you have a team and understand the strategy and players on your team, it's just like any other sport. The only reason football is the best sport in America is because of the excitement and impact level of an only 12 game season or 16 game season in which 1 game can really make or break your season. The magnitude matters more than the actual sport. If you had a baseball season with 12 games only, you'd hold your breathe on every pitch.
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Except in the NFL 75% of the regular season games are meaningless. As long as you win 9 games, most years you're going to get your shot in the playoffs.
 
#1,231
#1,231
MSUDuo said:
Yep, I'll call BS on this one if for no other reason that my parents grew up in the 60s and 70s and played every sport growing up. Coming from a college football player and a college tennis player they sure seem inclined to note how far soccer has come.
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If that's the criteria then we're about to be overrun by rugby and lacrosse. Soccer already had a foothold in this country going back before the 1930s we just weren't very good most of that time. LaCrosse and rugby have exploded from almost nothing in the past 30 years, especially lacrosse which seems to be a pretty standard field sport at most of the high schools in my area.
 
#1,233
#1,233
Stewart Mandel ‏@slmandel 5m
Wow, the US World Cup game yesterday got a higher rating than any '13 CFB game other than the Rose Bowl & national title game.
 
#1,234
#1,234
Panthro said:
Stewart Mandel ‏@slmandel 5m
Wow, the US World Cup game yesterday got a higher rating than any '13 CFB game other than the Rose Bowl & national title game.
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But soccer won't be popular in this country because diving and socialism!! Why can't you throw out facts that fit my subjective narrative!!
 
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#1,235
#1,235
Using tv ratings from yesterday's match to estimate future popularity of the sport is like using the ratings for the final rounds of olympic ice skating and team gymnastics to try and demonstrate a sustained interest in those sports. If the WC was every year we might be on to something, but it ain't.
 
#1,236
#1,236
VolunteerHillbilly said:
Using tv ratings from yesterday's match to estimate future popularity of the sport is like using the ratings for the final rounds of olympic ice skating and team gymnastics to try and demonstrate a sustained interest in those sports. If the WC was every year we might be on to something, but it ain't.
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But the increased ratings from each US match this World Cup taken as a whole show that there is a quantifiable increase in interest in soccer in this country. Coupled with good attendance from MLS games and a recent expansion by the league, I'd say that soccer is trending upwards with the US viewing public.
 
#1,237
#1,237
volball625 said:
My semifinal matchups are Colombia-Germany and Argentina-Netherlands. I actually was not that impressed with Belgium today. Their defense is awful.
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I think France can beat Germany. Germany hasn't looked that strong since the Portugal game. Portugal may have been the weakest team we faced.
 
#1,241
#1,241
VolinMichigan said:
But the increased ratings from each US match this World Cup taken as a whole show that there is a quantifiable increase in interest in soccer in this country. Coupled with good attendance from MLS games and a recent expansion by the league, I'd say that soccer is trending upwards with the US viewing public.
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I hope you're correct. 9 of the 19 current clubs are losing money and 3 of the 4 slated expansion cities while perhaps well positioned for trying to up the ante in television broadcast rights negotiations are not exactly known for supporting all of their pro sports teams. My guess is that MLS will have to climb over the backs of baseball/NBA to get the market share they need. It's a tall order.
 
#1,243
#1,243
allvol123 said:
Yes, there were 2 parts to it. He performed the much less difficult part.

Skill wise he is flat out average at best. His ball control is flat out pathetic.
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The whole teams ball control is terrible, but Bradley is in the top level of the squad.
 
#1,249
#1,249
Panthro said:
Stewart Mandel ‏@slmandel 5m
Wow, the US World Cup game yesterday got a higher rating than any '13 CFB game other than the Rose Bowl & national title game.
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Not really a fair comparison. Individual regular season CFB is really very regional. While the SEC fans may be rabid and watch every conference game of the day plus a few from other conferences as well, people out west and up north dont care much past their favorite team.

Whereas WC, like the Olympics, has national interest. Everyone is rooting for the same team.

I think this WC airing live games in the afternoon helped tremendously. What do you think the ratings would have been if the game was played at 3am our time and the results of a loss were in before the afternoon replay?

Having said that, I do think soccer has come a long way since I was a teenager. And I agree with the person that said soccer will overtake baseball in 10 or so years. That hardcore fanbase is getting older while soccer is getting younger. It's only a matter of time.
 
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