Soccer: It has to be said.... - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Clarkey · 07-10-2006, 07:17 PM

Professional soccer is a joke. The players are the biggest drama-queens in sport.

It would almost be funny watching these losers flail around feigning injury if millions of people didn't take this sport seriously. If pro soccer was some fringe sport that only a few thousand people were into and you saw the athletes drop like a pile of crap whenever they get bumped (or not) it would actually be comical, but the fact that there are millions of sheep watching this garbage without realizing how lame it is astounds me.

I'll admit that there is some diving in the NHL, and that ticks me off but it doesn't even come close to soccer diving. I watched one of the Italy games a while back and there was a blue guy rolling around or diving every couple minutes. It is pathetic, and it's not even believable acting, it is so over the top. And the refs get suckered into it.

I actually think soccer is a good sport, especially for kids. It's good exercise, requires speed, agility, strategy, and skill. Pro soccer has basically *******ized and made a mockery of an otherwise good game.

http://www.videosift.com/index.php?s...njury&tag=true

Here's a great video demonstrating this

transplant99 · 07-10-2006, 07:21 PM

How dare you!!!!

http://www.calgarypuck.com/forum/sho...=26491&page=11

Table 5 · 07-10-2006, 07:27 PM

I admit, as a huge soccer fan, the biggest thing that bothers me is the diving and the overal primadonna attitude by some players (mostly from the southern europe and south american regions). I wish more cards were shown to losers like Cristiano Ronaldo, who prance and dive and complain their way around the field like little girls.

Having said that though, its still an amazing sport and cultural event. It's still the only sport that truly is on the world stage, and showcase how boring sports like baseball can be. The majority of soccer players are honest and hardworking guys who look down on diving and acting just as much as we do. Just like non hockey fans sometimes seem to do, people need to make sure they don't start having Todd Bertuzzi syndrome, and only think of a sport through the lens of a few negative players or events.

HelloHockeyFans · 07-10-2006, 07:28 PM

Highlight package of the wonderful world of diving!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKUV0JIqVnY

Displaced Flames fan · 07-10-2006, 07:29 PM

The diving is laughable. There is something even worse though. The fact that the most anticipated sporting event in the world that happens once every four years was decided on freaking penalty kicks is what makes soccer lame. Why did they even play the game? Complete joke. If the NHL ever takes the shootout into the playoffs I will lose interest.

transplant99 · 07-10-2006, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

Ya you two are the only ones who think this, Here's another one that has never been uttered making me ultra original. The Oilers suck.

Yay me, pat myself on the back.

Im sorry i agree with him.......no really.

Love the game all you like...doesnt change the argument brought forth. In fact I was lambasted in that other thread for mentioning it and was "sternly" told to start another thread if I didnt like it. I thought it best to just let it go....soccer fans wont change their minds which is fine. I asked a legitimate question.

So now someone actually does take that course of action...and it's still OK to take weak shots?

Whatever floats your boat. Yay you indeed.

And Dis...completely agree, though I found it somewhat appropriate that the whole thing was settled that way....it was a ridiculous way to end something as massive and lengthy as the WC.

arsenal · 07-10-2006, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarkey

http://www.videosift.com/index.php?s...njury&tag=true

Here's a great video demonstrating this

If you scroll down that page a bit, check out the video of Nikon Jevtic. That kid is amazing.

FlamesAddiction · 07-10-2006, 07:52 PM

I think basketball is worse as far as the drama goes, diving aside.

In basketball, you see a player slam dunk and they act like they just saved the world, or they put on a display that (to me anyway) resembles anger. The chest puffing, scowling, dirty looks, etc...

Sure, in soccer, players have excess celebrations, but at least in a soccer 1 goal is a big deal.

Jiggy_12 · 07-10-2006, 07:55 PM

Soccer is a terrible spectator sport.

But, take that from a baseball fan...I guess you just have to appreciate the sport to enjoy watching it.

Displaced Flames fan · 07-10-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I think basketball is worse as far as the drama goes, diving aside.

In basketball, you see a player slam dunk and they act like they just saved the world, or they put on a display that (to me anyway) resembles anger. The chest puffing, scowling, dirty looks, etc...

Sure, in soccer, players have excess celebrations, but at least in a soccer 1 goal is a big deal.

I don't find soccer boring at all. But when you have a championship of that magnitude decided on penalty kicks it loses all relevance in my mind. Personally, and I understand I may be in the minority here, I love the 3 OT playoff games we get in the NHL every few seasons. The intensity, as a fan, just keeps going up and the importance and quality of every scoring chance is magnified. Its awesome. Why can't they do that in the World Cup?

I agree with you on basketball, at least pro basketball. I adore the college game, but the NBA is a joke. I would rather watch a MLB game than an NBA game, and believe me that says something because I can not stand baseball. The only game with absolutely no creativity whatsoever. Every situation has a predetermined course of action and the only thing up in the air is the execution of that course. The only thing that gets me going in baseball is great defensive plays. The rest? You can keep it. When the commentators can tell you exactly what is going to happen before it does I kinda lose interest.

transplant99 · 07-10-2006, 08:01 PM

Quote:

I don't even really ike soccer or follow it that much so I could care less if you like it or whatnot. There was a really good thread that lasted the entire world cup with nearly 500 posts

I apologize to you and your family for not reading 500 posts about the tournament that was ongoing....

