National Geographic - "Why the world loves soccer"

[Father Ted]

Good article in this month's mag, plus online stuff:

http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0606/feature1/index.html

[Visca...]

nice find.

[OldFanatic]

The guy who wrote the introduction is an ignorant idiot. He states that Spanish language channels is often the only way you can watch World Cup live, is advocating American fans to pick out any random country they like to support instead of USA, says that American fans supporting USA are irritating and on and on. He admonishes American sports fans for their ignorance, but blatantly shows ignorance for the organic growth of the national team in his country himself. If the fans of other countries paint their faces with their flags, they're colorful and great. But if American diehard fans do the same, they're irritating?

He can go back to his world as of 1986, and then to hell.

[rojojova]

nice find.
picture 3 of 5 is a nice find.

[superdave]

A chunky chick showing half her nipple. Big deal.

[rojojova]

A chunky chick showing half her nipple. Big deal.
I know, but it's subtle... kindof like that "Photo Hunt Erotica" game you find in bars... and therefore a good "find."
I guess you'll have to excuse me. I'm no connoisseur of porn and will, thus, defer to you.

[Globalusation]

Hooligans, mexicans with signs making fun of 9/11, central american fans throwing chickens at players are all cool but the USA soccer fan who cheers and paints his face is irritating. :rolleyes:

[bostonsoccermdl]

Good article in this month's mag, plus online stuff:

http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0606/feature1/index.html


Beat me to it. Was going to start a thread on this. Havent had a chance to read it yet, but it was nice to see.

[Anteaters FC]

Hooligans, mexicans with signs making fun of 9/11, central american fans throwing chickens at players are all cool but the USA soccer fan who cheers and paints his face is irritating. :rolleyes:

Sorry, where did he say that hooligans, etc. are "cool"? I didn't see that in what I read.

And yes, I find the "U-S-A" chant annoying. And yes, I support the US team.

Chandu: without cable, Univision is often the only way to watch the games. This will be the first time I'm watching most of them in English.

[PsychedelicCeltic]

Sorry, where did he say that hooligans, etc. are "cool"? I didn't see that in what I read.

And yes, I find the "U-S-A" chant annoying. And yes, I support the US team.

Chandu: without cable, Univision is often the only way to watch the games. This will be the first time I'm watching most of them in English.
If you live in the stone age, Spanish TV is the only way to watch the games. Okay, it really sucks being a soccer fan here. 90% of America has cable.

As soon as I saw this had McSweeney's all over it, I left the site. Eggers can F himself - he wrote the same sort of patronizing crap about how nobody in America likes soccer for a Guardian article. It shows what type of tool he is because it's all to plug his crappy book.

Edit: FourFourTwo rightly panned this as pretentious twaddle.

[Anteaters FC]

I'd probably watch Univision and the other networks for the better commentary, if it wasn't for the HD on ESPN/2 and ABC.

You're right about the McSweeney's connection, as the editor is also a writer for McSweeney's, plus Eggers of course, and Hornby is also connected.

Egger's essay in the book is rather pointless, but the others that I've read are better.

[TOTC]

You missed this gem:

But the action in the stands isn't always destructive and the love of the game can often unite opposing fans. When Brazil beat the Netherlands in a 1994 World Cup quarterfinal match, "dejected Dutch fans sat down on a street curb," recalls one spectator. "Brazilian fans literally lifted them up. They all ended up trading caps and scarves."

I call on more supporters to be good fans and neighbors this summer.

[mookhead]

I picked up the magazine today. They also have a nice poster insert for the world cup in the magazine. The poster has stats and history of the game. Looks like another soccer poster to add to the garage wall.

[Visca...]

I picked up the magazine today. They also have a nice poster insert for the world cup in the magazine. The poster has stats and history of the game. Looks like another soccer poster to add to the garage wall.

thanks for the info.

[KevTheGooner]

FWIW, they highlight the womens game in the US far too much for me in light of the fact that the MEN'S world cup is in June.

[Anteaters FC]

I started a separate thread for this--the radio show Open Source Radio will be discussing the World Cup and the Thinking Fan's Guide in the National Geographic (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362384) on June 8.