Hello world. You do not want us. (Football/Soccer content)

[john turner]

so, the u.s. has a decent enough team to rate notice in the cup. we have a referee pulling a random call out of his butt and removing a goal from the board against the american team with no explanation.

the world is ok with that kind of thing, because that's how it's done in the cup, and all other matches in the league. it's just how it's done, how it's always been done, how it will always be done, right?

wrong. now you have us. now you have the u.s. getting involved, actually playing in the biggest sporting event in the world, actually taking it seriously.

you really think things like this are going to stay the same?

i really feel for the legions of non-american fans of the real football. you guys used to be able to laugh at us, at our hubris with our "world series" mlb and our "world champions" nfl, but guess what, sunshine. we're in on the cup now, and we like it. folks are starting to really take it seriously. you didn't want this, i'm sure you guys already realize. because just like everything else we touch, there's gonna be some changes .

in case you didn't know, when u.s. folks take any sport really seriously and they start really caring, they start spending a lot, and then the folks running the teams and the leagues get a lot of money. A LOT of money. and just like every other sport in the u.s., when that happens, it becomes serious big business.

and if you think that american big business, the one that is on the verge of being created for "u.s. soccer", is going to allow itself to be robbed because "that's the way its done" then you're in for an unpleasant surprise.

the good thing is that, at least, this sport certainly doesn't need the u.s. for anything, at least so far - world cup soccer has been a phenomenon without any u.s. involvement for decades.

but when big bucks start changing hands, the kind you get in american sports, and you start having the kinds of multiple teams that a country like the u.s. could afford to field if the interest was there - if a u.s. soccer league gets started with the kind of visibility and clout of mlb or nfl - you're going to have impact on the way the game itself is played, and the "that's the way it's done" credo is gonna go out the window.

i hope the algierians win, tbh. not to root against the home team - i love that the u.s. is making a showing in the cup, i'm ecstatic that we're finally actually fielding some reasonably decent folks in the biggest sport in the world. but if we actually go anywhere, you're gonna see what american fandom can do. and no, riots killing folks at the stadium are not the worry. in case any of you folks don't know this about us, we do our serious rioting in the courthouses, the senate floors, the stock exchanges.


it's already happening - check out poor koman coulibaly, the blind idiot ref who removed the goal. his future as a ref is now in jeopardy - fifa is already scheduling a review of his performance. this guy's career may be over, and the u.s. isn't even seriously a contender (are we?) in the cup. is this common during the cup itself to have guys getting performance reviews that may end their careers during the competition? pardon my ignorance if it is, but my gut tells me that it isn't.

either way, imagine what's coming, fellas, when the u.s. -is- a contender. and it's gonna happen. surely you realize that.

you guys out there honestly have my condolences.

[sloasdaylight]

Whoa, it would appear JT has thrown down the proverbial gauntlet.

[john turner]

i'd like to think of it more like bearing sad tidings.

world cup football, and fifa in general, are an amazing institution in the world, and deserve better than the hollywood treatment they're gonna get.

[Darkstrike]

Big bad USA gets involved, so the game should be changed to suit them?

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Chip on the shoulder much?

Settle down JT. You are hardly the only team to be getting screwed in this world cup.

Also, nobody wants the US out, for whatever reasons you seem to think. Enter, play, enjoy, hope for a decent ref.

And I seriously doubt american "big money" is going to change the way FIFA thinks. Those ludites are too set in their ways.

[basstotheface]

Im actually gonna side with the OP on this one. If the US does start to really compete, as the richest and most powerful country we are going to demand things to suit how we want them, in reason of course, whoever is funding this the most is gonna have the biggest vote.

Until now not enough people in the US cared about soccer because of our dreadful team, now we have a solid team and people are paying attention. If it continues i see no way soccer wont become HUGE here and we start devoting money and time into the WC. When the US devotes money and time to anything they expect something in return, like video reffing.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by basstotheface

Im actually gonna side with the OP on this one. If the US does start to really compete, as the richest and most powerful country we are going to demand things to suit how we want them, in reason of course, whoever is funding this the most is gonna have the biggest vote.

Until now not enough people in the US cared about soccer because of our dreadful team, now we have a solid team and people are paying attention. If it continues i see no way soccer wont become HUGE here and we start devoting money and time into the WC. When the US devotes money and time to anything they expect something in return, like video reffing.

Sorry, but again, you clearly have no understanding of how the FIFA executive board works. Video reffing would make sense. So of course they aren't going to introduce it!

I also doubt you'd be able to use bully tactics to get FIFA to change their ways.

I'd like to see the US getting involved in more sports, without this coming across the wrong way, the US really does seem to be too settled in it's own sports (american football, baseball etc) and not really interested in the sports which are larger throughout the rest of the world.

Even just posted earlier this evening that I find it surprising there isn't a more powerful US rugby team, with all the interest in American Football, you'd have HUGE players and would potentially be very good for the ol' Rugby.

