I feel like I unleashed a real torrent with my earlier posting about the manifold joys (not shared by all commenters, to put it mildly!)of the World Cup. Naysayers should watch the first five minutes of today's Argentina-Serbia&Montenegro match for a perfect illustration of what I had in mind. Argentina scored a truly magnificent goal -- 12 separate passes in the offensive third of the field, a beautiful slow build-up to the final charge into the box (an Argentine defender, who saw an opening and burst into it) and the great finish. [the second goal, with TWENTY-FOUR PASSES leading up to the finish, was even more magnificent).
The usual pile-up celebration followed; but what was really great was the shot of two of the Argentine players, a defender and the goalkeeper, away from the pile-up; the emotion that poured out of them visible on their faces was pretty intense -- there's not much else one ever can see on TV that touches it. If you think (as many do, with lots of justification) that big-time sports is too often just about the money, see if you can find a replay.
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Wasn't it a trombone player?
The ESPN guys are actually pretty good, especially by comparison.
You've gotta love a team (1) whose shorthand name evokes images of dominatrices, whips and chains; and (2) represents a country that technically doesn't even exist any more.
Any of the other Russkies around here have fond memories of the Unified Team?
That reminds me of this Simpsons classic where international soccer comes to Springfield. Compare the 2 announcers starting at 1:56 (everything up to that point is pretty good too and captures the attitude of these two posts):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=D-E6weZIdG8&search=simpso
1) CIS team (1992, for an already non-existent country)
2) United Team of Germany (1956-1964, for a country that did not exist already and did not exist yet)
The team wasn't the embarassment it now became, but somehow they always fell short - amazing - considering the resources that the USSR devoted to sport. It's especially weird given their prominence in other team sports, like hockey and basketball.
I do have some fond memories. Renat Dasaev had some saves that stand out big time.
Oh, for good Russkie-language coverage, check out my Dad's (Israeli-based) Cup blog.
Before you counter that baseball is boring, I won't disagree (though it's not as boring as soccer.) NASCAR is boring too. The reason they are popular is due to cultural ritual that goes back decades.
There is one way; if a series of VERY popular, talented and charismatic US players emerge AND play in the US. Where are the Michael Jordans, Babe Ruths, Tiger Woods, etc. of Soccer? Mia Hamm by herself isn't going to cut it (and I would suggest she's done a huge amount to popularize the sport viewershipwise.)
Do note, however, that the personalities play against the just how lame the game really is. Narrow the field, drop the offsides silliness, add instant substitutions (no timeouts) and increase the size of the goal. Now you have a sport.
BTW, the real mystery is why Australian Rules Football hasn't become more popular:-)
Or you could have partied with the Rice fans when they beat UT in football about 10 years ago after having been shut out by the Horns for 30 years. Those guys were party animals.
College football is where the real passion lives.
Does anyone else think this post reads like an Ann Rice novel??
Awesome website, there is some great reporing on it.
Spasibo
Very true. These foreign homo weirdos are all faking it. As were Red Sox fans after the Sox won the WS in 04.
Bad match to make that point. SPOILER. This one was pretty much non-stop action, complete with numerous goals, a red card, two inspiring substitutes, and (relatedly) a teenage phenom responsible for an assist and a goal in the 15 minutes he played. Unfortunately, with the exception of the red card, only one of the two sides produced that action.
From the Economist's Style Guide:
"Teams that take the name of a town, country or university are plural, even when they look singular: England were bowled out for 56."
The only reason I think Aussie Rules hasn't fully caught on here is that it requires too large a playing field to operate in its full glory. But it is played here in the States--I run the clock and keep stats for the Nashville Kangaroos.
I've always preferred the plural and wished American commentators would adopt it. It avoids silly sentences like "Cleveland isn't playing together well."
Baseball? Boring!
Soccer? Pretty Boring!
NASCAR. Driving around and around in a circle. Boring!
Me, I will take Beach Vollyball. NOT Boring and HOT chicks
(Plus, I'm still playing &I'm
71!)
Well, reading it I haven't yet burst out "Damnit man, quit talking and bite someone!" so probably not.