I want to know why american football is called "football" i've never understood it. Oh Yeah, Fuck France
Why do Americans hate football(soccer) so much?
- Thread starter Cerrax
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I don't think most Americans hate soccer.
Most Americans seem to be indifferent to the sport. There are Americans that don't like soccer, and Americans that love it, but both of those numbers pale in comparison to the amount of people who just don't care.
In the area of America I live in, the vast majority of sports fans watch either baseball or (american) football. Those are the primary two, with fans decending in incrementaly smaller groups, as represented by this list.
# of fans per sport in my area of America:
1. American Football
2. Baseball
3. Basketball
4. Golf
5. Soccer
6. Tennis
I would imagine this list is a fairly accurate depiction of America as a whole, with some changes in the ranking of the top three being area dependent.
Personally, there was a time when I hated soccer. I was a teenager at the time, and like most teenagers, I was a moron. Later, I had a girlfriend who played, and loved to watch soccer. In spending time with her, I developed an appreciation for the sport. I still wouldn't call myself a fan, but I understand why others enjoy it, and it does have value as a sport.
Most Americans seem to be indifferent to the sport. There are Americans that don't like soccer, and Americans that love it, but both of those numbers pale in comparison to the amount of people who just don't care.
In the area of America I live in, the vast majority of sports fans watch either baseball or (american) football. Those are the primary two, with fans decending in incrementaly smaller groups, as represented by this list.
# of fans per sport in my area of America:
1. American Football
2. Baseball
3. Basketball
4. Golf
5. Soccer
6. Tennis
I would imagine this list is a fairly accurate depiction of America as a whole, with some changes in the ranking of the top three being area dependent.
Personally, there was a time when I hated soccer. I was a teenager at the time, and like most teenagers, I was a moron. Later, I had a girlfriend who played, and loved to watch soccer. In spending time with her, I developed an appreciation for the sport. I still wouldn't call myself a fan, but I understand why others enjoy it, and it does have value as a sport.
I'm personally just apathetic about it. I just can't watch any sport that lasts for 90 minutes and may end in a 1-1 tie. I'm the same way about hockey. Hell, for that matter, I don't care for Basketball. So... yeah. I guess the only thing I care about as far as sports go is Ohio State football...
Because they didn't invent it. (ba-dum-tish!)
In all seriousness? Maybe this is generalizing, but honestly, this needs to be said. This doesn't go just for America, it goes for a lot of people, but in my experience this relates to Americans more than it does anyone else.
People support their team. They support them, when they win they rub it in the faces of everyone else. They scream, they shout and throw abuse.
When they lose? They always say, "I don't care. It's just a game". You can't do that. You can't insult others and then refuse to take your losses like a man. England just lost to Germany. I'm not ranting about how much football just gets in the way. I'm pissed we didn't play well enough and that the ref didn't see the second goal from Gerrard, which would have been a huge boost for the tea-- wait, I'm going off point.
What I MEANT was, I applaud Germany for their play and I agree that on the night England were the worse of the two teams. I'll take the stick. People deserve the chance to go crazy at me right now, because my team lost. Just remember that when your team loses, you have to do the same. With American supporters, they're either all in or not in at all.
I can't see another option. This is the only possible answe--
In all seriousness? Maybe this is generalizing, but honestly, this needs to be said. This doesn't go just for America, it goes for a lot of people, but in my experience this relates to Americans more than it does anyone else.
People support their team. They support them, when they win they rub it in the faces of everyone else. They scream, they shout and throw abuse.
When they lose? They always say, "I don't care. It's just a game". You can't do that. You can't insult others and then refuse to take your losses like a man. England just lost to Germany. I'm not ranting about how much football just gets in the way. I'm pissed we didn't play well enough and that the ref didn't see the second goal from Gerrard, which would have been a huge boost for the tea-- wait, I'm going off point.
