OT: Huge story breaking out of Italy

[Marsh01]

USA beating Italy in soccer is like Puerto Rico beating the USA in basketball.

But it was an exhibition right? So it really meant nothing? I still dont get soccer and why they play these meaningless games that are put on ESPN when there were conference basketball tourneys on this afternoon.

 

[Upstate]

But it was an exhibition right? So it really meant nothing? I still dont get soccer and why they play these meaningless games that are put on ESPN when there were conference basketball tourneys on this afternoon.

There is a large following of US soccer fans, especially the youth in America. What's so wrong with supporting an American national team and celebrating a victory? All games reflect your world ranking, regardless if it is an exhibition or not. Believe it or not, more people care about the USMNT than the Big South's conference tournament right now.

 

[edowd26]

USA beating Italy in soccer is like Puerto Rico beating the USA in basketball.

Shouldn't be, we have the greatest collection of athletes in the world... they just choose to play every other sport on earth. If Dwayne Wade played soccer all his life he would make Messi look like elmer fudd.

 

[Marsh01]

There is a large following of US soccer fans, especially the youth in America. What's so wrong with supporting an American national team and celebrating a victory? All games reflect your world ranking, regardless if it is an exhibition or not. Believe it or not, more people care about the USMNT than the Big South's conference tournament right now.

Hey to each his own. God cursed me by having a daughter who lives for soccer so I am stuck with it for many years.

But the Big South is such a great conference...Oh Lord

 

[edowd26]

There is a large following of US soccer fans, especially the youth in America. What's so wrong with supporting an American national team and celebrating a victory? All games reflect your world ranking, regardless if it is an exhibition or not. Believe it or not, more people care about the USMNT than the Big South's conference tournament right now.

OF COURSE THEY DO... the US Mint produces money. Everyone loves money.

 

[Alsacs]

But it was an exhibition right? So it really meant nothing? I still dont get soccer and why they play these meaningless games that are put on ESPN when there were conference basketball tourneys on this afternoon.

Your right and I am not a huge soccer fan, and its an exhibition game for sure. So, while it may not be a meaningful win, its a huge win because the USA has never beat a blue blood elite power on their home soil. With that said I wouldn't react like we did when we beat Kansas.

 

[Marsh01]

OF COURSE THEY DO... the US Mint produces money. Everyone loves money.

What is the USMNT? Us Mountain? US Men not tanned?

 

[Upstate]

What is the USMNT? Us Mountain? US Men not tanned?

United States Men's National Team

 

[Marsh01]

United States Men's National Team

See I learned something new today.

 

[Moontan]

Only 3 months until Euro 2012... I can't wait. Hup, Holland, Hup!

Most USians will look at it as the only alternative to baseball between the basketball season and the Olympics & Tour de France.

 

[bnoro]

I hate people that can't see that some people like to watch soccer and feel the need to disparage those who do... Get over yourselves.

On to the game. Jozy really needs to be stronger on the ball, he goes down a little too easy. He definitely needs to work on his touch as well, he had a few good moments (i.e. his pass to Deuce) but he struggles sometimes on deep crosses. Bradley was phenominal, I hope he can keep this form for a while. He really did a great job possessing the ball. Deuce is awesome. Nothing more to say on him. Timmy Howard did great too, had some great saves, even a few when the shots didn't count after offsides. Our backline also played great, didn't allow a lot of clean shots, and without Chandler and Gooch this is great news. Can't wait for the summer qualifying cycle to start.

 

[jekelish]

Why do people put soccer on ESPN? First, because it's the most popular sport in the world. To even suggest otherwise is foolish. Second, because the Olympics are this year and these are tune up matches. It's a huge win for the US because a win like this builds momentum for the Olympics and helps sustain the momentum heading toward the next World Cup. It shows we have the talent to compete with elite sides from around the world.

And if you don't like soccer, don't watch it and shut the hell up when people say that they do. Does it cause you physical pain to know people enjoy the sport?

 

[Marsh01]

I hate people that can't see that some people like to watch soccer and feel the need to disparage those who do... Get over yourselves.

On to the game. Jozy really needs to be stronger on the ball, he goes down a little too easy. He definitely needs to work on his touch as well, he had a few good moments (i.e. his pass to Deuce) but he struggles sometimes on deep crosses. Bradley was phenominal, I hope he can keep this form for a while. He really did a great job possessing the ball. Deuce is awesome. Nothing more to say on him. Timmy Howard did great too, had some great saves, even a few when the shots didn't count after offsides. Our backline also played great, didn't allow a lot of clean shots, and without Chandler and Gooch this is great news. Can't wait for the summer qualifying cycle to start.

Dude I'm just messing with people. Lighten up. If that's your thing then cool.

 

[bnoro]

Dude I'm just messing with people. Lighten up. If that's your thing then cool.

I wasn't directing it at anyone, no one on this site really bugged me. It's just every time soccer comes up people have to hate on it for some reason.

 

[Marsh01]

I wasn't directing it at anyone, no one on this site really bugged me. It's just every time soccer comes up people have to hate on it for some reason.

I honestly had no idea they were even playing or what they were playing for so I guess I learned something today about the sport.

