Major sports annoyances

[I-55]

My major annoyance about soccer is how Americans hate on it for reasons that they don't hate other sports for. Example: Baseball can often go inning after inning without runs. No one (or at least, not many) hates baseball for this, but somehow soccer gets hated for not having a lot of goals.

Or hockey!

Frankly, though, I find soccer and football and baseball to be boring sports.  Too much standing around.

The people who like Hockey and Football like seeing the huge hits and fights, not to mention hockey is at least a fast paced game, regardless of scoring.

[kphoger]

Exactly what I meant.  Hockey is low-scoring, and soccer is low-scoring.  Do the people who hate soccer because of the low scores likewise hate hockey for the same reason?

[Big John]

My major annoyance is when a certain start quarterback makes it known that he no longer wants to play for his team because he feels slighted by said team over a draft pick last year that he wasn't consulted on. Look, the GM and the coach run the team, not the player. You just had the season of your life, so obviously it motivated you. Your team was a couple plays one way or the other from making the Super Bowl, so suck it up, buttercup, get back out there, and lead your team back to the promised land. You're only one member of the team. Oh, and don't even get me started on all  the drama going on in the media about it all. It wouldn't surprise me if either a reporter looking to break the next big story spilled something he shouldn't have, or if it was said player's agent trying to blow things up in hopes of a new contract. Even though the GM and coach have said they've made trips to meet with the player, so there must be a little something going on, but the player hasn't even made a public statement yet. Let's just wait to hear what he says, shall we?

You just Love to see it.

This is what happens when the quarterback's desire to play is in Jeopardy!

And he's jonesing for attention.

I did not hear him complain against their running back.

[Bruce]

Another annoyance people who think American's are unintelligent because most of us hate soccer.

This.  Americans are not "ignorant" of soccer.  Most have seen it, and found it boresome, simplistic, and somewhat effeminate.   

There is also this "world's game" deal.  First, so what?  America, and certainly America and Canada, are large enough to have our own sports and are not somehow "wrong" for not liking what others like.  But, more importantly, it is simply untrue.  Yes, it is popular in more of the world than any other sport, but that popularity is FAR from universal.  Many societies feel just like we do about the sport.  And, not to be a downer, but about a third of the world's population's main goal today is finding enough to eat, not what ball game is on TV tonight.

Using effeminate as a negative trait isn't exactly the best way to counter an accusation of ignorance. It's 2021, not 1951.

The last World Cup Final had an estimated 1.1 billion unique viewers. The tournament itself is only surpassed by the much-longer Olympics for most-watched television broadcasts of all time. Getting 1/7th of the world to agree to watch something is pretty hard, and the only other sport that comes close if cricket (which isn't played much outside of the non-American Anglosphere).

Go to almost any city in the world and you'll find kids playing pick-up soccer in whatever way they can. Even in those places where poverty is rampant; and the sport does provide an avenue out of poverty thanks to the cheap academies set up by professional teams instead of the pay-to-play systems we have in North America.

Soccer is the most or 2nd most popular spectator sport in all but a handful of counties, namely the ex-British Empire (outside of the Home Islands). Even here in the U.S., the neglected sport can still draw 40,000+ fans every week in markets like Seattle and Atlanta, and even larger crowds for special events. The notion that the U.S. dislikes soccer comes from how the mainstream media chooses to ignore the non-white sports fans in this country, as I'm sure the tens of thousands who fill the stadiums when teams from Central America come to town aren't appearing out of thin air.

Fun fact: International soccer can halt a civil war in his homeland at the request of popular players, or countries can use a controversial game as an excuse to go to war with each other.

[texaskdog]

Another annoyance people who think American's are unintelligent because most of us hate soccer.

This.  Americans are not "ignorant" of soccer.  Most have seen it, and found it boresome, simplistic, and somewhat effeminate.   

There is also this "world's game" deal.  First, so what?  America, and certainly America and Canada, are large enough to have our own sports and are not somehow "wrong" for not liking what others like.  But, more importantly, it is simply untrue.  Yes, it is popular in more of the world than any other sport, but that popularity is FAR from universal.  Many societies feel just like we do about the sport.  And, not to be a downer, but about a third of the world's population's main goal today is finding enough to eat, not what ball game is on TV tonight.

And if the big field is not enough its the flopping.  Be men, don't fall down because someone touched you.

[texaskdog]

Soccer fields are too big.  Heck, why not just play on a 40-acre square?

I think they're the perfect size. For adults and those over 16, anything bigger than a futsal court and smaller than a regular field just results in the ball being punted from keeper to keeper constantly. Really boring soccer. Besides, I don't really see how this is a "MAJOR sports annoyance".