What I MEANT was, I applaud Germany for their play and I agree that on the night England were the worse of the two teams. I'll take the stick. People deserve the chance to go crazy at me right now, because my team lost. Just remember that when your team loses, you have to do the same. With American supporters, they're either all in or not in at all.
I can't see another option. This is the only possible answe--
...fuck, he's right as well.For.I.Am.Mad said:
Why? Cause there are only 3 things interesting about soccer.
1.) Riots
2.) Collapsing Stadiums
3.) Blood and Urine Bombs
Notice none of those three things have anything to do with the game it's self. Soccer is boring. And don't give anything about the passion or artistry or that garbage. I'm sorry no sport should go on for NINETY minutes to end in a 1-1 tie. No wonder soccer fans riot, it breaks up the monotony of the game. If people aren't being trampled, crushed, or being hit with bodily fluid filled balloons I simply don't care about soccer.
1.) Riots
2.) Collapsing Stadiums
3.) Blood and Urine Bombs
Notice none of those three things have anything to do with the game it's self. Soccer is boring. And don't give anything about the passion or artistry or that garbage. I'm sorry no sport should go on for NINETY minutes to end in a 1-1 tie. No wonder soccer fans riot, it breaks up the monotony of the game. If people aren't being trampled, crushed, or being hit with bodily fluid filled balloons I simply don't care about soccer.
I wonder why Rugby isn't more popular in America. I mean, it's esentally American Football with no forward passes, no stoppages every time the ball hits the ground and more men piling in to grab the ball. And scrums, which makes the start of every "play" of American Football look like playschool.
you know most U.S. states are big enough to be countries... that being said I think every region of america has different opinions about everything.
I'm guessing that Americans don't HATE football/soccer, it's more of the fact that they aren't as interested in it as other countrys are.
I'm from the UK so just consider this as generalisation.
I'm from the UK so just consider this as generalisation.
Finland isn't too hot on footy either, we mainly watch hockey.
The main reason, in my opinion, is that we just suck at it. Never been in World Cup, nor the European Cup.
Back in the 80's, skijumping was "amazing", mainly because we had a guy who was really good at it. Nowadays, people hardly care, because we don't have any big shots in there.
Formula 1 was the main event of nearly every living room in the early 2000's, because Mika Häkkinen was doing very well. After he retired, the interest has been steadily declining, along with Finland's success in F1.
I'd guess it's the same thing in the States. Most people want someone to root for, preferrably their own country, to even get excited about the game in the first place. The US team has been doing better and better, so I'd guess that more Yanks are going to get into the sport.
The main reason, in my opinion, is that we just suck at it. Never been in World Cup, nor the European Cup.
Back in the 80's, skijumping was "amazing", mainly because we had a guy who was really good at it. Nowadays, people hardly care, because we don't have any big shots in there.
Formula 1 was the main event of nearly every living room in the early 2000's, because Mika Häkkinen was doing very well. After he retired, the interest has been steadily declining, along with Finland's success in F1.
I'd guess it's the same thing in the States. Most people want someone to root for, preferrably their own country, to even get excited about the game in the first place. The US team has been doing better and better, so I'd guess that more Yanks are going to get into the sport.
This thread shows why certain mindsets exist.
Ignorance.
Plain and simple people make statements based on ignorance. I could tell you people play, watch and attend soccer matches every year in this country in mass numbers. If you're set in tired old arguments then fine, but it is not based in facts that can be measured on metrics. Your opinion does not stack up to 18 million Americans watching us play England, 16K average MLS (a stable and growing league) attendance and millions playing of all ages around the country.
I spent yesterday in Covington, Kentucky with hundreds of people crammed into a pub to watch a soccer game. They were excited, happy, anxious and then miserable. This scene was replicated in thousands of pubs around this country.
Millions love this game, this is not debatable anymore.
Ignorance.
