Today's match embodies what casual observers will never understand about the beauty of soccer. Hack journalists complain about the lack of scoring but that is what makes the sport exceptional. Goals are such a prized yet rare commodity that when that moment finally happens it is the sweetest feeling in all of sport. GO USA!!!!

Yes, I understand your point. I think it does get frustrating when one team clearer outplays another, only to end in a tie. Sure it happens in other sports sometimes as well, but there are many more scoring chances and seems to happen less frequently than in soccer.

(06-23-2010 11:27 AM)AmazingTigerMan Wrote:  Yes, I understand your point. I think it does get frustrating when one team clearer outplays another, only to end in a tie. Sure it happens in other sports sometimes as well, but there are many more scoring chances and seems to happen less frequently than in soccer.

Agreed. That is why a world class finishers like Messi and Podolski make a team so much more dominant.

In a split second our status changed from likely going home to winning the group.
I forget who has a commercial out with that very pitch, but the timing is perfect.

it was very exciting. I am hooked. It was alot of fun!

Get rid of the offsides penalty and Americans would embrace soccer.

There was a great line from the movie "Invictus":
"Soccer is a gentleman's game, played by hooligans. Rugby is a hooligan's game, played by gentlemen."

(06-23-2010 03:40 PM)CKMcDan Wrote:  Get rid of the offsides penalty and Americans would embrace soccer.

There was a great line from the movie "Invictus":
"Soccer is a gentleman's game, played by hooligans. Rugby is a hooligan's game, played by gentlemen."

I doubt America, as a whole, would ever embrace soccer. From a TV standpoint, it would be hard to generate revenue like it's done in other sports; no timeouts or break in action means no ads. So, offside rule is just an excuse.

Soccer doesn't need to be "embraced" by American's to enhance it's greatness.

Getting rid of offsides would be a horrible, horrible, mistake...

It'd be like watching the BLuff City Classic on grass.

(06-23-2010 03:44 PM)tiger1016 Wrote:  

(06-23-2010 03:40 PM)CKMcDan Wrote:  Get rid of the offsides penalty and Americans would embrace soccer.

There was a great line from the movie "Invictus":
"Soccer is a gentleman's game, played by hooligans. Rugby is a hooligan's game, played by gentlemen."

I doubt America, as a whole, would ever embrace soccer. From a TV standpoint, it would be hard to generate revenue like it's done in other sports; no timeouts or break in action means no ads. So, offside rule is just an excuse.

presenting the gam without commercial interuptions is a BIG MISTAKE

1- it limits the $$$ generated

but more importantly is limits the exposure of American stars on TV becasue there are no visual commercials duringthe game...

If they would take a 30 second timeout every goal kick (time a goal kick and see how long it takes from the time a bll passes the touchline to the actual goal kick ..it is 30 seconds almost every time) and possibly on defensive half throw ins and on subsitutions then there would be several commercials during the play that would feature soccer related themes..

And

I think they should suspend every linesman that calls an offsides that is onsides for a month or more UNPAID... that way they would be damn sure before they raise that flag ..

They could also have an electronic deice that monitored offsides for the World Cup (it would be virtually fool proof and it could operate in real time...

I do like the electrical device...but it would have to be in constant motion.

(06-23-2010 03:44 PM)tiger1016 Wrote:  

(06-23-2010 03:40 PM)CKMcDan Wrote:  Get rid of the offsides penalty and Americans would embrace soccer.

There was a great line from the movie "Invictus":
"Soccer is a gentleman's game, played by hooligans. Rugby is a hooligan's game, played by gentlemen."

I doubt America, as a whole, would ever embrace soccer. From a TV standpoint, it would be hard to generate revenue like it's done in other sports; no timeouts or break in action means no ads. So, offside rule is just an excuse.

Speaking of rugby...I have a serious conundrum.

Either play in a rugby tournament (which I really really want to do) this weekend or watch the US-Ghana match.

I'm thinking I'll be on my couch.

