big day for US soccer

[avid]

Yeah, I know soccer isn't the most popular sport among bassers, but it is the #1 sport in the world.

The USA national team just defeated #1 ranked Spain in the last major international tournament before next years world cup.

We now move to the finals for the first time in US soccer history.

Tomorrow Bazil plays S.Africa for the other finals berth.

Sunday at 2:30 on ESPN is the big game for those who may want to give a look.

[roadwarrior]

I'd rather watch paint dry, grass grow...or maybe even women's golf.

[CWB]

To quote Hank Hill : "Soccer isn't even a real sport. It's what the kids play that can't play Baseball, Football or Basketball" However, after being forced to play it in gym class it is a very physically demanding sport. But like R.W. said, I'd rather watch paint dry. Definitely rather watch women's beach volleyball.

Congrats to U.S team though!!

[Daniel My Brother]

Avid,

I've got your back. Just making the semis was a near miracle.

Tim Howard was apparently THE man today.

I'm looking forward to watching the replay tonight on ESPN 2.

DMB

[Dan:]

I used to feel the same way about soccer until I watched some of my sister's HS games. When soccer games are really close and intense and you know a little about the game it gets a lot more interesting to watch.

Also, we should be proud of the achievement as Americans. This is everyone else's sport and we have beaten them at it. I don't know about you guys but that inspires a little nationalism in me. To use KOTH again, Hank even got excited by a hot dog eating contest when there was a chance that the US could retake the title.

[Muddy]

If my gradfather had lived longer, he loved soccer, I probably would also. He used to listen to the game in Italian,and he would be all over it.

[srv1990]

I'd rather watch paint dry, grass grow...or maybe even women's golf.

Definitely a huge victory for US soccer!

Hey RW, is this why you don't like womens golf?...

[LCpointerKILLA]

soccer is an excellent sport. It's ignorant to say baseball is more fun to watch. Give soccer a chance. I played in high school. Been playing on teams since the age of three. Please don't even try to offend me in response to this post. Soccer kicks the crap out of baseball--the biggest failure of a "sport" ever. See you later soccer haters. Can't wait to see the lame replys I will get to this. Amuse me.

[roadwarrior]

soccer is an excellent sport. It's ignorant to say baseball is more fun to watch. Give soccer a chance. I played in high school. Been playing on teams since the age of three. Please don't even try to offend me in response to this post. Soccer kicks the crap out of baseball--the biggest failure of a "sport" ever. See you later soccer haters. Can't wait to see the lame replys I will get to this. Amuse me.

The last soccer match I watched was for the World Cup (?) about a

decade ago. After 4 or 5 boring hours and 3 (?) overtime periods the

score was 0 - 0. The World Championship was then decided on a free

shot or whatever it's called...Ba...Ba...Ba...B - O - R - I - N - G...

:

[grimlin]

I consider hockey and soccer....very similar.One is on ice with skates using sticks,while other one is on grass using feet control.

Being raised in Texas around Hispanics...soccer was what we played 80% of the time in recess/after lunch.The first to score to 5 before the bell rang was the winning team.

Soccer isn't a weak sport....by any standard.It's the idiocy of the fans that turn me away from watching it.Goes for just about every sport.

[Sam]

yes, outstanding victory, especially when you realize that the Spain team had not been scored upon in a long time.  

[SirSnookalot]

I believe the US women won Olympic gold, now it's time for the men to be recognized globally.

Soccer is a very exciting game to watch and players are athletes, this is one tuff game without pads.

I'd rather watch paint dry, grass grow...or maybe even women's golf

I agree, I'd put grass growing right up there with watching a blue gill tournament on tv, then going out and catching a few trophy 4 inchers. Should I use a cane pole or a stella?

[Pond Hopper]

Great victory for a US team that is trying to breakthrough on the world scale as a force.  As far as soccer being boring, football can be too, so can baseball and any other sport where you do not realize the strategy behind the game.  

As far as it being a sissy sport, I could show some gruesome pictures where injuries occur including some I caused and some I earned.  It is fulls peed, no pads, and limbs flying.  

[Bassboy15]

Tim Howard played just as well as Egpyts goalie against Brazil. GO USA!!! Landon I need a goal outta ya!

[CWB]

soccer is an excellent sport. It's ignorant to say baseball is more fun to watch. Give soccer a chance. I played in high school. Been playing on teams since the age of three. Please don't even try to offend me in response to this post. Soccer kicks the crap out of baseball--the biggest failure of a "sport" ever. See you later soccer haters. Can't wait to see the lame replys I will get to this. Amuse me.

I don't know if this is what you consider a lame reply but everyone is entitled to their opinion. The only hate I saw in anyone's post was from yours. No one said they hated soccer. Just that it's boring to some people. I played soccer and baseball at different levels and they are both great sports to play. I prefer watching and playing baseball.

I do not hate soccer. If I could watch any sport, it would be football.

Hope I didn't offend you and that you are amused. Hate is a bad thing to carry around with you. So is ignorance.  