My major annoyance about soccer is how Americans hate on it for reasons that they don't hate other sports for. Example: Baseball can often go inning after inning without runs. No one (or at least, not many) hates baseball for this, but somehow soccer gets hated for not having a lot of goals.

How about making football fields twice as long and praise 3-0 games?

[webny99]

My major annoyance is when a certain start quarterback makes it known that he no longer wants to play for his team because he feels slighted by said team over a draft pick last year that he wasn't consulted on. Look, the GM and the coach run the team, not the player. You just had the season of your life, so obviously it motivated you. Your team was a couple plays one way or the other from making the Super Bowl, so suck it up, buttercup, get back out there, and lead your team back to the promised land. You're only one member of the team. Oh, and don't even get me started on all  the drama going on in the media about it all. It wouldn't surprise me if either a reporter looking to break the next big story spilled something he shouldn't have, or if it was said player's agent trying to blow things up in hopes of a new contract. Even though the GM and coach have said they've made trips to meet with the player, so there must be a little something going on, but the player hasn't even made a public statement yet. Let's just wait to hear what he says, shall we?

You just Love to see it.

This is what happens when the quarterback's desire to play is in Jeopardy!

And he's jonesing for attention.

I did not hear him complain against their running back.

Yeah, I know... I was just trying to link on, but I guess I should just pack'er in.

[triplemultiplex]

Why does one beer cost the same as a 12 pack?
I get you have a captive market and can charge whatever the hell you want.  And I know you don't want fans getting shitfaced, but be reasonable!!

The 7th Inning Stretch is for "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"; not round two of nationalist bullcrap.  We acknowledged our allegiance to the nation-state at the start of the game (which at most games was barely three hours ago!); did you think we forgot?  Screw you!  I want God Bless America removed from all baseball games that don't land on one of the "Patriotic" holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Flag Day, etc.)

[Bruce]

And if the big field is not enough its the flopping.  Be men, don't fall down because someone touched you.

There's a lot less flopping in MLS because it gets punished retroactively. It's just something that comes from certain styles of the game and can be avoided, though it's partly because the referee can't pay attention to all 22 players at once and the assistants might miss something. Plus, getting hit in the shins actually hurts, so you'd expect some reaction, no?

[jeffandnicole]

Why does one beer cost the same as a 12 pack?
I get you have a captive market and can charge whatever the hell you want.  And I know you don't want fans getting shitfaced, but be reasonable!!

Well, how do you expect teams with payrolls over $100 million get their money from? Nickel PBR night ain't gonna pay the bills.

Also, why do people like to compare beer prices to supermarket prices, but not other items. A large soda is $8, or roughly 5, 2 liter bottles. A hot dog is $4.50. You can buy an 8 pack of hot dogs and rolls for close to that. A soft pretzel is $4, whereas I can buy 5 for $3 locally.

So why point out one product but not others?  Are they concerned about people getting shitfaced on hot dogs?

The 7th Inning Stretch is for "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"; not round two of nationalist bullcrap.  We acknowledged our allegiance to the nation-state at the start of the game (which at most games was barely three hours ago!); did you think we forgot?  Screw you!  I want God Bless America removed from all baseball games that don't land on one of the "Patriotic" holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Flag Day, etc.)

Ok...so don't sing.

[1995hoo]

I find it annoying that some ballpark operators seem to think spectators are supposed to stand and remove their hats for "God Bless America." It's not the national anthem.

[Bruce]

I find it annoying that some ballpark operators seem to think spectators are supposed to stand and remove their hats for "God Bless America." It's not the national anthem.

Related: the overuse of the national anthem before every single game.

It should be saved for truly special occasions, like league championships, national cup matches, and international games.

Also it should be fully instrumental with the fans singing.

[kphoger]

Using effeminate as a negative trait isn't exactly the best way to counter an accusation of ignorance. It's 2021, not 1951.

Using 'effeminate' as a negative trait has nothing do with one's ignorance or knowledge of soccer, though.

[OCGuy81]

Why does one beer cost the same as a 12 pack?
I get you have a captive market and can charge whatever the hell you want.  And I know you don't want fans getting shitfaced, but be reasonable!!

Airport Terminals have entered the chat....

[texaskdog]

Exactly what I meant.  Hockey is low-scoring, and soccer is low-scoring.  Do the people who hate soccer because of the low scores likewise hate hockey for the same reason?