The "lack of scoring" is no different than a 1-0 or 2-1 pitchers duel in a baseball playoff game (which I happen to love also). Yes, today's game was 1-0, but the post got hit twice and a goal was called back. Lots of action regardless of final score. What a counter on the US goal!!!

(06-23-2010 04:09 PM)MemphisTiger15 Wrote:  The "lack of scoring" is no different than a 1-0 or 2-1 pitchers duel in a baseball playoff game (which I happen to love also). Yes, today's game was 1-0, but the post got hit twice and a goal was called back. Lots of action regardless of final score. What a counter on the US goal!!!

So, in other words, it could have been 28-0 if it were scored like a football game.

1. Getting rid of offsides is dumb. Don't try to change the sport.

2. No TV timeouts. That's one of the things that first hooked me to the sport.

(06-23-2010 04:17 PM)TN_Tiger Wrote:  1. Getting rid of offsides is dumb. Don't try to change the sport.

2. No TV timeouts. That's one of the things that first hooked me to the sport.

So, you watch becasue there are no tv timeouts? and if they showed a 30 second (or 25 second) commercial every time there was a goal kick you would not watch?

(06-23-2010 04:22 PM)BinghamptonNed Wrote:  

(06-23-2010 04:17 PM)TN_Tiger Wrote:  1. Getting rid of offsides is dumb. Don't try to change the sport.

2. No TV timeouts. That's one of the things that first hooked me to the sport.

So, you watch becasue there are no tv timeouts? and if they showed a 30 second (or 25 second) commercial every time there was a goal kick you would not watch?

In the first few years of MLS, ESPN would show commercials during the game. You would miss anything that happened. Then they graduated to showing the commercial with sound while displaying the game in a PiP style without sound...to what they have now..."This segment of the game is brought to you by Budweiser...Budweiser, it gives you a big *** belly so you can sit on your duff and watch more soccer on ESPN."

We've come a long way since the start of MLS.

(06-23-2010 04:22 PM)BinghamptonNed Wrote:  

(06-23-2010 04:17 PM)TN_Tiger Wrote:  1. Getting rid of offsides is dumb. Don't try to change the sport.

2. No TV timeouts. That's one of the things that first hooked me to the sport.

So, you watch becasue there are no tv timeouts? and if they showed a 30 second (or 25 second) commercial every time there was a goal kick you would not watch?

I would still watch, but I'd be severely disappointed. The sport does not need to be "Americanized." It's fine as it is.

(06-23-2010 04:09 PM)MemphisTiger15 Wrote:  The "lack of scoring" is no different than a 1-0 or 2-1 pitchers duel in a baseball playoff game (which I happen to love also). Yes, today's game was 1-0, but the post got hit twice and a goal was called back. Lots of action regardless of final score. What a counter on the US goal!!!

Low scoring baseball games is one reason baseball fell from the top spectator sport in the USA. The DH, lower pitcher mounds, closer fences, juiced players, etc. are a direct result of MLB attempts to increase scoring.

Soccer needs rule changes (increase goal area?) to interest Americans unless Americans are playing.

(06-23-2010 05:53 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(06-23-2010 04:09 PM)MemphisTiger15 Wrote:  The "lack of scoring" is no different than a 1-0 or 2-1 pitchers duel in a baseball playoff game (which I happen to love also). Yes, today's game was 1-0, but the post got hit twice and a goal was called back. Lots of action regardless of final score. What a counter on the US goal!!!

Low scoring baseball games is one reason baseball fell from the top spectator sport in the USA. The DH, lower pitcher mounds, closer fences, juiced players, etc. is a direct result of MLB attempts to increase scoring.

Soccer needs rule changes (increase goal area?) to interest Americans unless Americans are playing.

I disagree. Why do we need to Americanize a sport that is played around the world the way we currently play it? Do we really think that we need to improve it for all of America to like it?

No matter what we do, there will be some that don't care and don't like it. Let's just move on and leave it alone. To me, the only sport that I like better is College Football.

To those who want to get rid of offsides: don't complain about lack of scoring, because if you got rid of offsides you'd have 7 men laying back at the 6 all game. Goals would only be scored once every 5 games or so.