[atx_newbie]

The soccer vs. America argument has been going on for ages, and as a soccer fan who was once an adamant voice in support of soccer.  I can't remember a time when I didn't play soccer, it's my first love, and my first hate:  I've got 3 concussions, a broken ankle, torn ACL, and many other injuries as well as a decade of lost weekends spent on trips to tournaments across the country.

That being said, I have given up trying to defend the sport to people who choose not to watch it.  The sport will never attain the level of support in America that baseball, football, and basketball have achieved, and I believe that even lacrosse will soon be more popular.

It's nothing to get upset about as a soccer fan; you shouldn't feel personally insulted that ESPN doesn't talk about it as much as other sports, or that Hank Hill doesn't respect the game.  I'm pretty sure there are no baseball players who lose any sleep over the fact that I don't care for baseball.

[LCpointerKILLA]

soccer is an excellent sport. It's ignorant to say baseball is more fun to watch. Give soccer a chance. I played in high school. Been playing on teams since the age of three. Please don't even try to offend me in response to this post. Soccer kicks the crap out of baseball--the biggest failure of a "sport" ever. See you later soccer haters. Can't wait to see the lame replys I will get to this. Amuse me.

I don't know if this is what you consider a lame reply but everyone is entitled to their opinion. The only hate I saw in anyone's post was from yours. No one said they hated soccer. Just that it's boring to some people. I played soccer and baseball at different levels and they are both great sports to play. I prefer watching and playing baseball.

I do not hate soccer. If I could watch any sport, it would be football.

Hope I didn't offend you and that you are amused. Hate is a bad thing to carry around with you. So is ignorance.

No I am not offended, and that was a good post. Your stance on baseball being more fun to play and watch is different than mine, but your stance is respectable. That post I did was in reference to anyone who I figured would say that soccer sucks and is for *******, ect... and would give me lame reasons why they hate soccer and don't consider it a sport. I think most American's hate of soccer is related to xenophobia and ignorance, because soccer takes true athletes to be a competitable force.

[Daniel A.]

...for LCpointerKILLA

[djs fishing]

Why is it that a baseball game with a zero/zero score going into extra innings is a great feat but a soccer game at zero/zero is boring.

The reason is that Americans understand the nuances of the game of baseball (or golf - the most boring sport of all).

If you understand the game of soccer it is not boring. To the casual observer I can understand why it looks that way.

Soccer: No timeouts, No helmets, No shoulder pads, No halftime shows. So if that is what you need, go play football you WUSS.

[Fisher of Men]

Even though I played soccer for about 4 years growing up, I really have no interest now in watching it.  I realize that it IS very physically demanding (as is hockey; another I don't watch).  I will, however, watch olympic, finals, world-cup games.  Every sport represents different challenges, both mental and physical.  Honestly, I would think that golf is the least physical of them, but I really enjoy it.  What it lacks in physicality, it makes up for in mental skill and dexterity.  One "sport" that I think has no place on TV (ESPN, etc.) is poker.  Watching someone play cards? Grass growing, concrete curing, paint drying, etc. . . all more interesting than that!!

Sorry Avid, thanks for sharing that information regarding the U.S. team.  What an accomplishment for them beating Spain!!  Go team USA!!

[avid]

I was heartened by the replies.  There are more fans here now than during the last world cup.  It seems the sport is making headway with US sports fans.

Anyway... the drama couldn't be better.  Brazil won the other semi final so on Sunday at 2:30 on ESPN the FIFA confederations 2009 final will be played in Johannesburg So. Africa between the brilliant Brazillian team and those upstart Americans.  This is history folks.  The United States has never made it to the semi's before yet alone the finals in an international tournament of this magnitude.

So put on your red, white, and blue and support our boys.

GO USA!!!!!!!!!!

[KU_Bassmaster.]

I am one of those on the fence about soccer, but I started coming around last World Cup.  I can watch just about any sport being played at the highest level on the biggest stage.  I am just a fan of competition.  I will be watching tomorrow.

Hey avid ...... Are you sure it's on tomorrow afternoon?  According to my cable box the game on in the afternoon is the 3rd place game.  The championship is not on until much later.  I think it was around 11:00 pm?

[KevO]

I played soccer from the time I was 4 all the way until I graduated high school and I loved it.  However, watching soccer on T.V. makes me want to run through a plate glass window.  Sooooooo BORING!

[avid]

I am one of those on the fence about soccer, but I started coming around last World Cup. I can watch just about any sport being played at the highest level on the biggest stage. I am just a fan of competition. I will be watching tomorrow.

Hey avid ...... Are you sure it's on tomorrow afternoon? According to my cable box the game on in the afternoon is the 3rd place game. The championship is not on until much later. I think it was around 11:00 pm?

Nope.  I just double checked the listing.  2 pm on ESPN Sunday is the game.  The game was not originally scheduled for ESPN because nobody expected the USA to make the finals.  It was scheduled for ESPN2, but that has changed.  It's possible that the schedule you checked did not reflect the change.

But don't worry.   Put on ESPN at 2pm tomorrow and you'll see the game.

[avid]

What a great game!!

Final score was Brazil 3 USA 2.

If you saw it then you know.

If you didn't.....sorry.