Close to My Thoughts on Soccer

[basketballdad]

Just read a great article on soccer that mimics my thoughts. Rather than put mine down regarding the World Cup I share these. I do enjoy soccer more than the author does but agree with many of his statements. Enjoy

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/story/usa-world-cup-win-over-algeria-no-miracle-jason-whitlock-062410

[El Matarife]

Just read a great article on soccer that mimics my thoughts. Rather than put mine down regarding the World Cup I share these. I do enjoy soccer more than the author does but agree with many of his statements. Enjoy

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/story/usa-world-cup-win-over-algeria-no-miracle-jason-whitlock-062410

I'm gonna respectfully disagree and say it was poorly written and even more poorly researched.  If Whitlock had done any fact finding whatsoever he would know that the FIFA "rankings" are both A) ludicrious and B) usually wrong.  Further, Algeria has more players in the Big Four leagues than we do.  Thus, we are absolutely not a Goliath to Alergia's David.

[Left Foot]

Just read a great article on soccer that mimics my thoughts. Rather than put mine down regarding the World Cup I share these. I do enjoy soccer more than the author does but agree with many of his statements. Enjoy

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/story/usa-world-cup-win-over-algeria-no-miracle-jason-whitlock-062410

So, which part of the article mimics your thoughts:

This part:
"The World Cup narrows our view and, more than any other sporting event, baits us to give in to nationalism, jingoism and racism. It’s not the Olympics. Not everyone is invited. And no one pretends the month of World Cup play is a reason to celebrate and respect the world’s numerous cultures.

The World Cup owes much of its popularity to hate. It’s the anti-Olympics. It’s an excuse for bigots to mask their biases in sporting patriotism."

This one:

"Someone -- most likely an ESPN executive -- sent out a memo that this is the year soccer goes American mainstream. There’s no upside in discussing how boring soccer is. The smart money is on recognizing there’s a generation of 30-somethings who grew up playing soccer and a generation of 50-somethings who spent their 30s and 40s taking kids to soccer practices."

Or this:

"I don’t want soccer to go away or consider it inferior. I’m just not sold on the World Cup."

[breakaway]

Just read a great article on soccer that mimics my thoughts. Rather than put mine down regarding the World Cup I share these. I do enjoy soccer more than the author does but agree with many of his statements. Enjoy

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/story/usa-world-cup-win-over-algeria-no-miracle-jason-whitlock-062410

So, which part of the article mimics your thoughts:

This part:
"The World Cup narrows our view and, more than any other sporting event, baits us to give in to nationalism, jingoism and racism. It’s not the Olympics. Not everyone is invited. And no one pretends the month of World Cup play is a reason to celebrate and respect the world’s numerous cultures.

The World Cup owes much of its popularity to hate. It’s the anti-Olympics. It’s an excuse for bigots to mask their biases in sporting patriotism."

This one:

"Someone -- most likely an ESPN executive -- sent out a memo that this is the year soccer goes American mainstream. There’s no upside in discussing how boring soccer is. The smart money is on recognizing there’s a generation of 30-somethings who grew up playing soccer and a generation of 50-somethings who spent their 30s and 40s taking kids to soccer practices."

Or this:

"I don’t want soccer to go away or consider it inferior. I’m just not sold on the World Cup."

Oh Dear God!!  Thanks Lefty, for this summarization.  Now I don't need to waste any of my time reading it.   

[Left Foot]

Well, BBall dad has always been up front about not knowing much about this "soccer" thing. The author of this report should have been up front about his lack of knowledge as well. This whole World Cup has struck me as more of a celebration of different cultures, but maybe I'm missing something. I guess that this Whitlock fellow didn't realize that this is the finals and that countries weren't "invited" but had to play their way in.....

[El Matarife]

Well, BBall dad has always been up front about not knowing much about this "soccer" thing. The author of this report should have been up front about his lack of knowledge as well. This whole World Cup has struck me as more of a celebration of different cultures, but maybe I'm missing something. I guess that this Whitlock fellow didn't realize that this is the finals and that countries weren't "invited" but had to play their way in.....

The whole article was absurd.  There's an even better one on CNN.com right now.

[kameharem]

the fact that all these soccer haters are comming out with these articles now only proves that soccer is growing in America, being apreciated for the great spot it is, and these haters are afraid that they will lose air time.