However, the "American is the Richest most Powerful Country" approach, isn't exactly going to be met with open arms and smiles from people.

[john turner]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Big bad USA gets involved, so the game should be changed to suit them?

no, it shouldn't. but it will .

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Chip on the shoulder much?

Settle down JT. You are hardly the only team to be getting screwed in this world cup.

Also, nobody wants the US out, for whatever reasons you seem to think. Enter, play, enjoy, hope for a decent ref.

And I seriously doubt american "big money" is going to change the way FIFA thinks. Those ludites are too set in their ways.

i'm quite settled - misdirected hostility much? you apparently misread my post.

the world cup, and fifa, are institutions that have existed just fine without u.s. involvement for a long time.

while i am glad the u.s. is finally deciding to join the rest of the world in this one sport that would actually -qualify- as a world sport, i rue u.s. sports business involvement in this, much like i'd rue the paving of the amazon to build trump towers.

i only have to hold up for scrutiny the messes the various team owners have made of all the major professional sport organizations in the u.s. over the last century. they've gotten quite good at it, and it won't take nearly as long to do the same to intl. football.

[basstotheface]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Sorry, but again, you clearly have no understanding of how the FIFA executive board works. Video reffing would make sense. So of course they aren't going to introduce it!

I also doubt you'd be able to use bully tactics to get FIFA to change their ways.

I'd like to see the US getting involved in more sports, without this coming across the wrong way, the US really does seem to be too settled in it's own sports (american football, baseball etc) and not really interested in the sports which are larger throughout the rest of the world.

Even just posted earlier this evening that I find it surprising there isn't a more powerful US rugby team, with all the interest in American Football, you'd have HUGE players and would potentially be very good for the ol' Rugby.

However, the "American is the Richest most Powerful Country" approach, isn't exactly going to be met with open arms and smiles from people.

I think our football players dont play rugby because there to...big. Rugby players are a lot more athletic because they move around a lot, with the exception of some positions most football players are larger than rugby players, therefore making it harder to play constantly.

And the FIFA board right now is idiotic. With their ref is always right crap, tradition in the wrong places, and innovation in the worst places. But i really think your underestimating the impact the US can have on sports when it gets involved. Look at basketball, not our invention, but we are undoubtedly the best at it and control the way it works now.

As for the last part, I didnt mean to sound arrogant but it is true and i think everyone can acknowledge that the US is a world superpower. I never said its the best country in the world just one with a lot of sway.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by john turner

i'm quite settled - misdirected hostility much? you apparently misread my post.

the world cup, and fifa, are institutions that have existed just fine without u.s. involvement for a long time.

while i am glad the u.s. is finally deciding to join the rest of the world in this one sport that would actually -qualify- as a world sport, i rue u.s. sports business involvement in this, much like i'd rue the paving of the amazon to build trump towers.

i only have to hold up for scrutiny the messes the various team owners have made of all the major professional sport organizations in the u.s. over the last century. they've gotten quite good at it, and it won't take nearly as long to do the same to intl. football.

I wouldn't say misread, but it's hard to judge tone when reading something. It certainly did come over as majorly angry. And the way you word things about how it's in for an unpleasant surprise and whatnot. Certainly comes over as having a chip on the shoulder.

Big business tends to ruin any sports, regardless of the country of origin. They should be able to be used for sponsors which provide money and whatnot in place for advertising, but nothing else!

I'd also say it has already happened for international football. FIFA always strikes me as one of the most corrupt sporting bodies about. In polls of football fans to see who wants video reffing, the vast majority are in favour of it, what is FIFA's response?

Originally Posted by FIFA

Players, coaches and referees all make mistakes. It's part of the game. It's what I would call the "first match". What you see after the fact on video simply doesn't come into it; that's the "second match", if you like. Video evidence is useful for disciplinary sanctions, but that's all. As we've always emphasised at FIFA, football's human element must be retained. It mirrors life itself and we have to protect it.

I agree that the human element must be retained, but that human element is the players, managers and coaches. The ref's are there to make sure the rules are adhered to, thats it!


Also, I think it's brilliant that the US are probably going to go through, why? Because living in the UK, during any world cup year is unbelievably irritating. Did you know that England never play badly, it is always things out with their control. Did you know that every world cup is going to be the next 1966?

The best part of it all has to be this:


Yet they probably won't make it! There wouldn't be such a problem if they weren't so far up their own ****es! (Listen to any english game with english commentary, you'll get what I'm going at).

Gone on a complete tangent there, but I digress

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by basstotheface

I think our football players dont play rugby because there to...big. Rugby players are a lot more athletic because they move around a lot, with the exception of some positions most football players are larger than rugby players, therefore making it harder to play constantly.

