OT:Womens World Cup ratings Out do Final 4

[Pitt79]

Well, I don't like hockey at any level, but at least its fast. Soccer is more about time wasted. Football has wasted time, too, but at least during plays, both teams are going full bore. The whole 7 mile stuff is bogus. Jogging & walking most of it. I appreciate the 4-5 actual attempts to score per game....the rest is snooze-inducing. More action in the stands. Just imagine 100,000 drunken Brits singing dumbass songs and fighting....sorta like Morgantown.

You should of watched USA/Honduras in the Gold Cup last night, super physical, way more physical than a 1980s Big East basketball game, USA won 2-1, honestly every minute was tense. I used to think like you, but once I sat down and started watching games, I light went off, I got it. It's a great sport.

 

[NTOP]

I hope you're joking. Any world-class soccer player could finish a marathon at any time without even having to train extra for it. The shape you have to be in to play soccer is just ridiculous. Remember when Lance Armstrong went out and ran the NYC Marathon without extra training? He was in great shape from cycling. No team-sport athlete could even come close to the kind of shape soccer players are in.

As for Messi, I'm not going to debate sport by sport. The world would agree with me though.

I said they'd finish...in 7 hours, about 2 hours behind my 50-something next door neighbor....nice lady.
The world is pretty screwed up, so their opinion, based on exposure, is meaningless to me. The Swiss couple in our group at PNC park the other night had NEVER seen a baseball game before, including TV. They struggled to figure out what was happening, and spoke very little English. Got a kick out of the whole experience, though the Pierogi Race IS a bit....strange. They didn't know what a pierogi is, I couldn't help them on that. They sure knew the game a bit by the walk-off, though....I think they realized that guys running around the bases was good, if it is about as frequent as soccer players RUNNING.

 

[Pitt79]

The Swiss couple in our group at PNC park the other night had NEVER seen a baseball game before, including TV. They struggled to figure out what was happening, ....

95% of the time in a baseball game ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is happening, no sport duller in the whole world.

 

[JS School]

My problem with watching both soccer and hockey is that it is like waiting for lightening to strike. In other sports momentum builds through the situation. You can put runners on base with nobody out. You can move the ball down the field and have a first and goal. You can be down by two strokes but the leader has hit his tee shot in the water while you are going for a par five in two. In soccer and hockey every goal feels like a solo home run or kick or interception return for a touchdown. Power plays hold my attention in hockey, but the rest of the time I find myself reaching for a newspaper or magazine while the game is going on.

I'm sure soccer and hockey are fun to play, though. Just tough for me to watch.

 

[NTOP]

95% of the time in a baseball game ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is happening, no sport duller in the whole world.

Nothing much happens in soccer, either. I don't need constant action to enjoy a game. Table-tennis moves pretty quickly, so do Jai alai, dogfighting and roller derby. Gosh, I miss the Bay Area Bombers!!!

 

[Pitt79]

Nothing much happens in soccer, either.

That's your opinion, you haven't watched enough to understand.

I don't need constant action to enjoy a game.

I do, that's why besides the Pirates playoff games the last 2 years, I haven't watched more than maybe a few at bats or couple innings of baseball since 1992.

 

[Pitt79]

My problem with watching both soccer and hockey is that it is like waiting for lightening to strike. In other sports momentum builds through the situation. You can put runners on base with nobody out. You can move the ball down the field and have a first and goal. You can be down by two strokes but the leader has hit his tee shot in the water while you are going for a par five in two. In soccer and hockey every goal feels like a solo home run or kick or interception return for a touchdown. Power plays hold my attention in hockey, but the rest of the time I find myself reaching for a newspaper or magazine while the game is going on.

I'm sure soccer and hockey are fun to play, though. Just tough for me to watch.

In soccer momentum builds through the situation. If you get to learn the game you'll realize that to be true.

Like typical American sports fans, you seem to want to be able to pay attention when there are clear scoring opportunities and otherwise be reaching for that reading material.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I said they'd finish...in 7 hours, about 2 hours behind my 50-something next door neighbor....nice lady.

I hope this is a joke. To play at a world-class soccer level, being in marathon shape is a requirement. While I'll give you that there is some standing and some jogging, there is a whole lot of running at a fast pace and full sprints which takes a ton of endurance and is harder to recover from. This more than makes up for the standing around.

My guess is you could take any EPL player in mid-season form, tell them to run a marathon tomorrow, and they'd finish in less than 4 hours. The kind of shape they HAVE to be in, they can run forever.

