OK, there's this Brazilian I know, who says that Amercians will NEVER be good at soccer because the English language falls short in really communicating the nature of what it takes to play the game well. In his view, it's the ROMANCE languages -- French, Italian, Spanish and, of course, Portuguese -- that have sufficiently poetic and metaphorical qualities necessary to truly understand the game. I say this view is crap. I told him that not only could I DEFINE soccer in 25 words or less, but do so with the precision and clarity that characterizes English, now the world's DOMINANT language -- the language of science, commerce, and -- yes -- rational modernity. And here is it is. "Soccer is the application of game-specific athletic techniques at sufficient speed to achieve solutions to continuous problems of on-field geometry." Twenty words (22 if you count each hyphenated word as two). So, anyone else want to take their shot? 25 words or less.
My very, very, very personal view in exactly 34 words. What football means to me. "A great game that evolves around tradition, on and off the pitch. 90% of my social life evolves around my club as we travel around looking for fun and adventure. It enriches my life."
Of course that view is just ridiculous... no language does anything better than another! With that linguistic perspective in mind here's my definition, slightly borrowing from a definition of language: "From a pre-defined set of finite moves football creates an infinite number of possible outcomes."
This would my mom's definition, translated to English: "twenty idiots, running after a ball, while two of them wait to catch it with their hands" 17 words...
You know, now that I read the first post again, and thinking about Spanish (my first language)... I would say that that Brazilian is wrong (about what he said... in terms of soccer). Football was created in England, therefore the word "football" was the first name given to the game. In Spanish we call it "futbol", but it's the Spanish way of writing the same thing and sound than in English. Plus, English people play fairly good football and they also speak English... so the problem with Americans is totally different... I won't tell 'cause I don't want trouble.
Re: Re: Defining soccer- -,ahem, "football" -- in 25 words or less Actually 1/2 Romanian (Great-grandparents born in Transylvania), 1/4 German, 1/4 Irish
While the Brazilian language (Portuguese) may do no more justice to the game than any other, their footwork ignores the "pre-defined set of finite moves" and creates beauty beyond the spoken word. 31 words (in case anyone was wondering).
Like sex - you invent new ways to move, even if you don't know if you'll score. But ultimately, it's why you get out of bed. 25 words exactly.
A game of two halves; where what goes around, comes around; while you win some and lose some; and be as sick as a parrot.
Here's one I remember from a soccer-hating sportswriter: Soccer is a game invented so that the players hands would be free to push their glasses back up their noses.
Well done, Skip! ___________________ It's an idiotic view but I have Brazilian friends who try and convince me of similiar notions.
Soccer is like jazz--on a foundation of known, established moves and tactics, players create creative and beautiful sport through interplay both instinctive and learned, and through flashes of individual brilliance. 31 words. I DO so need an editor.
In Argentina we say 'Goles son amores', which means 'Goals are love affairs'. So, using that as a starting point, I can describe the game of football as follows: 'The pursuit of love affairs'. Of course, if you play defense, your role can be described as follows: 'The pursuit of the prevention of love affairs'. Which means that defenders are football's equivalent of jealous husbands and fathers.
Soccer represents absolute beauty. It kind of reminds me of a ballet-- everything flows and moves gracefully (if it's a good game). 23 WORDS
Bill Shankly, like always, put it perfectly. "Football is a simple game based on the giving and taking of passes, of controlling the ball and of making yourself available to receive a pass. It is terribly simple." 30 words.
25 words. Two teams, one ball, no hands and ninety minutes accentuating things like the smell of wet grass, momentum and the collective vigor of a populus.