Difference with hockey is there could be a goal at almost any time.  Soccer with that enormous field they don't really get near the goal that often.  Plus hockey players are tough and don't flop.

[texaskdog]

Another annoyance people who think American's are unintelligent because most of us hate soccer.

This.  Americans are not "ignorant" of soccer.  Most have seen it, and found it boresome, simplistic, and somewhat effeminate.   

There is also this "world's game" deal.  First, so what?  America, and certainly America and Canada, are large enough to have our own sports and are not somehow "wrong" for not liking what others like.  But, more importantly, it is simply untrue.  Yes, it is popular in more of the world than any other sport, but that popularity is FAR from universal.  Many societies feel just like we do about the sport.  And, not to be a downer, but about a third of the world's population's main goal today is finding enough to eat, not what ball game is on TV tonight.

Using effeminate as a negative trait isn't exactly the best way to counter an accusation of ignorance. It's 2021, not 1951.

The last World Cup Final had an estimated 1.1 billion unique viewers. The tournament itself is only surpassed by the much-longer Olympics for most-watched television broadcasts of all time. Getting 1/7th of the world to agree to watch something is pretty hard, and the only other sport that comes close if cricket (which isn't played much outside of the non-American Anglosphere).

Go to almost any city in the world and you'll find kids playing pick-up soccer in whatever way they can. Even in those places where poverty is rampant; and the sport does provide an avenue out of poverty thanks to the cheap academies set up by professional teams instead of the pay-to-play systems we have in North America.

Soccer is the most or 2nd most popular spectator sport in all but a handful of counties, namely the ex-British Empire (outside of the Home Islands). Even here in the U.S., the neglected sport can still draw 40,000+ fans every week in markets like Seattle and Atlanta, and even larger crowds for special events. The notion that the U.S. dislikes soccer comes from how the mainstream media chooses to ignore the non-white sports fans in this country, as I'm sure the tens of thousands who fill the stadiums when teams from Central America come to town aren't appearing out of thin air.

Fun fact: International soccer can halt a civil war in his homeland at the request of popular players, or countries can use a controversial game as an excuse to go to war with each other.

Hockey is probably the whitest sport and that's a lot more ignored than football, basketball, and baseball.

[hotdogPi]

Ice hockey's importance depends on where you are. Since you live in Texas, it's probably going to be mostly ignored in your area. It's more important in the northern US, Canada obviously, and northern Europe.

I also want to point out that hockey (both ice hockey and field hockey) are quite similar to soccer, at least when compared to baseball and American football: get the ball/puck into the goal, goalies guarding the goal, continuous play, etc.

[SP Cook]

The last World Cup Final had an estimated 1.1 billion unique viewers.

And?

But this does bring up another annoyance.  Pretty much limited to US fans of soccer and Formula One auto racing.  These pulled out their a** TV ratings. 

First, it smacks of some sort of insecurity.  OK, you like a sport that 99.9% of people in your society do not.  Fine.  Why is it necessary to constantly discuss what other places do?   Just enjoy your niche taste. 

But more importantly, the reality is that Nielsen type ratings do not exist much beyond the wealthiest countries.  Mainly because no one really cares what people with zero disposable income watch on TV.  And, sad to say, a third of the world is engaged in a life or death struggle to survive each day.  These estimates pretty much are just "we figure everybody in the country watched."

The world doesn't work that way, sad to say.

[NWI_Irish96]

The last World Cup Final had an estimated 1.1 billion unique viewers.

And?

But this does bring up another annoyance.  Pretty much limited to US fans of soccer and Formula One auto racing.  These pulled out their a** TV ratings. 

First, it smacks of some sort of insecurity.  OK, you like a sport that 99.9% of people in your society do not.  Fine.  Why is it necessary to constantly discuss what other places do?   Just enjoy your niche taste. 

But more importantly, the reality is that Nielsen type ratings do not exist much beyond the wealthiest countries.  Mainly because no one really cares what people with zero disposable income watch on TV.  And, sad to say, a third of the world is engaged in a life or death struggle to survive each day.  These estimates pretty much are just "we figure everybody in the country watched."

The world doesn't work that way, sad to say.

FIFA actually published their methodology for arriving at those figures. Two pages long, and while some components are estimated, it's far more scientific than "pulled out of the a**"

[michravera]

Another annoyance people who think American's are unintelligent because most of us hate soccer.

This.  Americans are not "ignorant" of soccer.  Most have seen it, and found it boresome, simplistic, and somewhat effeminate.   