Don't know about that. Being more athletic is a problem that is easily solved. Granted, many are bulkier in american football, but you average rugby player tends to be over 6ft and in the 225-250lb region (while being fairly lean). But for instance, your second row players are all generally 6ft6+, your props are the heaviest players, and they are getting up to the 6ft4 region (that's the one position where it would be trickier to be much taller).

A winger could be any size, as long as if he's bigger he still has the size and speed to break through and past tackles etc.

Christ, I wouldn't mind having some guys who play defensive linebacker in my scrum!

Originally Posted by basstotheface

And the FIFA board right now is idiotic. With their ref is always right crap, tradition in the wrong places, and innovation in the worst places. But i really think your underestimating the impact the US can have on sports when it gets involved. Look at basketball, not our invention, but we are undoubtedly the best at it and control the way it works now.

As for the last part, I didnt mean to sound arrogant but it is true and i think everyone can acknowledge that the US is a world superpower. I never said its the best country in the world just one with a lot of sway.

I know you didn't mean to sound arrogant, but it does come over that way (again, not meaning any offence on my part!). And FIFA, being the traditionalist dogs they are, I doubt they would swing, regardless of the influence the US has had in other sports.

[DigMe]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Those ludites are too set in their ways.

a Luddite is someone who is specifically against technology and technological progress, not change in general. Just sayin'.

bc

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by DigMe

a Luddite is someone who is specifically against technology and technological progress, not change in general. Just sayin'.

bc

I used that term on purpose, mainly because it peeve's me so much that they won't take on video reffing

[basstotheface]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Don't know about that. Being more athletic is a problem that is easily solved. Granted, many are bulkier in american football, but you average rugby player tends to be over 6ft and in the 225-250lb region (while being fairly lean). But for instance, your second row players are all generally 6ft6+, your props are the heaviest players, and they are getting up to the 6ft4 region (that's the one position where it would be trickier to be much taller).

This would probably eliminate all DT or T. Most of which can be 320lbs.

[Waterpilot]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Chip on the shoulder much?

I read his post as, Americans are paying attention this time, American business will get involved, and like many things, America will jerk with stuff that shouldn't be messed with, because money will then be involved, and will likey screw stuff up involving the World Cup. Because... American business tends to strip the athletic part out of athletics, which just leaves the $.

I didn't think it was a Pro USA rant at all...

[i_got_a_mohawk]

The weight thing isn't the problem, height is. Tho, that's only really influencial in the front and second row

See what you guys have made me do? It's practically 3am, getting up in 3 hours is going to be interesting! Gentlemen, I bid you adieu for now!

[bassteban]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6uCyrnhG90

[Relic]

Originally Posted by Waterpilot

I read his post as, Americans are paying attention this time, American business will get involved, and like many things, America will jerk with stuff that shouldn't be messed with, because money will then be involved, and will likey screw stuff up involving the World Cup. Because... American business tends to strip the athletic part out of athletics, which just leaves the $.

I didn't think it was a Pro USA rant at all...

yep, absolutely. And I couldn't agree with JT more.

[Jakeob]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Sorry, but again, you clearly have no understanding of how the FIFA executive board works. Video reffing would make sense. So of course they aren't going to introduce it!

I also doubt you'd be able to use bully tactics to get FIFA to change their ways.

I'd like to see the US getting involved in more sports, without this coming across the wrong way, the US really does seem to be too settled in it's own sports (american football, baseball etc) and not really interested in the sports which are larger throughout the rest of the world.

Even just posted earlier this evening that I find it surprising there isn't a more powerful US rugby team, with all the interest in American Football, you'd have HUGE players and would potentially be very good for the ol' Rugby.

However, the "American is the Richest most Powerful Country" approach, isn't exactly going to be met with open arms and smiles from people.

In some areas of the US rugby is picking up a lot. Well, I know that in the good ol' state of Colorado it is. High school rugby is a thing around here. Downtown Denver even has a rugby stadium, first municipal one in the country. A ton of colleges across the country also have teams. Our rugby team is slowly getting better, and one day we should be able to compete with other countries. The main reason the huge players don't play rugby is because they can't make the many millions playing football through rugby and frankly they'd need a day job if they decide to play rugby as well. Just my little rant about rugby in the US I suppose.

[stinger12345]

Do you remember when Obama said he would take the trip to S Africa if the USA does well enough to advance? A lot of people running security hoped the US wouldn't do well just because of the security risk Obama would be. Probably has absolutely no correlation with the blown call, but it's an interesting parallel. That said, I don't think the US is quite at the point where they can be considered a legitimate contender to win the final. Undoubtedly we're closer than ever and we ARE at a point where we should always expect to advance from the group. But hey, there's been more surprises this WC than ever before

PS I love that headline from the English newspaper, I've posted it many times. Honestly it's not a horrible thing that Americans don't respect the game as much as other countries. Because our media doesn't put NEARLY as much pressure on our team as the English and others