OK, what's wrong with football lines again?

Discussion in 'MLS: General' started by Roehl Sybing, Apr 12, 2003.

  1. Roehl Sybing

    Roehl Sybing Guest

    I'm gonna get objects thrown at me, I know, but with MLS starting in earnest, and looking through messages on the Burn pages (plus, I didn't know where to put this message, I figured MLS because it's the only league whose teams sometimes have football lines), it begs the question, what's wrong with football lines during a soccer game?

    I can think of a couple of advantages. It allows refs to more accurately call offsides (or allows fans to more accurately rail on a ref for making the wrong decision on an offsides), and makes it easier to point to where other infractions take place. It gives defenders a better guide on establishing an offsides trap. And if sporting federations are going to insist against the use of technology during games, then a couple of lines of paint will have to do.

    Furthermore, I don't care if it's ugly or not (I don't think it is), because that's not what I'm watching. I do care if the quality of the game is subpar, so I think anything to improve the quality is fine with me.

    So that's devil's advocate for tonight.
     
  2. eurojack

    eurojack Member

    Jun 29, 2001
    You know, you have got a point. What is wrong with Boone's Farm wine, Milwaukees Best beer, and scrapple? What is wrong with not-so-fresh sushi, Swisher Sweet cigars, and imitation butter? What is wrong with bad art, aluminum siding, or even cheesiness in general? What's wrong with having a pitcher's mound or a shot put ring the penalty area?

    Nothing, I suppose.

    But to a purist, enthusiast or an afficianodo, everything.
     
  3. Roehl Sybing

    Roehl Sybing Guest

    You're absolutely right. I have a better idea. Let's go back to those old leather soccer balls. They weren't terribly aerodynamic compared to today's design, and there's rumors that heading leather balls killed one of the greats, but we can't let progress get in the way. Or better yet, let's ditch that silly offsides rule and have a striker just waiting to snipe at all times, just like it was before.

    You may think there's such a thing as a "pure" game, but there really isn't. And I don't have to be a purist to be an enthusiast. I love this game, and I can't imagine why I should have to tolerate goals scored off of horrible calls and non-calls just because the purists didn't have a better reason than "just because."
     
  4. Ringo

    Ringo Member

    Jun 10, 2002
    Rough and Ready
    Club:
    Yeovil Town FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Re: OK, what's wrong with football lines again?


    yeah, because football lines are always how it was back in the good ol' days. :rolleyes:

    have you nothing better to do than start this thread?
     
  5. Roehl Sybing

    Roehl Sybing Guest

    Re: Re: Re: OK, what's wrong with football lines again?

    Yeah, you really got the point of that one there. I'm gonna let you try again, just because I'm such a nice guy.

    And no, I've nothing better to do. Sorry to upset ya. :)
     
  6. Ringo

    Ringo Member

    Jun 10, 2002
    Rough and Ready
    Club:
    Yeovil Town FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    i have nothing better to do than to reply to this, so I guess we're in the same boat.

    but your second post made absolutely no sense. neither does this thread. hope I didn't upset you. :)
     
  7. Roehl Sybing

    Roehl Sybing Guest

    Alright, I was just trying my hand at sarcasm, but anyways, this is what you said:
    That was not my point. My point was not to move backwards to some game that only purists will enjoy, but to keep the game evolving for the sake of the fans and players. The lines are not exactly an innovation, but it can have its advantages. I think, for all the reasons above, it or something like it can have a positive effect on the run of the game, and I don't think that's a bad thing, and offsets anything that makes the game different in form but not in substance.
     
  8. RichardL

    RichardL BigSoccer Supporter

    May 2, 2001
    Berkshire
    Club:
    Reading FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Is "just because it looks horrible" not reason enough?

    The 'not bowing to purists' angle is irrelevant as having the lines there is not exactly being tried as some kind of innovation to make the game more appealing. It's more because a club is too tight/lazy to overpaint the lines with green dye, which is what happens over here when football & rugby clubs share stadiums.
     
  9. Chicago1871

    Chicago1871 Member

    Apr 21, 2001
    Because the players aren't playing American football, they're playing soccer.
     