 

[pearl31]

it was a friendly... against a side that's been in disarray for the last 3 years and playing without several of its top players.

still, though, good symbolic win for Klinsman and the boys.

 

[edowd26]

I hate people that can't see that some people like to watch soccer and feel the need to disparage those who do... Get over yourselves.

On to the game. Jozy really needs to be stronger on the ball, he goes down a little too easy. He definitely needs to work on his touch as well, he had a few good moments (i.e. his pass to Deuce) but he struggles sometimes on deep crosses. Bradley was phenominal, I hope he can keep this form for a while. He really did a great job possessing the ball. Deuce is awesome. Nothing more to say on him. Timmy Howard did great too, had some great saves, even a few when the shots didn't count after offsides. Our backline also played great, didn't allow a lot of clean shots, and without Chandler and Gooch this is great news. Can't wait for the summer qualifying cycle to start.

calm the down.. no one said that cant see that other people like it we said we don't. I hate people who presume that people who don't like soccer think no one should like it. Come at me MFer

 

[jekelish]

calm the down.. no one said that cant see that other people like it we said we don't. I hate people who presume that people who don't like soccer think no one should like it. Come at me MFer

This:

haha, what is this country coming to?... soccer? thats like our nations D list athletes.

...suggests otherwise. Saying "what is this country coming to" is clearly deriding people who enjoy the sport.

 

[edowd26]

This:

...suggests otherwise. Saying "what is this country coming to" is clearly deriding people who enjoy the sport.

out of context. I was questioning some dude going bonkers at work over a friendly. Not for his love of the game. IF Syracuse beats G'town while i'm at work in a preseason game and i lose my chit, i give you permission to murder my entire family and myself... with a spoon.

And the second part is a fact.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Shouldn't be, we have the greatest collection of athletes in the world... they just choose to play every other sport on earth. If Dwayne Wade played soccer all his life he would make Messi look like elmer fudd.

Using D Wade as an example really shoots your arguement in the foot. USA basketball (w/ D Wade, Lebron, Kobe, etc.) have struggled quite a bit in the last few national tourneys with teams like Spain and Argentina who are obviously not sending their best athletes out to play basketball. If NBA players can't dominate their best sport vs other countries non A listers then logic would dictate if they were going up against those countries best in their best sport then the USA wouldn't fair well at all. Chad Ochocinco couldn't even make the practice squad of an MLS team much less an elite level club. Ability in one sport doesn't indicate ability in another. By your logic, if Messi had played basketball his entire life he would be Michael Jordan since greatest of his time in one sport would = greatest in any other. Remember MJ trying to play AA baseball? Not pretty.

End of the day it's an apples to oranges comparison. Adrian Peterson would probably not make a good rugby player, and Albert Pujols would likely suck at cricket but we'll never know.

The "greatest collection of athletes that just dont play soccer" excuse is a tired and empty one. The USA isn't even dominent in the games/events that our "great athletes" choose to compete in. Good? Yes. Dominent? Not by a long shot.

 

[Orangeyes]

i set up the DVR to record . . . the wrong channel.

JFC.

 

[jekelish]

Also: saying the best athletes don't play soccer is an incredible insult to those guys, who are phenomenal athletes in their own right. It's ridiculous to say someone like Landon Donovan or Tim Howard isn't a world class athlete.

 

[edowd26]

Also: saying the best athletes don't play soccer is an incredible insult to those guys, who are phenomenal athletes in their own right. It's ridiculous to say someone like Landon Donovan or Tim Howard isn't a world class athlete.

they're great athletes, but they aren't nearly as athletic.

 

[SouthCampusHero]

I wasn't directing it at anyone, no one on this site really bugged me. It's just every time soccer comes up people have to hate on it for some reason.

For some reason? I played soccer at a high level for many years and what I watched during the last World Cup was not the type of soccer I played. If Im not mistaken, didnt the last world cup set a record for most number of fouls called? The faking injury thing needs to stop. It was so over the top that some of the games were almost unbearable to watch.

 

[DNABB5]

When would you ever use the word "pitch" outside of this context in regards to a playing surface?

Well, there is that thing that the guys 60'6" from home plate do.

Plus, after I have mashed my malt and boiled and then cooled my wort, I pitch the yeast.

Having played it for a dozen or so years I feel qualified in saying Soccer is both "the beautiful game" and sucks moose nuts as a spectator sport.

 

[Melancer46]

they're great athletes, but they aren't nearly as athletic.

Being a guy who is literally obsessed with any level of basketball and football and baseball, I would argue that soccer players are probably on par with athletes in any other sport (besides perhaps basketball simply because it's flat out incredible to see 7 footers run around with such incredible coordination. However, all sports are different. I'd be surprised if most basketball players could sprint up and down a soccer field for 90 minutes pretty much non-stop, much less do this while kicking a ball with perfection with both feet and making passes with their feet that are more accurate than most NFL Quarterbacks are passing the ball with their arm.

Back on topic, I can't wait for the Olympics/World Cup. I just can't bring myself to follow club soccer (Man U and all those clubs) just because it's all very confusing to me, but I'm obsessed with the World Cup and love watching the U.S. soccer team (not to mention the Olympics are just flat out awesome).