http://www.msnbc.com/news/787245.asp What will you watch if baseball strikes? Last I saw soccer was @ 12% It's halfway down the page. Gives a pretty crappy view of soccer in the article.
Classic article. My favorite part/quote, " The NFL made a good move in revamping its summer experience, developing and establishing its European arm as a viable entity and making itself the first pro league with a truly international base". Last word I heard was that NFL Europe was a dog and the NFL owners wanted to sack the thing because the learning curve was too long for people in Europe to understand the game. This ties into the the previous topics about what the match atmosphere should be like. Change a few things now, because if the baseball guys go on strike a few fans could possibly be turned with an entertaining atmosphere. Although, NASCAR could be their outlet because it allows one to sit on his arse, drink Budweiser or some other cheap beer, and generally all at a slow pace.
i have some friends in Spain that said they understood the game of American Football, but that it was just plain boring. too many stops, and too many pads. they really didn't like the pads, haha.
Classic big soccer ballot stuffing and poll busting, but the poll shows 38% soccer, 37% NASCAR, 20% NFL and 2% NBA. I love it!! That article wasn't very complimentary towards soccer and the Frank Deford quote was asinine. Comparing soccer to mumblety peg? Is there any intellectual honesty in sports journalism? I realize a certain amount of hyperbole goes into all sports writing, but give me a break.
This vote-stuffing business does amuse me so, but I've been wondering: Does anyone actually believe flooding internet polls is going to change peoples' perceptions of soccer instead of just furthering the image of "SoccerFan?" Don't mind me ... just getting an early start on curmudgeonship.
I think so, on a very low level. Any mention of soccer in the media is a good thing. Also, people tend to want to check something out if it gets popular enough, or if there is a perception that it's popular. So if a tv station is running a poll and some anchor is like,"blah blah blah...in our poll tonight, most people would like to see soccer replace baseball as the national pastime blah blah blah" then some people might be like, "Wow, soccer is really catching on" or like "Hey, a lot of people must be fans and going to games, I should go sometime too 'cause other people like it"....then that's cool. Sorry, I've been at work for almost 12 hours. Hope this makes sense.
I think you're righy R/A. People are basically sheep, that's why crap like Britney Spears, Budweiser and the NFL are popular. Give me Rancid, McEwan's and futbol anyday.