  10. Juan Luis Guerra

    Juan Luis Guerra Red Card

    Jun 11, 2001
    New York City
    Honestly, I'm quitting talking about football lines in MLS. While I think that it's OK to argue about it, some people feel extremely sensitive about it. Since I was a child, my parents did teach me about respecting the point of view of others. For some people, watching a professional soccer game with hundreds of football marks is not a problem. On the other hand, you have people like myself who hates it. The whole idea is about respecting each other's opinion and not getting offended if someone thinks different.
     
  11. crestuden

    crestuden New Member

    Apr 5, 2001
    The only benefit is the ref now can be sure of how far 10 yards is on set pieces. Football lines mess up everything and it doesn't make watching the game enjoyable for a fan. But MLS doesn't have a lot of bargaining power so I'll learn to live with it and be glad there is a domestic league for my enjoyment.
     
  12. TWR

    TWR New Member

    Jan 18, 2000
    New York
    If we can put a man on the mood, we should be able to come up with some way of washing away the white lines between football and soccer matches. Or come up with a white paint that is easier to wash off.

    I'm sure it would be reasonably easy to do with some research. We just have to let someone know that there is a need for it.
     
  13. GoHawks4

    GoHawks4 Member

    Apr 24, 2002
    Chicago
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It is ugly.
     
  14. yellowbismark

    yellowbismark Member+

    Nov 7, 2000
    San Diego, CA
    Club:
    Club Tijuana
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If it were just lines, I can live with that. But when giant football logos are painted on the field or in the endzone, than it becomes too much to bear. I know baseball and football share fields, but the football teams don't fill in their logos until the baseball season is done, and likewise for football, the only reminder of baseball being played is the dirt (no lines or other images). So it would be a lot more dignified for soccer if we can have a little respect, instead of the constant reminder we are third class tenantsl if the goal area didn't have a large purple section with GIANTS in big letters, or even more embarassing, SOUTHLAKE DRAGONS written on the Burn's field.
     
  15. Lithium858

    Lithium858 Member

    Aug 11, 2002
    Baton Rouge
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sarcasm can be a powerful ally.
     
  16. Beerking

    Beerking Member+

    Nov 14, 2000
    Humboldt County
    To answer the posts question: Everything!
     
  17. yellowbismark

    yellowbismark Member+

    Nov 7, 2000
    San Diego, CA
    Club:
    Club Tijuana
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    watching the first few minutes of the Dal-LA game right now, doesn't look too flattering. It seems like Field Turf bounces faster than grass despite what people are saying.
     
  18. CrewDust

    CrewDust Member

    May 6, 1999
    Columbus, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's hideous!!!!!
     
  19. wcgcapone

    wcgcapone Member

    Feb 6, 2001
    Denver, CO, USA
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Did they give those lines the Pepsodent treatment? Those are whiter than white...
     
  20. BlueMeanie

    BlueMeanie New Member

    Apr 1, 2002
    EastSIIIIDE
    Unwatchable is more like it. I guess a better question is WTF are football lines doing on a field in April? Are they on permanent, or is this just for spring practice, then they'll go away? Please tell me it's the latter, or no games from Dallas are going to be watchable this year... :mad:
     
  21. Decent Guy

    Decent Guy New Member

    Mar 22, 2003
    Outside NY
    It is horrible. And why is there another line between the football sidelines and the soccer ones, that's really confusing me.
     
  22. Blong

    Blong Member+

    Oct 29, 2002
    Midwest, the real one.
    I'll say this for fieldturf. At least it looks like grass.
     
  23. pething101

    pething101 Member

    Jul 31, 2001
    Smyrna, Ga
    Club:
    West Ham United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This beats watching NASCAR.
     
  24. yellowbismark

    yellowbismark Member+

    Nov 7, 2000
    San Diego, CA
    Club:
    Club Tijuana
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah no sh!t, they're practically blinding me!

    So much for everybody expecting the stadium to be packed too, I'd say 7-8,000...

    no atmosphere either,
     
  25. donovan9

    donovan9 New Member

    Nov 19, 1999
    South of Santa Rosa
    Trying to watch the Galaxy/Burn game in the football stadium is kinda like trying to listen to a classical concert in a college beer bar.

    Shame MLS
     

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