There is also this "world's game" deal.  First, so what?  America, and certainly America and Canada, are large enough to have our own sports and are not somehow "wrong" for not liking what others like.  But, more importantly, it is simply untrue.  Yes, it is popular in more of the world than any other sport, but that popularity is FAR from universal.  Many societies feel just like we do about the sport.  And, not to be a downer, but about a third of the world's population's main goal today is finding enough to eat, not what ball game is on TV tonight.

Using effeminate as a negative trait isn't exactly the best way to counter an accusation of ignorance. It's 2021, not 1951.

The last World Cup Final had an estimated 1.1 billion unique viewers. The tournament itself is only surpassed by the much-longer Olympics for most-watched television broadcasts of all time. Getting 1/7th of the world to agree to watch something is pretty hard, and the only other sport that comes close if cricket (which isn't played much outside of the non-American Anglosphere).

Go to almost any city in the world and you'll find kids playing pick-up soccer in whatever way they can. Even in those places where poverty is rampant; and the sport does provide an avenue out of poverty thanks to the cheap academies set up by professional teams instead of the pay-to-play systems we have in North America.

Soccer is the most or 2nd most popular spectator sport in all but a handful of counties, namely the ex-British Empire (outside of the Home Islands). Even here in the U.S., the neglected sport can still draw 40,000+ fans every week in markets like Seattle and Atlanta, and even larger crowds for special events. The notion that the U.S. dislikes soccer comes from how the mainstream media chooses to ignore the non-white sports fans in this country, as I'm sure the tens of thousands who fill the stadiums when teams from Central America come to town aren't appearing out of thin air.

Fun fact: International soccer can halt a civil war in his homeland at the request of popular players, or countries can use a controversial game as an excuse to go to war with each other.

Association Football is like a ground war. American Football is like an aerial war. Most Americans don't relate to a ground war where territory is gained and lost and then finally a decisive (or possibly decisive) capture is made. We want to bomb it from the air, set it on fire, take the treasure and take it to the house (and maybe get a consolation prize of a partial raid)!

In Baseball and Hockey one never knows when a possibly decisive score will happen. It makes it possible to run for a beer, but you always keep an eye out for the action.

Basketball is like Space Invaders or Pinball. Let's see who can run up the biggest total.

[texaskdog]

True that I heard about hockey more living in Minnesota than in Texas.

Everyone becomes a world cup fan then forgets about soccer. 

[formulanone]

The last World Cup Final had an estimated 1.1 billion unique viewers.

And?

But this does bring up another annoyance.  Pretty much limited to US fans of soccer and Formula One auto racing.  These pulled out their a** TV ratings. 

First, it smacks of some sort of insecurity.  OK, you like a sport that 99.9% of people in your society do not.  Fine.  Why is it necessary to constantly discuss what other places do?   Just enjoy your niche taste. 

Why did you literally pull a percentage that wasn't true out of your ass, then? We get it, the heart of coal-mining country with a declining total population and an ascending  average age isn't the best place to poll for demographics on sports which have large numbers of a younger or foreign-born fan base. There's almost no serious expectation that football is going to disappear off the top of the charts in the next two decades, or even in the next century. But baseball once held that place, so things can and do change.

Yes, these sports are growing, but not by massive amounts. But while all other TV ratings are taking a dive, even before the pandemic. Sure, there's a pandering attitude by claiming something is a big deal elsewhere (or "everywhere else", which is a lot like claiming a place is World Famous because two Canadians and a pair of lost Australian tourists stumbled upon a small-town relic). Yes, Europe gives a crack about it. So does South America. After that, the Middle East and Australia/Oceania probably cares about as much as North Americans do.

The deal is with soccer is that for many other countries it's their Big Thing and that's where most promising athletes would probably gravitate and become motivated towards for respect. We have literally four other major professional leagues which are mostly popular for decades that grab more attention, and now have umpteen other smaller leagues for all sorts of sports, ranging from Olympic-caliber to "watch what I can do with a chainsaw" to "dancing with my dog is something".

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I would say that among American soccer fans, European leagues are more popular than MLS. People will talk about what Man City or Barcelona did over the weekend, but they never talk about the Houston Dynamo game. That's why I reject assertions that the Big Four sports is now the Big Five. MLS is not on par with the other four.

[kphoger]

I would say that among American soccer fans, European leagues are more popular than MLS. People will talk about what Man City or Barcelona did over the weekend, but they never talk about the Houston Dynamo game.

Interesting observation.

[webny99]

I would say that among American soccer fans, European leagues are more popular than MLS.

As further evidence of this, sports podcast Hot Takedown often has segments on the European soccer leagues, but have never had an MLS segment to my knowledge.