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Post by Skilly on Jul 10, 2006 15:14:56 GMT -5
All I can say is: Thank God it's over ! In North America, you never hear about soccer and all of a sudden it's everywhere in every show and everyone's a big fan !!! I can understand that people of recent European decent get excited about this but don't really get the big fuss the media are trying to make out of this... Still: Congrats to Italia and their fans ! I never watched a single minute of any game .... and the only way I will ever watch "grass grow" - cause let's face it that's what soccer is ... grown men watching grass grow with a little bit of play acting thrown in - is if the grass is red and white. The only way that happens is if Canada hosts the World Cup and I don't see that happening anytime soon. |
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Post by jkr on Jul 10, 2006 17:26:02 GMT -5
All I can say is: Thank God it's over ! In North America, you never hear about soccer and all of a sudden it's everywhere in every show and everyone's a big fan !!! I can understand that people of recent European decent get excited about this but don't really get the big fuss the media are trying to make out of this... Still: Congrats to Italia and their fans ! I never watched a single minute of any game .... and the only way I will ever watch "grass grow" - cause let's face it that's what soccer is ... grown men watching grass grow with a little bit of play acting thrown in - is if the grass is red and white. The only way that happens is if Canada hosts the World Cup and I don't see that happening anytime soon. You commented on the Australia / Italy game like a guy that actually watched it.  |
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Post by Skilly on Jul 10, 2006 17:33:11 GMT -5
I never watched a single minute of any game .... and the only way I will ever watch "grass grow" - cause let's face it that's what soccer is ... grown men watching grass grow with a little bit of play acting thrown in - is if the grass is red and white. The only way that happens is if Canada hosts the World Cup and I don't see that happening anytime soon. You commented on the Australia / Italy game like a guy that actually watched it. Watched highlights .... you couldn't turn around without seeing the highlights in some fashion. But I did not watch any games live. I really don't like soccer. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 11, 2006 12:58:38 GMT -5
My two sentimental favourites, Germany and England, were eliminated prior to the final. I knew a lot of German players (Lothar Matthäus, Jurgen Klinsmann, Rudi Völler) because I lived there and it was a national passion. I think it was referred to as the "Golden Age of German Soccer." Ever since then I've routed for the Deutches.
However, England is just a sentimental favourite because I always seem to know more of their players than any other country. I grew up watching Chelsea a lot.
But, when the English self-destructed (again) and the Germans lost to Italy, well, I wasn't exactly routing for the Italians. Have to be fair to England though. All three of their top scorers, Rooney, Beckham and Owen, were out. Take that much firepower out of a line up and it has to affect any team.
Hell of thing deciding the World Cup by penalty kicks. Italy played "every man back" and basically stole that game in a shoot out. Still, that's the way the world settles it. Glad the NHL doesn't use it to decide playoff games.
Cheers.
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Post by clear observer on Jul 11, 2006 19:20:56 GMT -5
Euro-Cup Champs; Greece.
Oh, the shame.
CO
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jul 12, 2006 5:25:02 GMT -5
The world cup would have been much better if Canada had a team in it.
If Zinadine Zidane tried to head but McSorley or Brashear, they would have pulled his shirt over his head and pounded it!
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Post by Skilly on Jul 12, 2006 6:29:17 GMT -5
I went to a soccer game last night .... Bermuda grass beat Kentucky bluegrass in cinch bug penalty kicks. There was 90 minutes I'll never get back ... but the grass did grow 0.04 mm.
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Post by Rimmer on Jul 12, 2006 7:26:46 GMT -5
Skilly, I would like to know if you like american football, golf or baseball?
R.
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Post by Skilly on Jul 12, 2006 12:48:10 GMT -5
Skilly, I would like to know if you like american football, golf or baseball? R. American Football - Love. Constant action. Constant contact. Baseball - used to love, used to sit and score every Expo game from my couch, now it is way to boring to watch. Think I might ike watching a live game though. One of my greatest regrets is not going to see the Expos in their final year. Golf - love playing it, and I can watch it also. I admit it is not exciting stuff. I try to pick up on tips to help my game more than anything. Now if you had of said Curling .... well now you got a point. LOL. I like playing but can only watch the last couple of rocks in each end .... drive you nuts to watch that!!! Although I admit I watch all of Newfoundland games at the brier and all of Gushue's games at the Olympics and trials. But to sit down and watch two teams I dont have an interest in .... shoot me now! |
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Post by Rimmer on Jul 13, 2006 3:27:53 GMT -5
well, my point was that a vast majority of Europeans consider the sports I mentioned boring . you say football is constant action, but I say it's not. the action lasts for what 5s-15s at the most and than you have like a minute or so to set up again for another 5s of action. IMO, you don't have the constant flow of the game. I admit, there are soccer games where you feel like watching the paint dry on the wall is more exciting, but you can find such examples in all sports, even hockey (trust me on this one  ). I think your and my point of view have a lot to do with the upbringing and the culture we live in. when I was in Dallas last fall, I went to see the Mavericks vs. Rockets game. I really like basketball, but the long time-outs (they last longer than in European basketball, probably due to TV commercials) really made my excitement of watching my first NBA game go down to the point I couldn't wait until it finishes. but the americans that were at the game seem to have fun. whole families came to the game and behaved like they went on a picnic, constantly going to get food and beverages. the long pauses didn't seem to bother them at all  . where I come from, believe me, this would chase the fans away... R. |
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Post by seventeen on Jul 15, 2006 13:00:10 GMT -5
I love both soccer and hockey. The great advantage soccer has over most sports, is that its so cheap to play. All you really need is a ball. We used rocks for goal posts, and even shoes are optional on many surfaces. Any patch of grass will do. I used to play against three younger kids up the street. Me against all 3. Close games.
One of the really interesting facets of the US, is how different they are from most other countries in their sports tastes. No one else (to any degree) really enjoys NFL football (I include Canada as part of the US in sports scenarios (Horrors if there's much other similarity). There are pockets of baseball fans, in Asia and central america, but it's pretty much a barren desert everywhere else...yet Americans can't seem to take to soccer, which is the most popular, widespread sport on the face of the earth....for good reason. If you've never played, you may not have the appreciation for the artistry and conditioning required of the World Cup class player. It's one of the few sports where the little guy can be a superstar (and often is). To see Canovarro, who has to be all of 5' 8" or so, leap over Zidane to where Zidane's head is at Canovarro's chest level, to head a ball away, is amazing. Like a Lebron James dunk (did I say I like basketball too?...except I agree that the last minute of a game should not take 1/2 hour to play).
While the Cup final was not the best game of the tournament (the Argentina/Germany game and the Italy/Germany game were scintillating), it had its moments. I would have preferred the two teams just keep playing until a goal is scored. The shootout sure is pressure packed and so easy for a player to crack. I can't wait for the next World Cup!
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jul 16, 2006 12:51:16 GMT -5
Zednik could have been an excellent soccer player.
He only uses one hand so learning to play a game with no hands should be twice as easy for him.
"W's" fuzzy math.
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Post by franko on Jul 22, 2006 11:44:05 GMT -5
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Post by Skilly on Jul 22, 2006 15:11:49 GMT -5
LMAO!!!! It is funny cause it is true!! |
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Post by seventeen on Jul 22, 2006 16:23:09 GMT -5
Tell Gatuso that to his face.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jul 22, 2006 19:04:20 GMT -5
I thought Head But was the position Jose Theodore assumed with Paris Hilton.
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).
. where I come from, believe me, this would chase the fans away...