Plain and simple people make statements based on ignorance. I could tell you people play, watch and attend soccer matches every year in this country in mass numbers. If you're set in tired old arguments then fine, but it is not based in facts that can be measured on metrics. Your opinion does not stack up to 18 million Americans watching us play England, 16K average MLS (a stable and growing league) attendance and millions playing of all ages around the country.
I spent yesterday in Covington, Kentucky with hundreds of people crammed into a pub to watch a soccer game. They were excited, happy, anxious and then miserable. This scene was replicated in thousands of pubs around this country.
Millions love this game, this is not debatable anymore.
It may not need ah... "moar violence" but I can guarantee you that so many of us would at least respect the sport a little more if every moment of contact didn't put a player rolling around on the ground like he'll never walk again.crudus said:
Seriously, that is like the one thing that REALLY turns me away from the sport. I may not be a soccer (football) guy, but I can tell you nothing pisses me off more then when some guy gets accidentally bumped in the chest by another guys elbow, falls on the ground and writhes like a wounded rabbit. Hell rabbits probably don't roll around as much as those guys.
I know it's not extremely common, but I was watching that guy Kaka get ejected, and that's when I turned it off. Because I knew he was a strong player who would have had a healthy influence on how the tournament in general would have turned out, and he got banned from two because some pansy decided to pretend he got smashed in the face with the force of a two ton stone elbow.
And that is why I really can't watch football (soccer... whatever). I much prefer American football, or hockey... come to think of it violent sports ARE more fun. Oh wait but my favorite sport is probably skiing and snowboarding... (wipe outs are funny)
EDIT: Oh, and also the lack of instant replay's and professional opinions AFTER the called foul or whatever is heatedly annoying. When America was not allowed their goal from that penalty kick, I was going to lose it. Thankfully, they scored again, and all was well but...
I heard the same thing happened with England. I saw the video, and any idiot could tell you that was a completely legal goal, disallowed only because the ref on the field, who didn't have a good view of the play said so.
They also play it without anyone strong of fast enough to play American Football.Tranka Verrane said:
It also doesn't help that there is more acting and delaying through injury in a single game of soccer than in the last decade of American Football. We might stop the clock for a bit, but at least the only people we have in the game that fall over and act like they're hurt whenever someone looks at them cross-eyed are the kickers, and we usually get them from soccer teams.
It can't be for lack of exposure, since junior soccer (or Herd soccer as I call it) is very common for young American children to play (along with baseball).
My guess is that its a mixture of competitiveness, and format.
A typical American football game will score 14-21. Where as a scoreless tie is very common in soccer. The fact that the game can end as a 'tie' probably is a little off-putting to some Americans who expect overtime and an eventual winner to be declared.
In regards to format, the pacing of a soccer match doesn't fit into an American's attention span as well. A period in soccer can go on for half an hour without a single shot on goal. Contrast that with basketball which has a shot clock, forcing players to make an attempt.
Lastly, there are the networks who quietly don't want the sport to catch on IMHO. This is due to the fact that you can't really insert commercial breaks into a game of soccer cleanly like you can football or basketball.
All that said, I don't think the average American has any specific 'hatred' for the sport. There are just a lot of factors that discourage us from getting wrapped up in the sport as much as baseball, basketball or football.
My guess is that its a mixture of competitiveness, and format.
A typical American football game will score 14-21. Where as a scoreless tie is very common in soccer. The fact that the game can end as a 'tie' probably is a little off-putting to some Americans who expect overtime and an eventual winner to be declared.
In regards to format, the pacing of a soccer match doesn't fit into an American's attention span as well. A period in soccer can go on for half an hour without a single shot on goal. Contrast that with basketball which has a shot clock, forcing players to make an attempt.
Lastly, there are the networks who quietly don't want the sport to catch on IMHO. This is due to the fact that you can't really insert commercial breaks into a game of soccer cleanly like you can football or basketball.
All that said, I don't think the average American has any specific 'hatred' for the sport. There are just a lot of factors that discourage us from getting wrapped up in the sport as much as baseball, basketball or football.