 

[JS School]

Like typical American sports fans, you seem to want to be able to pay attention when there are clear scoring opportunities and otherwise be reaching for that reading material.[/QUOTE]

You are correct, particularly in regard to a game I never played when I was young and therefore don't understand it's fine points very well. I'm nearly 60, I'm not going to start now. I'll stick with what I'm familiar with. I'll go get a beer when there are two outs and nobody on base. I'll stay in my seat when the bases are loaded.

 

[Pitt79]

I'm so far removed from baseball, I don't understand what the new stats even mean, like WAR or OPS, the last time I sat and watched a game (Besides the last 2 years Pirates playoffs), those stats didn't exist yet. lol

 

[NTOP]

I hope this is a joke. To play at a world-class soccer level, being in marathon shape is a requirement. While I'll give you that there is some standing and some jogging, there is a whole lot of running at a fast pace and full sprints which takes a ton of endurance and is harder to recover from. This more than makes up for the standing around.

My guess is you could take any EPL player in mid-season form, tell them to run a marathon tomorrow, and they'd finish in less than 4 hours. The kind of shape they HAVE to be in, they can run forever.

Nope. Soccer myths abound, this is one of them. All-out sprints only a few times per game, lots of noodling at mid-field. As for understanding the game.....not much nuance, here. Plenty of skill, for sure.
I'm sure it's a fun game to play, but boring to watch. Just my take on it. Is Messi a better athlete than Lebron?? Westbrook?? Prince Fielder?? Rory McIlroy??

 

[Pitt79]

I'm sure it's a fun game to play, but boring to watch. Just my take on it. Is Messi a better athlete than Lebron?? Westbrook?? Prince Fielder?? Rory McIlroy??

That's how I feel about baseball, I enjoyed playing it and softball too, but I can't stomach trying to watch it anymore.

As to who's the better athlete? Based on what criteria? I'm sure Messi could beat those guys in some athletic measures and some not.

Maybe if they competed in a decathelon we'd see who's the best athlete? Still I don't think any one of them would sweep all ten events.

 

[NTOP]

That's how I feel about baseball, I enjoyed playing it and softball too, but I can't stomach trying to watch it anymore.

As to who's the better athlete? Based on what criteria? I'm sure Messi could beat those guys in some athletic measures and some not.

Maybe if they competed in a decathelon we'd see who's the best athlete? Still I don't think any one of them would sweep all ten events.

Wilt Chamberlain....greatest ever???

 

[Pitt79]

Wilt Chamberlain....greatest ever???

Based on the "20,000" ?

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Typical yinzer. I think a lot of it have to do with the fact that older or uninformed Americans view soccer as a sissy, wimpy sport for men. "If he were any good, he'd be playing real football." Its like they are embarrassed to watch. The faking of injuries certainly does not help this but its no different than basketball players flopping or NFL players flopping to draw personal fouls. I think for the millions who dont understand the game, its almost as if they'd feel less manly if they watch it.

But people like your friend will watch the women because its an appropriate sport for girls to play......and some of the players are attractive.

To be honest, I enjoyed the Women's World Cup, especially the US team because I thought in many cases, it was smooth, very tactical soccer. Especially out of group play, when they benched Wambaugh and stopped trying every offensive play a HR lob to have her try and convert a header. Once, they started to press forward and use their skill, it was enjoyable to watch.

Sometimes the men's game, it is not as offensive, very restrained.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

good point on the wambach thing. I totally agree. I think the first game with Wambach on the bench they showed flashes of good soccer, but still at times looked like they didn't know what style to play--direct or more of a possession game. But in the semi and in the final--they played a great brand of soccer.

For as great as Wambach is/was, my fear was that she set our program back a decade because it was too easy to win playing a whack it to Wambach style. I know someone who has ties to US soccer, and they told me there were some strong personalities to manage over the past several years within the women's program. I am glad to see that Jill Ellis did what she needed to do in the knock out rounds of the WC. I feel a lot better about the future of our National team than I did two weeks ago.

 

[NTOP]

Based on the "20,000" ?

Decathlon.

 

[NTOP]

I'm so far removed from baseball, I don't understand what the new stats even mean, like WAR or OPS, the last time I sat and watched a game (Besides the last 2 years Pirates playoffs), those stats didn't exist yet. lol

Ever notice the lack of "advanced" stats for soccer??? NOTHING TO CALIBRATE!!!
Frankly, I don't care about the new stats at all.....I probably would enjoy soccer if I had played it....and I would have dominated!!! Once ran a marathon in under 2 hours.....backwards, wearing a Pele cup...xxl.

