Dealing with (problem) visiting fans in your section (MET)

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

..... My issue with soccer is the "establishment." The game itself COULD even be SOMEWHAT enjoyable to watch, however to me it's the people that are the problem. If you go to Europe that's the only sport they really have so nobody gets snarky about it. However in my experience a true soccer person over here seems to feel that soccer is the only sport...period. The impression I get from a lot of soccer people is that if you're not into soccer and thus prefer football and baseball you're just an uneducated fool. That may sound harsh, but I've had people treat me as such. If there wasn't such an arrogance among some of the supporters I MIGHT not have a problem with it. However the fact is that it's never going to take hold in America like the other sports.

In EXACTLY the same way as the vast majority of football fans look down on anyone that likes soccer you mean?

That exact argument, as witnessed in this here thread, cuts both ways. You are sadly right though that soccer at the pro-level will never rival the traditional American pro-sports. Which is incredibly sad as North America is not only the last great untapped Continent for soceer. But could well be the biggest of them all if anyone could crack it.

..... The biggest joke of the term "athlete" and "tough" can be found in soccer

An even bigger joke is the totally uneducated assertion that soccer players aren't athletes.

Save for maybe a hockey player, there's NO fitter athlete than a professional soccer player. If football players had to endure the same, non-stop physical exertion's on a Sunday it would literally kill the majority of them.

Hail.

[NattyBo]

^^This plus...

The biggest joke of the term "athlete" and "tough" can be found in soccer

Let me guess, you linked to some youtubes of divers. I'm not even going to bother posting youtubes of NBA floppers or NFL WRs going down like they were hit with buckshot cynically looking for DPI.

[Taylorfan2179]

So many people are getting thrown out at that ravens game.

---------- Post added November-3rd-2012 at 05:39 AM ----------

^^This plus...

The biggest joke of the term "athlete" and "tough" can be found in soccer

Not tough eh? I realize it's only one story, but I think it delivers. I was kicked in the left temple as a kid during a soccer game (goalie 15 years). I finished the game, kept the shutout. Turns out, I had an epidural hematoma (Liam Nieson's wife died from the same injury, that pitcher from the oakland athletics who got hit after his pitch had the same thing I had +skull fracture). I'd say tough. I realize diving skews your vision of toughness and I get that. I hate it too. Maybe because as a goalie the only diving I did was for the ball. Anyway, Basketball players are getting as bad when it comes to diving. When it comes to Athletes, You really can't get much more athletic than soccer. It combines endurance training and speed training, and a need to be great at both, in addition to incredible coordination, lateral agility, and foot skills. Soccer players on average have more athleticism in half their bodies than baseball players. To compare the toughness of soccer players to that of football players is unfair. Just as it would be to have both of them take a test requiring cognitive function ever decade after they retire.

[steve09ru]

Not tough eh? I realize it's only one story, but I think it delivers. I was kicked in the left temple as a kid during a soccer game (goalie 15 years). I finished the game, kept the shutout. Turns out, I had an epidural hematoma (Liam Nieson's wife died from the same injury, that pitcher from the oakland athletics who got hit after his pitch had the same thing I had +skull fracture). I'd say tough. I realize diving skews your vision of toughness and I get that. I hate it too. Maybe because as a goalie the only diving I did was for the ball. Anyway, Basketball players are getting as bad when it comes to diving. When it comes to Athletes, You really can't get much more athletic than soccer. It combines endurance training and speed training, and a need to be great at both, in addition to incredible coordination, lateral agility, and foot skills. Soccer players on average have more athleticism in half their bodies than baseball players. To compare the toughness of soccer players to that of football players is unfair. Just as it would be to have both of them take a test requiring cognitive function ever decade after they retire.

An even bigger joke is the totally uneducated assertion that soccer players aren't athletes.

Save for maybe a hockey player, there's NO fitter athlete than a professional soccer player. If football players had to endure the same, non-stop physical exertion's on a Sunday it would literally kill the majority of them.

Hail.

Let me guess, you linked to some youtubes of divers. I'm not even going to bother posting youtubes of NBA floppers or NFL WRs going down like they were hit with buckshot cynically looking for DPI.

I shouldn't have put in that last part, it does take a lot of toughness, stamina and athletes to be able to play the game

But I still stand by it as being a joke, every game I have watched (on the professional level) is full of people flopping and wigging around "injured", complaining nonstop, very slow paced, etc.

Again - this is what I have seen the times I have watched it

I just don't find it enjoyable when all of that BS is going on....

Same can be said about basketball with how they get away with so much that they use to not be able to (3-4 steps, carries, flops, etc.)- I do like basketball but I also understand peoples dislike for it because of the previous said.

Again, nothing against soccer fans or the players, just some observations from what I have watched

[Godfather151981]

In EXACTLY the same way as the vast majority of football fans look down on anyone that likes soccer you mean?

That exact argument, as witnessed in this here thread, cuts both ways. You are sadly right though that soccer at the pro-level will never rival the traditional American pro-sports. Which is incredibly sad as North America is not only the last great untapped Continent for soceer. But could well be the biggest of them all if anyone could crack it.

An even bigger joke is the totally uneducated assertion that soccer players aren't athletes.

