Sounds like a good plan. One question; how are they supposed to learn the cheat codes for their games if they can't read?
You know that you've really got it bad when, early this morning in that stage of getting up where you're halfway between deep sleep and wakefulness, you start ruminating about Bowen's idiotic kiddie page Post article. That's what I did this morning. And, I eventually came to the conclusion that the article really wasn't worthy of my continued concentration because Bowen is such a dolt that he doesn't even realize that MLS can't unilaterally change the laws of the game without turning MLS into (1) a laughingstock and (2) an international outlaw. That's not to say that I'd be per se opposed to any tinkering with the game whatsoever. I didn't mind the "golden goal" overtime period that MLS had until a couple of years ago -- that was kinda fun. And, IMO, it would be a good thing if refs started calling pulling & grabing consistently. But, on the whole, it seems to me that most rule changes that have been made in other sports seem to have resulted in cheap thrills at the expense of that game's integrity, strategy and fundamentals. Take the adoption of the shot clock in college and high school basketball, for example. Maybe, it's because I'm from Indiana -- but, hey, I could appreciate the tactics and tenseness involved when an overmatched team tried to pull off a stall in the closing minutes of a tight game. I suppose that the North Carolina four corners offense just wasn't good enough T.V. for the unwashed masses, but I digress . . . And, that's the beef I really have to pick with Bowen. What this guy really wants to do is dumb down soccer until it get's to the same level of stupidity as modern day basketball. What this moron proposes doing is exactly what's been done with basketball. And, that's to make the game completely unwatchable for anyone who has the slightest sense of appreciation for the intelligence, skill and drama involved in a well-played game. But, hey, are we Internet Nuts truly off our rockers by running off several pages of comment on Bowen's stupid kiddie page article? I suggest not -- especially if we consider these words of wisdom from legendary Liverpool manager Bill Stankey: "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I'm very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."
I will grant that this is silly, and mom always said don't get in a fight with a drunk (journalistically speaking). That said, as a Post subscriber you do have some leverage. We wouldn't want them to print the news as they wished it was (cue Washington Times ad here). The "article" really is shockingly bad.
I know I'll get killed for this, but what is so "shockingly bad" about it? It's his opinion. I think it's a stupid opinion, but why is his opinion bad if it doesn't jibe with most soccer fans? Yeah, he's ignorant on the FIFA specifics, but I certainly hope the Post wouldn't stop this guy from expressing his opinion just because it rankles soccer fans. In fact, even the thought that soccer fans would want thatis, in my opinion, part of the reason soccer has trouble gaining traction at some times. Not everyone has to walk in lockstep.
Obviously everyone has the right to his or her own opinion, however misguided. BigSoccer is the ultimate proof of that. My objection to this guy is that I get the sense that he doesn't understand the game or the ramifications of what he's suggesting. And he suggests it again and again. Worse, his audience is ostensibly composed of impressionable kids who could really use better, more informed sources of knowledge.
You mean you don't want each team to get 5 timeouts, on top of the 8 additional advertisement breaks?
You know, I didn't know until last month that the NCAA requires refs to call a specified number of "official timeouts" per game for television commercials during the NCAA Div. I basketball tournament. Guess that I really went off on a Dennis Miller-like screed yesterday. Oh, well.
He does this about many sports besides soccer. Really football and baseball are the only things I ever see him write about positively. I think he should just be ignored.
For the anti-Bowen check out the article in this weekend's Post Magazine by Jim Haner, very nice piece with a vey different tone.
This article was in the Washington Post Magazine: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/11/AR2006041101255.html I know it's written for adults, but I hope a lot of children will get a chance to read it, as opposed to that drivel by Bowen.
Sorry sorry sorry for "re-newing" this thread, but I thought some might be interested in this: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,,1723983,00.html
Wow. Anyone want to send France an analysis of all the stupid crap that was tried in the USL back a few years ago? It might save them some time. It's always seemed to me that the most effective way to improve scoring was to harshly punish cynical defensive tactics.
Did I miss something? 4 goals for United not enough this week? To satisfy Bowen maybe we should play les vaches every week
I would enjoy it if each team were allowed ten minutes of a dune buggy with flamethrowers once a match. and somehow if we could have monkey fights.
I remember six-a-side tournaments in Maryland where a goal was two points and forcing a corner counted as one.
I played in a co-rec league where during the end-of-season turnament, if a game went to overtime, one player from each team was removed from the field every 5 minutes until the golden goal occurred. Let's be clear here, we were a bunch of co-rec soccer players. We were dead on our feet at the end of the first half. This was a comical tactic for "closing" the game. I actually made it to 3-on-3 dead people once P.S. has anyone ever seen a dune buggy that DIDN'T have a "for sale" sign on it?
I have seen field hockey use this strategy, going to 7-on-7 in overtime, at least at the high school level. It made the game more interesting. Not saying it will do the same for soccer, but I don't think it's that outlandish of an idea. I think it works better at lower skill levels to get the better players room to move.