 

[Pghfan]

Why do soccer fans try so hard to sell their sport? You like soccer, I get it. 98% of America thinks its dull, we've given it a try and we don't like it. Sure we will watch for an hour every 4 years, if we are good but that's it. No matter what you tell us, it is still freaking boring. They run 7 miles? OK, good for them, still doesn't make it any less painful to watch. Enjoy your sport, watch it and have a blast, drink a pint at some European knock off bar, scream and yell all you want, just quit telling us how entertaining your sport us because it won't change our mind. Enjoy your non-mainstream sport, dare to be different and embrace it.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Why do soccer fans try so hard to sell their sport? You like soccer, I get it. 98% of America thinks its dull, we've given it a try and we don't like it. Sure we will watch for an hour every 4 years, if we are good but that's it. No matter what you tell us, it is still freaking boring. They run 7 miles? OK, good for them, still doesn't make it any less painful to watch. Enjoy your sport, watch it and have a blast, drink a pint at some European knock off bar, scream and yell all you want, just quit telling us how entertaining your sport us because it won't change our mind. Enjoy your non-mainstream sport, dare to be different and embrace it.

I haven't seen any polls but in the younger demographic, my guess is that world-class soccer (EPL, World Cup, Euros, not MLS, etc) is not all that far behind MLB and NBA and way ahead of the NHL. You don't have to like soccer. You're probably old, no offense. The younger crowd who have grown up with games actually on TV (remember not even the World Cup was televised when you were a kid) like it and that's all that will matter in the future.

Soccer is never going to take over the NFL but 20 years from now I can see it ahead of Major League Baseball and closer to the NBA. I can see it becoming a mainstream sport in this country.

 

[Pghfan]

I haven't seen any polls but in the younger demographic, my guess is that world-class soccer (EPL, World Cup, Euros, not MLS, etc) is not all that far behind MLB and NBA and way ahead of the NHL. You don't have to like soccer. You're probably old, no offense. The younger crowd who have grown up with games actually on TV (remember not even the World Cup was televised when you were a kid) like it and that's all that will matter in the future.

Soccer is never going to take over the NFL but 20 years from now I can see it ahead of Major League Baseball and closer to the NBA. I can see it becoming a mainstream sport in this country.

In my Kate 30s so not old or young. Soccer will never be mainstream in this country, stop with this nonsense. I've been listening to soccer fans proclaiming this for 20 plus years. Soccer is popular for little kids because a 7 year old isn't strong enough to push a basketball 10' in the air and not coordinated enough to swing a bat. Once a kid reaches 4th grade, the soccer expirement ends. Professional soccer averages less per game than a Louisville men's basketball game in November. Overtake baseball? That's hilarious. I do like hockey but I understand why its not mainstream in this country and why its a niche sport and I'm completely fine with that. I love hockey, many in this country dont , its niche and its ok. Soccer fans need to say the same and move on

 

[Fk_Pitt]

PghFan isn't old. He's just a Yinzer, hence the screen name.

I too am ok with soccer being a niche sport. I like it. I enjoy it. What others do is entirely up to them. It annoys me when soccer geeks try to oversell their sport. But I don't see any of that here on this board. I just think soccer fans get defensive when people go out of their way to bash it, similar to how Pittsburghers get when Pittsburgh is bashed. The point is, Pittsbugh is pretty cool when given a try. People who bash it are simply ignorant because they aren't knowledgable enough about the city. Same with soccer. People bash it because they don't understand it. But neither are for everyone. Pittsburgh isn't what it was 40 years ago. And neither is the sporting landscape. While I am not sure I will ever see soccer rise into the top 3 of domestic sports, I do think it will be a solid number 4.

 

[Pghfan]

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Good find on the gifs, but a major fail nonetheless. Diving and flopping has already been addressed in this thread. And the same kinds of gifs are out there for your favorite sports too.

And you missed the best one ever, when the Brazilian player may have cost her team the World Cup 4 years ago when she faked an injury to kill the clock, wasted 5 minutes, was stretchered off, and as soon as she got to the sideline she jumped off the stretcher and ran back onto the field. The referee added the time, and in that time Abby Wambach tied the game with one of the best goals and sports moments of all time.

here's the bogus injury


here's the poetic justice


both worth a revisit 4 years later

 

[Pitt79]

PghFan isn't old. He's just a Yinzer, hence the screen name.

