Soccer is a communist plot to weaken and destroy the youth of America.

Watching paint dry is more exciting than watching a bunch of knob-kneed Euros in shorts kick around a ball for 3 hours.

wildcat72 on February 4, 2013 at 10:39 PM

Heh – every time “soccer” and football are compared at HA, a comment like this inevitably comes up. As one of the rare Americans who loves both games with equal passion and vigor, I hear this a lot from my friends as well.

Anyone who loves both games understands why football has caught on in only minor pockets around the world (Tahiti, Germany, etc): it’s extremely expensive and, more importantly, anyone who’s been raised on soccer has trouble adapting to the stop/start nature of football. When you’re used to watching two 45-minute halves of commercial-free, nonstop play, and then you attempt to watch a college or NFL game with his five-second bursts and 35-second stoppages, you understand why the world prefers soccer.

I’m a lifelong Giants fan and an NFL geek, but as the rules continue to change and the nannies are going after the integrity of my beloved game using concussions and class-action as a trapdoor to ruin it, I more and more prefer the beautiful game to America’s game (and I’m one of Those People who has multiple screens in his living room to better enjoy his absurdly expensive NFL Sunday Ticket subscription).

As for Wildcat’s repetition of the Commie plot, I get where they’re coming from, but if one steps away from the trees and views the forest, soccer is arguably the most conservative game on the planet. It is resistant to change just for change’s sake; the only player who gets special treatment is the Keeper, all others are equal; the rules are universal at all levels and understood by all who play; when you make a major mistake, you get a caution, and when you make two you get ejected (talk about law and order). I could go on, but I’m late to the conversation.

If there is another explanation, it’s probably akin to Bill Whittle’s.

Duh. Let’s not over-think this, people.

I guess that strikes corruption off the list of possible reasons they don’t like football.

Only soccer can make a hangnail injury look like labor pain.

viking01 on February 5, 2013 at 1:24 AM

That or a good non-call against Jim Harbaugh’s team.

ThePrimordialOrderedPair on February 5, 2013 at 1:17 AM

I’ve been aware of all of what you said LONG before HotAir ever existed, but thanks for restating what I already know, in your own words. Honestly, it would behoove soccer haters to work on some new material. I haven’t heard an original gripe from them about the sport in decades.

Nice soccer flop by David Fakers, btw.

Christien on February 5, 2013 at 1:14 AM

Only soccer can make a hangnail injury look like labor pain.