World CUP Schmirl Cup...
Thoughts and random observations...
Like most Americans I generally don't give two blips about the World Cup/Soccer/Football. Though I did play soccer as a youngster, and I did enjoy it. Soccer just doesn't have that much of appeal to Americans much past the age of 13. For better or worse it is some say the most popular played sport for those under the age of 13. It is there it stops cold. It can not compete against the likes of baseball, basketball, football and in some parts of America Hockey. Heck toss Golf in there as well. Let alone the raging hormones of boys and girls as they enter their teenage years.
Part of the reason I suspect is it is very hard to televise soccer to American audiences and make a profit doing so. Other than half time there are literally no breaks in play to broadcast advertisements. While in general scoring is low, the game itself is fairly fast paced. Interrupting the game for a "television time out" just isn't a viable idea. The game depends on the continuity of continued play and as such television ads have no place in the game. In the Boston area we have professional team named aptly THE NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION. Sources tell me they are lucky to draw 5000 people to a stadium that holds close to 70,000 people. The vast majority in the crowd are immigrants from South of the Rio Grand. They seem to be the mainstay and sole audience for American soccer.
Even though there are no direct TV commercials the game is loaded with advertising. Just look at the ads that ring the playing field. Someone is making some cold hard cash but it isn't the broadcasters.
All of this said I will admit that I did watch and enjoy a couple of games of the World Cup this time around and found myself enjoying both. Good memories of past days of glory on the soccer field as a kid. Though I never remember scoring a goal I enjoyed playing the game in the Oklahoma wind and mud. Perhaps this weekend I will watch another game or two. It will of course depend on the weather. If the rain continues and there is nothing else on the tube there will be a 50% chance I will tune in. If the weather clears..... FORGETTABOUTIT!!!! I will be out piddeling in the yard and greenhouse doing my best imitation of Mahmood!
PS. There will be some more "CW Hotseat" (tm) interviews coming up in the next few days. Have a good weekend everybody!
~CW~
Thoughts and random observations...
Like most Americans I generally don't give two blips about the World Cup/Soccer/Football. Though I did play soccer as a youngster, and I did enjoy it. Soccer just doesn't have that much of appeal to Americans much past the age of 13. For better or worse it is some say the most popular played sport for those under the age of 13. It is there it stops cold. It can not compete against the likes of baseball, basketball, football and in some parts of America Hockey. Heck toss Golf in there as well. Let alone the raging hormones of boys and girls as they enter their teenage years.
Part of the reason I suspect is it is very hard to televise soccer to American audiences and make a profit doing so. Other than half time there are literally no breaks in play to broadcast advertisements. While in general scoring is low, the game itself is fairly fast paced. Interrupting the game for a "television time out" just isn't a viable idea. The game depends on the continuity of continued play and as such television ads have no place in the game. In the Boston area we have professional team named aptly THE NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION. Sources tell me they are lucky to draw 5000 people to a stadium that holds close to 70,000 people. The vast majority in the crowd are immigrants from South of the Rio Grand. They seem to be the mainstay and sole audience for American soccer.
Even though there are no direct TV commercials the game is loaded with advertising. Just look at the ads that ring the playing field. Someone is making some cold hard cash but it isn't the broadcasters.
All of this said I will admit that I did watch and enjoy a couple of games of the World Cup this time around and found myself enjoying both. Good memories of past days of glory on the soccer field as a kid. Though I never remember scoring a goal I enjoyed playing the game in the Oklahoma wind and mud. Perhaps this weekend I will watch another game or two. It will of course depend on the weather. If the rain continues and there is nothing else on the tube there will be a 50% chance I will tune in. If the weather clears..... FORGETTABOUTIT!!!! I will be out piddeling in the yard and greenhouse doing my best imitation of Mahmood!
PS. There will be some more "CW Hotseat" (tm) interviews coming up in the next few days. Have a good weekend everybody!
~CW~
posted by Cerebralwaste at 1:34 PM
5 Comments:
James Mitchner wrote a piece on the World Cup years ago. In Spain fans were so distraught when their team won that a few committed suicide. Having lived overseas, there is no other sporting event in the world the magnitude of the World Cup...except in the USA. With all the kids playing soccer in the US, how come they don't they grow up soccer fans?
Oops..I meant "when their team lost". Haven't had enough coffee yet.
Listen, the world needs the World Cup. It the one time we can all unaminously IGNORE AMERICA for a month, and it only happens once every four years.
And from what 3rd world Shit hole do happen to come from Mr. Ignore America? Word of advice. Clean the shit out of your own cess pool first before playing the blame America game. Lord knows we have enough of the shit ourselves to clean up.
WOW Anon #1 you sure seemed to piss off Anon #2. Are you sure you don't have a snappy retort? Come back and let us hear what you see as the winner of the World Cup, since the GREAT SATAN AMERICA is out of the running. Like we ever had a chance anyway!
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