I too am ok with soccer being a niche sport. I like it. I enjoy it. What others do is entirely up to them. It annoys me when soccer geeks try to oversell their sport. But I don't see any of that here on this board. I just think soccer fans get defensive when people go out of their way to bash it, similar to how Pittsburghers get when Pittsburgh is bashed. The point is, Pittsbugh is pretty cool when given a try. People who bash it are simply ignorant because they aren't knowledgable enough about the city. Same with soccer. People bash it because they don't understand it. But neither are for everyone. Pittsburgh isn't what it was 40 years ago. And neither is the sporting landscape. While I am not sure I will ever see soccer rise into the top 3 of domestic sports, I do think it will be a solid number 4.

I'm great with it being a niche sport too, I can DVR the games I want to see and there's no chance I'll overhear the score anywhere! And then I can get the good seats that cost $240 for a Ravens game for $47 to see the Gold Cup next week!

No, I don't want it to be popular and have sold out stadiums, I couldn't care less. It's like my own secret thing. I tell people I like soccer and tell them I watch it, but generally, I don't bother trying to sell anybody on it. Americans are "exceptional' you know, meaning closed minded, so even if they like soccer, they might not admit it.

And I still talk baseball with people too, just by reading the Pirates box scores or seeing Sportscenter, I can say enough so that people won't even detect that I haven't watched a game in over 20 years!

But I do think soccer will rise up in the USA, it already has. And I do believe football as we know it might even go away, it's under attack over the injuries and on top of that they mess with the rules so much and so often lots of people are getting fed up with it.

Soccer's a good sport, IF YOU LIKE IT, if you don't, don't watch, I'd perfer you don't in a way, it's nice being a little bit out of the USA mainstream, there are advantages for the people that do like it.

 

[Pitt79]

Good find on the gifs, but a major fail nonetheless. Diving and flopping has already been addressed in this thread. And the same kinds of gifs are out there for your favorite sports too.

This is another thing I find funny to? The American soccer hater always points to "flopping" and "faking injury" when it rarely ever happens, and when it does, they rarely call it. And a lot of the times you watch a replay of something they call "fake" and realize that the dude is not really hurt bad enough to come out of the game, but he did get jacked up.

 

[Pitt79]

Soccer is popular for little kids because a 7 year old isn't strong enough to push a basketball 10' in the air and not coordinated enough to swing a bat. Once a kid reaches 4th grade, the soccer expirement ends.

This here is a really Yinzer comment, and you may be right if you're talking Western PA, but a lot of the rest of the USA, certainly not the case. My daughter for the last 3 years played for a team that was part of one of several soccer clubs, in a single county in Maryland that had a 12 field artificial turf complex and had over 8000 players, aged 4-19, representing 600+ teams, and this county had at least 4-5 competing clubs that I know of, so I don't think that many kids quit after 4th grade ouside Allegheny Cahny.

 

[Pghfan]

I'm great with it being a niche sport too, I can DVR the games I want to see and there's no chance I'll overhear the score anywhere! And then I can get the good seats that cost $240 for a Ravens game for $47 to see the Gold Cup next week!

No, I don't want it to be popular and have sold out stadiums, I couldn't care less. It's like my own secret thing. I tell people I like soccer and tell them I watch it, but generally, I don't bother trying to sell anybody on it. Americans are "exceptional' you know, meaning closed minded, so even if they like soccer, they might not admit it.

And I still talk baseball with people too, just by reading the Pirates box scores or seeing Sportscenter, I can say enough so that people won't even detect that I haven't watched a game in over 20 years!

But I do think soccer will rise up in the USA, it already has. And I do believe football as we know it might even go away, it's under attack over the injuries and on top of that they mess with the rules so much and so often lots of people are getting fed up with it.

Soccer's a good sport, IF YOU LIKE IT, if you don't, don't watch, I'd perfer you don't in a way, it's nice being a little bit out of the USA mainstream, there are advantages for the people that do like it.

That's a great way to look at it. I'd love to be a fan of a sport that is "under the radar. . That is why I don't understand the typical soccer fan on the pedestal, selling his sport. Sit at a quiet little bar on game day, watching game with a few other real fans over 500 fans in a crowded bar watching cause that's what everyone else does. Stay with that bro, im almost jealous.

 

[Pitt79]

That's a great way to look at it. I'd love to be a fan of a sport that is "under the radar. . That is why I don't understand the typical soccer fan on the pedestal, selling his sport. Sit at a quiet little bar on game day, watching game with a few other real fans over 500 fans in a crowded bar watching cause that's what everyone else does. Stay with that bro, im almost jealous.