Save for maybe a hockey player, there's NO fitter athlete than a professional soccer player. If football players had to endure the same, non-stop physical exertion's on a Sunday it would literally kill the majority of them.

Hail.

I would argue that soccer players aren't athletes because you do need to be in shape to play the sport. The same is true of basketball. However in general I feel that most sports fans are fairly accepting of MOST other sports. I actually enjoyed soccer when I was younger, however when I tell die-hard soccer people that baseball is my favorite sport (football runs a close second) they act as if I'm an uneducated bum. So yes I did make comments about soccer here, however I would submit that the soccer establishment started that in my case many years ago.

The one thing I don't like about the sport is that people can watch a 0-0 tie and say that was a great game. If a player takes a shot on goal and the ball goes wide people still say that was a great play. That's like dropping a hail mary pass when you're wide open but saying it was still a good play. If you're not winning or scoring, it's really not worth playing. My Dad's a soccer coach, and I can't stand it when he says that his team lost 1-0 but they played an amazing game. To me that's a loser mentality. But what do I know, I'm not educated enough to follow the sport.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

You 'don't need to be in shape' to play soccer Gf?

Want to think about that statement, and a 90 minute soccer game and correct it accordingly?

Hail.

[Enter Apotheosis]

I would argue that soccer players aren't athletes because you do need to be in shape to play the sport. The same is true of basketball.

You don't have to be in shape to play any sport. Your performance tends to increase dramatically when you are in shape, though. Soccer isn't much different from basketball or baseball or football or tennis or rugby in that regard, the athletic requirements may be wildly different from one sport to the next but more athletic players have a large competitive advantage in any sport.

This is probably the most half-baked sentiment I've ever seen expressed on this site... and that really says something.

[Taylorfan2179]

I shouldn't have put in that last part, it does take a lot of toughness, stamina and athletes to be able to play the game

But I still stand by it as being a joke, every game I have watched (on the professional level) is full of people flopping and wigging around "injured", complaining nonstop, very slow paced, etc.

Again - this is what I have seen the times I have watched it

I just don't find it enjoyable when all of that BS is going on....

Same can be said about basketball with how they get away with so much that they use to not be able to (3-4 steps, carries, flops, etc.)- I do like basketball but I also understand peoples dislike for it because of the previous said.

Again, nothing against soccer fans or the players, just some observations from what I have watched

I agree I don't enjoy that BS when it goes on. I can understand how it seems slow moving. At the same time if you are watching LSU Alabama it isn't exactly a shootout yet still exciting. It's about seeing the strategies develop.

[Godfather151981]

You 'don't need to be in shape' to play soccer Gf?

Want to think about that statement, and a 90 minute soccer game and correct it accordingly?

Hail.

I miswrote that; you do need to be in shape to play soccer. I would disagree with anyone that would say soccer players aren't athletes.

---------- Post added November-4th-2012 at 05:25 AM ----------

You don't have to be in shape to play any sport. Your performance tends to increase dramatically when you are in shape, though. Soccer isn't much different from basketball or baseball or football or tennis or rugby in that regard, the athletic requirements may be wildly different from one sport to the next but more athletic players have a large competitive advantage in any sport.

This is probably the most half-baked sentiment I've ever seen expressed on this site... and that really says something.

I don't know about that; a sport like basketball for instance, if you're terribly out of shape you could end up having a coronary.

[DC9]

An even bigger joke is the totally uneducated assertion that soccer players aren't athletes.

Save for maybe a hockey player, there's NO fitter athlete than a professional soccer player. If football players had to endure the same, non-stop physical exertion's on a Sunday it would literally kill the majority of them.

Hail.

I was listening to an interview with Chris Potnius the other day (Mid-fielder for DC United) and he said that they now where computer chips in their shoes that gives all kind of data.

He runs an average of 7.5 miles per match. That's dame impressive and I don't care who you are. My soccer coach in High School used to make us run 5 miles before we even started practice everyday, as well.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

I miswrote that; you do need to be in shape to play soccer. I would disagree with anyone that would say soccer players aren't athletes......

Thanks for clearing up the misunderstanding man. I was like 'What the Hell ..... ?' when I read that. And when you then went on to say your dad coaches soccer, it was a total head scratcher. Lol.

Hail.

[skinsince72]

I think security did a good job today. Anyone else in section 401 today? Three Panther wannabe's were removed.

In the 4th quarter, one mouthy young punk kept taunting and taunting until finally some guy who looked to be mid fourties/early fifties put him in his place and made him sit down and shut up. He looked like a little kid being put in timeout. By then, security showed up and escorted the disciplined/embarrassed young man out.

On the way out to the escalators, about 10 cops came running by and i heard someone on the radio say there was some mayhem in section 418 i think. Emotions running high.

[sportsgal]

Did anyone see the fight in the middle of the street on Arena Drive after the game or close to the end? Then some guy pulled a gun out. We were in the car driving but it was crazy.

[Godfather151981]

Thanks for clearing up the misunderstanding man. I was like 'What the Hell ..... ?' when I read that. And when you then went on to say your dad coaches soccer, it was a total head scratcher. Lol.

Hail.

My Dad is a soccer coach, and that's probably where a lot of my bitterness towards the sport comes from. When I'm around some of his "cronies" I constantly hear bad mouthing of other sports, and why their sport is superior.