If you can watch a baseball game then you can watch a soccer match

[CakeYear]

i tell people who don't like soccer this all the time; and i'm a big baseball fan by the way. if you can wait two to three minutes before one pitch is thrown then you definitely can sit your ass down and watch a soccer match. point blank. what the hell is the matter with us Americans these days?:mad:

[markusbp2000]

I like soccer but I love baseball, there is no comparison between both in the United States. Its what we grow up with, as a kid all I remember was playing baseball and (American) football at the parks all the time without even thinking of soccer. I watch alot of MLS but if there is a good baseball game on I will watch the baseball game.

"baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and chevrolet":)

[Roehl Sybing]

If it's just about pace, I believe one can also watch cricket or billiards if one tends to watch baseball. Doesn't mean I necessarily want to watch either.

Like it or not, there is the possibility that some Americans have more sophisticated reasons for not watching soccer than "it's slow." Soccer fans, then, need to get past the less sophisticated responses such as "it's just like baseball."

At minimum, if you're still at this stage of the argument, you're at least five years behind the curve.

[The Prophet]

baseball must be the most boring sport to watch maybe next to golf and bowling. spend 3 hours in front of a tv watching out of shape players no thanks.

[mabersold]

baseball must be the most boring sport to watch maybe next to golf and bowling. spend 3 hours in front of a tv watching out of shape players no thanks.

And yet if you love the game and know what to watch for, it can be very exciting.

Much in the same way that soccer can be exciting.

[btharner]

I just can't figure America out when it comes to sports. While I do not begrudge the popularity of any sport, some leave me scratching my head. People do say soccer is boring with low- scoring games and not enough action. What is the NFL? A typical NFL game (and I am an NFL fan) is 15 minutes of action and 2 hours and 45 minutes of time-wasting with scoring in multiples ( a 21-14 game is only the eqiuvalent of a 3-2 soccer match).
The popularity of college football baffles me even more, since it is basically minor-league football with major-league ticket prices. I though Americans aren't big on an anything less than a major-league product. NASCAR? When did guys driving in circles ever become exciting. The NHL? It has the elements of speed and violence that turns many people on, but it's popularity lags. Just a few examples. I could go on, but I'd be even morfe perplexed by the time I finished.

[Roehl Sybing]

I just can't figure America out when it comes to sports. While I do not begrudge the popularity of any sport, some leave me scratching my head. People do say soccer is boring with low- scoring games and not enough action. What is the NFL? A typical NFL game (and I am an NFL fan) is 15 minutes of action and 2 hours and 45 minutes of time-wasting with scoring in multiples ( a 21-14 game is only the eqiuvalent of a 3-2 soccer match).
The popularity of college football baffles me even more, since it is basically minor-league football with major-league ticket prices. I though Americans aren't big on an anything less than a major-league product. NASCAR? When did guys driving in circles ever become exciting. The NHL? It has the elements of speed and violence that turns many people on, but it's popularity lags. Just a few examples. I could go on, but I'd be even morfe perplexed by the time I finished.
The same way of speaking is used when talking about soccer. Don't single America out.

[MNAFETSC]

( a 21-14 game is only the eqiuvalent of a 3-2 soccer match).
The popularity of college football baffles me even more, since it is basically minor-league football with major-league ticket prices. I though Americans aren't big on an anything less than a major-league product. NASCAR? When did guys driving in circles ever become exciting.

Compare the average goal amount scored in the recent Champions Legaue finals to the amount of touchdowns scored in the last few super bowls and Im sure you see a different amount. As far as college it got big since back in the earl 1900s having a nationwide NFL was impossible with travel barriers so people turned to college sports with their regional conference. Plus its nice to know the colleges repersents your state and wont move to another state who will offer more money. I personally find NASCAR more exciteing than F1. All thoe constant turns on road tracks seems to slow the race down. Plus its so exciting seeing 10 cars all bumper to bumper or 4 drivers all side by side wondering if one will be able to break out or if someones going to lose their nerves and spin everyone out.

[NebraskaAddick]

Baseball and soccer have similarities in that their histories go back to the 1800s, and they have many cultural icons, and classic stadiums, and are both steeped in tradition, have spanned both world wars, transcended generations, and in many respects I find common ground between the two sports and is one reason why I love them both. I look at an old English stadium and it reminds me of Fenway Park or Wrigley Field, and I love that.

But watching one and then the other requires a change in format, like switching from NTSC to Pal.

Each sport has its special qualities, and I think it's unfair to compare one to the other by judging it by the same criteria. You don't look at Chinese and think this writer must be illiterate, because you can't make out any of the words. You've got to convert over in order to understand it.

But there is a way to understand one from watching the other. During baseball innings, you may think nothing is happening between pitches, but then look at a soccer game, that space of time before a direct free kick or a penalty kick, when "nothing" is happening. Oh, is nothing happening, really? Or is the tension building up in your mind, after the play on the field has halted, in anticipation of what will happen next? Isn't that one of the more beautiful aspects of the game? When that player is standing there, waiting for the referee to blow his whistle, thinking which part of the net he will aim for, and the keeper trying to outguess his opponent while not tipping him off which way he will go--that's a lot like the battle between a pitcher and hitter in baseball. Is he expecting an inside pitch, in which case the pitcher should go for the outside half of the plate? Is the batter expecting a fastball, in which case the pitcher should throw him a slider?

Soccer is more constant action with a few stops, while baseball has a lot of stops with bursts of action in between. One is not necessarily better than the other, because even during the stops in play, there is something cerebrally going on, if not physically.