And the truth is, I do put American football above soccer on my priority list. The DVR is a great invention, so now I don't have to quit the soccer season in September. Soccer is big for me right now as a spectator sport, since I don't watch baseball or golf anymore, gives me something to watch in the off times like summer, when IMO there are no sports to watch even if there are 6-8 MLB games on TV everyday.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

US Youth Soccer is the largest sports organization in the world. It's bigger than all US sports organizations combined I believe. And sure, a big chunk of it is the Orange wedges and Capri sun 5-8 yr olds, but an even bigger chunk is the U10-U19 aged players who continue to play the game. At this point, there are plenty of boys who do give the sport up because they'd rather play football or baseball, but I see more elite athletes choose soccer over the other sports than I saw 15 years ago. Times are certainly changing. Is soccer overtaking football in popularity? Certainly not. We will never see that in our lifetime. But definitely in youth participation.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

This here is a really Yinzer comment, and you may be right if you're talking Western PA, but a lot of the rest of the USA, certainly not the case. My daughter for the last 3 years played for a team that was part of one of several soccer clubs, in a single county in Maryland that had a 12 field artificial turf complex and had over 8000 players, aged 4-19, representing 600+ teams, and this county had at least 4-5 competing clubs that I know of, so I don't think that many kids quit after 4th grade ouside Allegheny Cahny.

Not true about western PA either. 3 western PA teams won the Regional Championship (which includes Maryland and the entire Northeast all the way to Maine) and will be playing for a National Championship later this month. My daughters team is one of them and ranked #2 nationally and will be playing the #1 and #3 team in group play in two weeks. So we do ok here too.

 

[Pitt79]

Not true about western PA either. 3 western PA teams won the Regional Championship (which includes Maryland and the entire Northeast all the way to Maine) and will be playing for a National Championship later this month. My daughters team is one of them and ranked #2 nationally and will be playing the #1 and #3 team in group play in two weeks. So we do ok here too.

That's great, I realize it's better now, I haven't lived there for 25 years, I remember as a kid, there was no soccer at all where I grew up, no clubs, the schools didn't have teams, so just in my mind that was the image I had.

 

[NTOP]

Not true about western PA either. 3 western PA teams won the Regional Championship (which includes Maryland and the entire Northeast all the way to Maine) and will be playing for a National Championship later this month. My daughters team is one of them and ranked #2 nationally and will be playing the #1 and #3 team in group play in two weeks. So we do ok here too.

Good for them!!! Hope they get some pub. The North Hills is covered with soccer fields & programs. P-R is a hotbed. Great sport to play.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

In my Kate 30s so not old or young. Soccer will never be mainstream in this country, stop with this nonsense. I've been listening to soccer fans proclaiming this for 20 plus years. Soccer is popular for little kids because a 7 year old isn't strong enough to push a basketball 10' in the air and not coordinated enough to swing a bat. Once a kid reaches 4th grade, the soccer expirement ends. Professional soccer averages less per game than a Louisville men's basketball game in November. Overtake baseball? That's hilarious. I do like hockey but I understand why its not mainstream in this country and why its a niche sport and I'm completely fine with that. I love hockey, many in this country dont , its niche and its ok. Soccer fans need to say the same and move on

OK, you're younger than I thought. Young enough to be a soccer fan, but I get it, you're not. In my unscientific opinion, people who were kids during the World Cup in the USA in 94 or born after that at a time when soccer finally made it on TV are in what I call the "soccer demographic." You were a little past that point in 94 so you don't really fall into that demographic but not far off.

I mean think about it, when you were a kid, soccer was never, ever, ever on TV. The 1990 WC was the first ever on TV, then no soccer for 4 years, then boom, the WC in 94. All of a sudden MLS launches and ESPN starts doing Champions League games and kids could actually "grow up" with soccer. That's huge. I have cousins in HS who dont play soccer but they can name all the star players, good teams, and will watch games. Soccer is in their "rotation" of sports to watch and follow along with college fooball, NFL, NHL, etc. I have a feeling there are lot of kids like this, kids who have grown up with soccer being readily available.