Quote:

Then you come in, with the message board equivalent of shouting and stomping on our sand castles coming across that we are all stupid to watch this charade

You see....i never EVER said anyone was stupid for watching the game. A complete and utter fabrication. I asked, and still do, where the "sport" in the worlds greatest "sport", was exactly...no more and no less. I thought it a complete embarrassment to the word "sport"...and still do. Hell, I still watched it as well, so Im not sure where that nonsense is coming from.

Quote:

I just think you were in the wrong with the way you put down your thoughts

C'est la vie.

Table 5 · 07-10-2006, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Soccer is a terrible spectator sport.

But, take that from a baseball fan...I guess you just have to appreciate the sport to enjoy watching it.

I really dont understand how you can say that though. Baseball fans tend to be heavily focused on stats and figures because the sport itself lacks the physiciallity and flow of most other sports, yet you say soccer isn't exciting enough?

Winsor_Pilates · 07-10-2006, 08:05 PM

Thanks for starting this in a new thread Clarkey.

Soccer certainly has it's lions share of problems and even the most dedicated fans like myself can admit that.

The diving in soccer has gotten worse in the past few years, and certainly at a point that is out of control and extremly difficult to reverse. It has become part of the game, and only now that it is so bad, are people in the game starting to talk about it.

Those of us who love soccer, also hate the diving. I would argue even more so, because it is tainting something that we know is truely amazing without it.

FIFA has to hand down some very strict penalties to try and curb this growing trend.

As for shootouts, I personaly don't like to end a game or tournament on them either. I would love to see another way, but the reality might be that there is none.
Continuous OT would be great, but it likely would not work in soccer. Games can go on forever without a goal and with players being as tired as they are at that point, they can't really continue anymore.
People around the game have been thinking this over for years, and it's not likely gonna change.

Kool Keef · 07-10-2006, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

Having said that though, its still an amazing sport and cultural event. It's still the only sport that truly is on the world stage, and showcase how boring sports like baseball can be.

In what way is soccer more exciting than baseball? I understand that the atmosphere at a World Cup match is something out of this world, but the actual play on the field is a 90 minute downer. More happens on a 30 minute cooking show.

Displaced Flames fan · 07-10-2006, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Thanks for starting this in a new thread Clarkey.

Soccer certainly has it's lions share of problems and even the most dedicated fans like myself can admit that.

The diving in soccer has gotten worse in the past few years, and certainly at a point that is out of control and extremly difficult to reverse. It has become part of the game, and only now that it is so bad, are people in the game starting to talk about it.

Those of us who love soccer, also hate the diving. I would argue even more so, because it is tainting something that we know is truely amazing without it.

FIFA has to hand down some very strict penalties to try and curb this growing trend.

As for shootouts, I personaly don't like to end a game or tournament on them either. I would love to see another way, but the reality might be that there is none.
Continuous OT would be great, but it likely would not work in soccer. Games can go on forever without a goal and with players being as tired as they are at that point, they can't really continue anymore.
People around the game have been thinking this over for years, and it's not likely gonna change.

Wouldn't the fatigue eventually lead to a letdown and a goal?

I think they should try going longer than they do now. 30 minutes ( I think that's what they are doing now) is not enough.

transplant99 · 07-10-2006, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

Geez, never seen you be a complete ****ing ******* before, shocker.

I guess we are even...

Go read what i actually said, and not was interpreted by others.

I called no one any names, unlike youself now and those in that thread. I called no one "stupid" nor an "ignoramus", nor a "complete ****ing *******", or anything else.

But I'm the jerk.....good stuff.

Hack&Lube · 07-10-2006, 08:13 PM

CaramonLS · 07-10-2006, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

I really dont understand how you can say that though. Baseball fans tend to be heavily focused on stats and figures because the sport itself lacks the physiciallity and flow of most other sports, yet you say soccer isn't exciting enough?

I find baseball exciting.

I personally enjoy watching pitcher's pitch, I think when a pitcher is dominating it is an absolute thing of beauty to watch.

Footscray · 07-10-2006, 08:17 PM

I think it would be cool to see them remove a player from each side every 5 minutes into extra time which I'm sure would be absolutely blasphemous to anybody with a history in the game.

FlamesAddiction · 07-10-2006, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I agree with you on basketball, at least pro basketball. I adore the college game, but the NBA is a joke. I would rather watch a MLB game than an NBA game, and believe me that says something because I can not stand baseball. The only game with absolutely no creativity whatsoever. Every situation has a predetermined course of action and the only thing up in the air is the execution of that course. The only thing that gets me going in baseball is great defensive plays. The rest? You can keep it. When the commentators can tell you exactly what is going to happen before it does I kinda lose interest.

I can't say that I ever watched enough college basketball to know, so I guess I should qualify my statement as "NBA basketball". It probably wouldn't be fair to paint the whole sport in that colour.

As for baseball, I pretty much agree, but it's a really fun sport to play. It's one of the best for "socializing", but it's not a great TV sport. I have to admit though, I went to a couple of live Jays games before, and when you're there, something about the atmosphere makes it fun. Ballpark atmospheres are great.

One thing about soccer that makes it hard for me to follow is not the actual sport, but it's that I don't know the personalities and don't have the attention span to follow it for very long.