I don't believe it! -- ESPN Poll Results

[house]

ESPN has a poll asking to vote on the more interesting event between the USA in the World Cup, the NBA finals and the U.S. Open.


Folks, the World Cup has about 47 percent of the vote, followed by 38 for the NBA and 15 for the golf. About 95,000 votes have been casted.

There seems to be more chatter about the US and the World Cup than four years ago. Bars here in the Twin Cities have been packed. Some dude was even dressed like Uncle Sam.

Folks.....are we......on the path to legitimacy?

[jerseydan]

ESPN has a poll asking to vote on the more interesting event between the USA in the World Cup, the NBA finals and the U.S. Open.


Folks, the World Cup has about 47 percent of the vote, followed by 38 for the NBA and 15 for the golf. About 95,000 votes have been casted.

There seems to be more chatter about the US and the World Cup than four years ago. Bars here in the Twin Cities have been packed. Some dude was even dressed like Uncle Sam.

Folks.....are we......on the path to legitimacy?
There does seem to be a buzz about this Cup, I'm seing far less "we don't like soccer here because it sucks" articles, tho my local paper has been talking to immigrants more about their teams, which is stupid, and is carrying AP wire about the US. But my paper sucks. For the record, it is the New Brunswick Home New Tribune, a Gannett rag.

[Stogey23]

One of my best friends, who HATES soccer and has openly asked for the MLS to fold in the past called me today : "Why the hell didn't they sub in Johnson???". "That was a good game, but the Ghana game was amazing..."

The World Cup is a hell of a drug.

[luftmensch]

Is it an internet poll? Lotta soccer geeks on the internet, and all it takes is a few well-placed links to stuff the ballot box...

But whatever, it's encouraging regardless.

[wcharriscpa]

Is it an internet poll? Lotta soccer geeks on the internet, and all it takes is a few well-placed links to stuff the ballot box...

But whatever, it's encouraging regardless.

ESPN Sportscenter is certainly paying attention.

They led with USA - ITA. But that's not really the shocker.....they followed it up with (albeit brief) GHA - CZE.

Nice.

[TxFan]

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but I still think we have a way to go. My friends who dislike soccer still care more about crap like the (yawn) NBA finals. And the one or two people I know who care about soccer still will root for Brazil to win, "because they are supposed to be the best team."

Still, that photo of a bloodied McBride will go a long way towards convincing the American public that soccer is a tough, physical and that our athletes are tough, dedicated and worth rooting for.

[wcharriscpa]

Still, that photo of a bloodied McBride will go a long way towards convincing the American public that soccer is a tough, physical and that our athletes are tough, dedicated and worth rooting for.

Yeah....when they showed the "bloodied American" picture I had a similar thought.

And as one who has pummelled Dave O'brien, he really played that up during the game. Which I thought was good for the masses.

[isafan]

I can't believe that they had Joe-Joe (what ever his name is) on the pre and post game show. He should be shiped back to Italy!

[CrazyDCFan]

I just have this odd (call it crazy, maybe i just ate too much dairy) feeling, but this game in the long run will be a turning point for a lot of people in terms of respecting soccer in the future. I had people who in the past havn't given two cents about soccer calling me left and right after the game either A. Yelling at me who won because they were at work. or B. Wanting to stone the ref.

It's just incredible. 2002 was nothing compared to this. Did anyone see that shot of times square around the 75th minute? PACKED with people watchig the game.

[szazzy]

Did anyone see that shot of times square around the 75th minute? PACKED with people watchig the game.

Have you ever been around Times Square on any regular Saturday afternoon?

It's always packed with people staring up. Maybe I missed some other shots of the crowd, but I doubt that shot is any indicator of a World Cup epidemic taking hold.

The game has definitely gained significant ground in the last 4 years though in the public conciousness.

Much of that thanks should *shock* go to ESPN. I'm not even a part-time ESPN apologist, but they should get kudos on helping make the World Cup more of an event shared collectively by Americans than ever before.

[wcharriscpa]

It's just incredible. 2002 was nothing compared to this.

And yet, this year has built upon the success of 2002.

Did anyone see that shot of times square around the 75th minute? PACKED with people watchig the game.

Perhaps in 2010, in addition to the people, we'll see traffic stopped.

[yalpstel]

Might as well give your input....

http://espn.go.com/

Scroll about halfway down. The poll is on the right.

btw, you can only vote once....unless clearing cookies works. I didn't try.

[CrazyDCFan]

Have you ever been around Times Square on any regular Saturday afternoon?

It's always packed with people staring up. Maybe I missed some other shots of the crowd, but I doubt that shot is any indicator of a World Cup epidemic taking hold.

Ah true enough. Sometimes this crazy soccer fever gets the best of me :)

[Ikari]

A friend of mine remarked "I usually never watch soccer, but it's the WORLD CUP!" We've still got a ways to travel, but the day is coming, one step at a time.

[house]

I watched the game with a friend who grew up in Montana who just moved here and never rooted for a pro team. After the game she said: ``That was intesnse! I think I can be a good sports fan.'' Wow, soccer making her a sports fan.......She did get a kick out of watching sit there stone-faced the final 15 miunutes as we defended like crazy...

[VOwithwater1]

ESPN has a poll asking to vote on the more interesting event between the USA in the World Cup, the NBA finals and the U.S. Open.


Folks, the World Cup has about 47 percent of the vote, followed by 38 for the NBA and 15 for the golf. About 95,000 votes have been casted.

There seems to be more chatter about the US and the World Cup than four years ago. Bars here in the Twin Cities have been packed. Some dude was even dressed like Uncle Sam.

Folks.....are we......on the path to legitimacy?

Golf got that much. Midget tosing would have been higher then goof.

[VOwithwater1]

One of my best friends, who HATES soccer and has openly asked for the MLS to fold in the past called me today : "Why the hell didn't they sub in Johnson???". "That was a good game, but the Ghana game was amazing..."

The World Cup is a hell of a drug.

This was a very good post. Thanks

[VOwithwater1]

Is it an internet poll? Lotta soccer geeks on the internet, and all it takes is a few well-placed links to stuff the ballot box...

But whatever, it's encouraging regardless.

I visited my doctors office in the moring Saturday. I always say when the games are on whether the other patients and doctors want to hear it or not. Surprisingly they all knew. I think we are geting there.

[seahawkdad]

I can't believe that they had Joe-Joe (what ever his name is) on the pre and post game show. He should be shiped back to Italy!Ah yes. You mean the guy who Lalas (also on the show) said could kiss his ass.

Must have made for an interesting pre-show warm-up.

[Justin O]

Interesting that they wrote "USA in the World Cup", not just "World Cup". That probably give an indication of the demographics that visit ESPN.com, which means the figures for the World Cup are probably a lot higher if you factor in Hispanics and other immigrant/second generation people.