Here's the thing, if the USA had the #1 sports league, yes, it would overtake basketball. I doubt it ever will but in 20 years, I could see it being the #3 league behind the EPL and Bundesliga. I dont think it would overtake baseball with that but at #1, it sure would. If the USA had the best soccer league on the planet, it would more than likely be the #2 league in this country behind the NFL. You cant compare what we have now (MLS) to anything else. Its not a very good league but in their defense, its getting better all the time. Heck, here in Pittsburgh, 5000 fans showed up on a Wednesday night to see DC United's reserves play the Riverhounds. DC literally didn't even bring their best players. They stayed home.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I like soccer. But I agree that the soccer community tries really really hard to sell the sport to mainstream. Here's the deal, hockey is my favorite sport. Long ago I cared about hockey getting its just due, Now I don't. In fact I see sometimes what happens when "popularity" invades a sport and good ol fashioned American commercialism ruins another fun event. So......soccer fans, be careful what you wish for.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Bottom line is that until people grow up with it, they will have a hard time being passionate about it. I am too young to remember, but until Lemieux came, the old timers refused to embrace hockey here. Heck, Myron Cope openly refused to talk hockey on his iconic radio talk show. Now today's old timers like Cook and Smizik love hockey because they were younger when it rose in significance locally...but they continue to have no interest in soccer. Honestly, the same can be said about the NBA in this town.

 

[Pitt79]

OK, you're younger than I thought. Young enough to be a soccer fan, but I get it, you're not. In my unscientific opinion, people who were kids during the World Cup in the USA in 94 or born after that at a time when soccer finally made it on TV are in what I call the "soccer demographic." You were a little past that point in 94 so you don't really fall into that demographic but not far off.

I mean think about it, when you were a kid, soccer was never, ever, ever on TV. The 1990 WC was the first ever on TV, then no soccer for 4 years, then boom, the WC in 94. All of a sudden MLS launches and ESPN starts doing Champions League games and kids could actually "grow up" with soccer. That's huge. I have cousins in HS who dont play soccer but they can name all the star players, good teams, and will watch games. Soccer is in their "rotation" of sports to watch and follow along with college fooball, NFL, NHL, etc. I have a feeling there are lot of kids like this, kids who have grown up with soccer being readily available.

Here's the thing, if the USA had the #1 sports league, yes, it would overtake basketball. I doubt it ever will but in 20 years, I could see it being the #3 league behind the EPL and Bundesliga. I dont think it would overtake baseball with that but at #1, it sure would. If the USA had the best soccer league on the planet, it would more than likely be the #2 league in this country behind the NFL. You cant compare what we have now (MLS) to anything else. Its not a very good league but in their defense, its getting better all the time. Heck, here in Pittsburgh, 5000 fans showed up on a Wednesday night to see DC United's reserves play the Riverhounds. DC literally didn't even bring their best players. They stayed home.

I'm older, I'm 56, but I've spent significant time in Europe, and when I was at Pitt grad school, I got involved playing in a local rec league as a GK for like 5 years, and then my daughter started playing and I have coached or been a fan of her games, probably more than 100, I just bought into it.

Soccer was on TV back in the '70s, I remember the NASL and the NY Cosmos, etc. but was never really into it back then. But today, I have gotten into it, I'm a DC United fan and even a Baltimore Blast fan in indoor soccer, my daughter and I have fun going to those games, even though it's not real soccer. And I'm into the US National team right now too, Going to the Gold Cup game next Saturday in Baltimore.

Unlike many, I have gotten into MLS way more than EPL. It's easy to adopt DC United, they play right near here, I've been to their games, all their games are televised here in the evening. I care less about the quality of play than trying to get into rooting for some English city at 8:00 am in the morning. It's just easier to relate to DC vs. NYC rather than Stoke City vs. West Ham.

My all time favorite sports team will always be the Pittsburgh Steelers, but I have room for some soccer right now. I think I'm kind of unusual though, most of my peers my age in no way would watch soccer and for most of the reasons us old people give. Maybe I'm unique?

 

[Pitt79]

In fact I see sometimes what happens when "popularity" invades a sport and good ol fashioned American commercialism ruins another fun event. So......soccer fans, be careful what you wish for.

That's another thing and I agree! Can't let American influence get into it! They'll ruin the sport with all kinds of BS tweaking to make it "more exciting", then add instant replay and then I'll hate soccer too! lol. The MLS started with all kinds of nonsense, and now they've returned to international rules, don't mess with it, we don't need more goals and we don't mind ties or scoreless games, seriously.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Not true about western PA either. 3 western PA teams won the Regional Championship (which includes Maryland and the entire Northeast all the way to Maine) and will be playing for a National Championship later this month. My daughters team is one of them and ranked #2 nationally and will be playing the #1 and #3 team in group play in two weeks. So we do ok here too.

Does your daughter play for the 16s, the 18s or the 19s?

 

[Fk_Pitt]

18's. U part of the club too?