Why I Can't Watch the World Cup
Now I know you soccer enthusiasts will say I just don't understand the sport, which in fact has some validity and hypocritically I use that argument to those who say they don't like baseball. I just can't get into the game at all for some reason, and I am someone who enjoys a good goaltender battle in hockey or a well pitched 1-0 baseball game. I take pride in the fact that I can enjoy good defense in these other sports, so why doesn't it translate to soccer?
I can tell you a few things I find really annoying about soccer.
What is with all the ties?: Don't we as sports fans deserve an actually outcome on games that are supposed to be a big as these World Cup games are? Now I don't want to see a shootout, to me that is all the goaltender hoping and praying he guesses right. Can't the supreme athletes play at least one overtime period?
The constant buzzing of the crowd: I get it the fans are all jacked up about the World Cup, but does the buzzing sound the crowd makes have to go on during the whole game? Can't they just cheer when something important is going on, not when two players are passing the ball back and forth at midfield. What is that buzzing sound anyhow? Maybe I am just an old school fan, but if you can't make the sound with your voice, hands, or feet then it shouldn't be at the game. This rule goes the South African soccer fans, the Tampa Bay Rays fans and their stupid cowbells, and the Los Angeles Angels fans with their thunder sticks.
Stoppage time: Can someone explain to me why soccer officials can't stop a clock? They manage to do it in hockey and basketball, why not in the greatest sport of them all? The goalie for the Unites states is kicked and on the ground in pain, yet the clock keeps on moving. Then they just add on extra time at the end of the half and nobody seems to know exactly how much time and when the whistle will blow for the half to end.
Snipers: Why do they allow snipers into the stadium? Oh wait that player wasn't shot he was just trying to draw a penalty. I haven't seen acting this bad since Shaquille O'Neal in Kazaam or anytime Paul Pierce takes the court for the Boston Celtics.
OK, I will get down off my soapbox now. I will just say that I am happy the World Cup only happens every four years, though the way ESPN has been trying to shove it down my throat it feels like they have been promoting it for five years. I will survive this month and listen to the soccer folks tell me how much of a rube I am. I will watch some baseball instead and take comfort in the fact that if one of my Yankees makes an error chances are he won't get murdered in the next week, while soccer fans will have to take a wait and see approach one that one.
Published by Darren Pare - Featured Contributor in Sports
I am an author from Orono, Maine currently working on writing my second book and promoting my first one, 33 Summers. I am married and have two children. I am a freelance writer who has a passion for sports... View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentI'm glad you wrote it...because I was certainly thinking it! Perhaps if we were raised in another country we'd find it more interesting, but we weren't so when the next match is played I'll be in the back yard, sitting in a lawn chair with a beer watching the grass grow...I need the action.
Oh my gosh! That cracked me up. Beautiful.
My god I love this article...
BTW - the reCaptcha phrase is "drugging is"
haha
The buzz you hear are the vuvzelas that are prominent in South African stadiums. The players are bothered by it, as well. FIFA is discussing a ban on them in the next round of matches.
Because the field is between 100 to 130 yds long, its a lot different than other sports that use a goal, rather than a goal-line. Its 90+ minutes of back and forth running. Because goals are so few and far between, the exhilaration of just one is a great release of the tension built with every kick.
Soccer doesn't stop like American Football does. There's time added for penalties, subs and injuries. Sometimes its very little time at all. But once the 90 minutes are up, being unaware of how much time is left in the match is another level of intrigue. To answer your question, though, officials do stop the clock, and restart it at their whistle. But *they* are the ones that are keeping the official time. You may find a broadcast that will estimate, in minutes, about how much time is left, but it
Football, or soccer as you prefer to call it in America has it's own makeup like any sport. Just like baseball can not be enjoyed without knowing the basics of the game, the same goes for soccer. I'll give you one thing though, the constant buzz of the horns they are using at this years world cup is very annoying.