[flippin269]

i tell people who don't like soccer this all the time; and i'm a big baseball fan by the way. if you can wait two to three minutes before one pitch is thrown then you definitely can sit your ass down and watch a soccer match. point blank. what the hell is the matter with us Americans these days?:mad:

No offense, but you're kinda preaching to the choir, dude.

But it's not about one sport being more "boring" than the other; a lot of people in America have a vested interest in another sport i.e. "they grew up watching or playing" it. And a lot of it is financially motivated too. More people watched Real Madrid win La Liga around the world than most American championships, yet most American press tried to bury it.

[patfan1]

Look, I'm not a baseball fan. But every sport has it's intricacies, things that attract those fans. Good for them.

We have our own. Instead of trying to bad mouth other sports (and I'm guilty of it at times as well), talk about the positives about the sport we all love. I've emailed a few friends about the goals scored recently by Adu (last night) and Feilhaber against Mexico. Show them the good stuff.

Their response was universally ... "Wow." Will they come out to a game eventually, my hope is yes. It might take time. Bad mouthing another sport just tends to make fans of that sport defensive. So don't work that angle.

[NebraskaAddick]

Look, I'm not a baseball fan. But every sport has it's intricacies, things that attract those fans. Good for them.

We have our own. Instead of trying to bad mouth other sports (and I'm guilty of it at times as well), talk about the positives about the sport we all love. I've emailed a few friends about the goals scored recently by Adu (last night) and Feilhaber against Mexico. Show them the good stuff.

Their response was universally ... "Wow." Will they come out to a game eventually, my hope is yes. It might take time. Bad mouthing another sport just tends to make fans of that sport defensive. So don't work that angle.

Show them that third goal Robinho scored against Chile, that was electrifying.

[HSEUPASSION]

I like soccer but I love baseball, there is no comparison between both in the United States. Its what we grow up with, as a kid all I remember was playing baseball and (American) football at the parks all the time without even thinking of soccer. I watch alot of MLS but if there is a good baseball game on I will watch the baseball game.

"baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and chevrolet":)

I grew up with basketball, pumpkin pie, and barbeque. I think most people born in North Carolina did.

The Chevy thing works though.

[BerlinKopKid]

Im sorry to be cheeky...

But if you can watch baseball you can sit and watch grass grow too.

[Sachin]

i tell people who don't like soccer this all the time; and i'm a big baseball fan by the way. if you can wait two to three minutes before one pitch is thrown then you definitely can sit your ass down and watch a soccer match. point blank. what the hell is the matter with us Americans these days?:mad:

Baseball is more exciting that soccer.

[DCU1996]

I like soccer but I love baseball, there is no comparison between both in the United States. Its what we grow up with, as a kid all I remember was playing baseball and (American) football at the parks all the time without even thinking of soccer. I watch alot of MLS but if there is a good baseball game on I will watch the baseball game.

"baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and chevrolet":)

You must be pretty old? 50's 60's ?

Kids growing up with playing soccer now in US.

[DCU1996]

Compare the average goal amount scored in the recent Champions Legaue finals to the amount of touchdowns scored in the last few super bowls and Im sure you see a different amount. As far as college it got big since back in the earl 1900s having a nationwide NFL was impossible with travel barriers so people turned to college sports with their regional conference. Plus its nice to know the colleges repersents your state and wont move to another state who will offer more money. I personally find NASCAR more exciteing than F1. All thoe constant turns on road tracks seems to slow the race down. Plus its so exciting seeing 10 cars all bumper to bumper or 4 drivers all side by side wondering if one will be able to break out or if someones going to lose their nerves and spin everyone out.

About 2.5 goals per game is average in any league including World Cup in soccer.

That's little more than 1 goal per hour.

I don't know much about NFL, but it last what, 4 hours? and what, my guess is average 4-5 touch downs in a game?

so goal per hour and touch down per hour should be similar. I think...

[DoctorD]

i tell people who don't like soccer this all the time; and i'm a big baseball fan by the way. if you can wait two to three minutes before one pitch is thrown then you definitely can sit your ass down and watch a soccer match. point blank. what the hell is the matter with us Americans these days?:mad:Your argument won't hold water because people will rightly feel that there's no reason to learn a new sport if it's just as good as one they are familiar with.

I tell people that soccer games have the same tension and atmosphere as a pitching duel: they will like soccer if they like pitching duels. Of course over the last forty years, MLB has done everything possible to discourage low-scoring games: lowering the pitching mound; the DH; overexpansion beyond the "good" pitcher pool; winking at steroid use; and possibly juiced balls. Home runs get all the SportsCenter exposure. Only sports purists like pitching duels. Sound familiar?

The big advantage soccer has is its 2-hour duration. The last couple baseball games I've attended were lots of fun until the relief pitchers came out. Then it d r a g g e d.

[BerlinKopKid]

I've watched baseball an it is basically a duel game. Pitcher vs batter...like circket which is just the most absurd game I have ever seen...5 days, one team ahead by 500 runs and it ends a tie!?!?!

Duel games bore me silly. And it looked as thought the crowd and even the commentators were bored by it. By all means continue to watch it, but I still prefer a 0-0 draw in football to a baseball game.

[bigbusta]

I like soccer but I love baseball, there is no comparison between both in the United States. Its what we grow up with, as a kid all I remember was playing baseball and (American) football at the parks all the time without even thinking of soccer. I watch alot of MLS but if there is a good baseball game on I will watch the baseball game.

"baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and chevrolet":)

i never played baseball and never plan to as don't know anyone that does, i play soccer, often while driving my chevrolet and eating my hot dogs and apple pie. soccer is and will continue to be part of my american identity while baseball factors in as much as cricket to me. go down to the park and they have replaced baseball fields with soccer ones, you may recognize this line my old chum...

...the times, they are a changing...