Worlds greatest sporting event: World Cup

[Kingsley Court]

It's just about time for the World Cup to start. Can't wait. Last world cup was summer before college, and I think I watched at least 1 game every single day. It's amazing what these players can do. This is easily the best sporting event in the world. The worlds best athletes coming together for this one sport. It's really not up for debate either. In every country but US/Canada, the best athletes in that country play soccer. Should be an exciting month. I really think US should get out of it's group, and advance to single elimination stage. That game would be nuts.

So, how excited are you guys for the World Cup to start?

 

[swg]

Is it over yet? I guess it is better than hearing about the oil spill.

 

[DontMissHim]

I cannot wait for Group G play. "Death group". Portugal Brazil should be a good one- Feel bad for Ivory Coast because they would have gotten out of any other group easily-suppose to be a great year for them. I still could see them and Brazil coming out though.

USA should get out of there group but I think its up in the air. If they get a W or tie with England they easily get out though. Im dissipointed Im going to have to miss that one.

 

[swg]

If the USA wins early, the excitement will build. It's kind of like the Reds, winning builds interest.

 

[adrock]

The worlds best athletes coming together for this one sport. It's really not up for debate either. In every country but US/Canada, the best athletes in that country play soccer.

Everything's up for debate!

You're correct that the best athletes in every (major) country except the US & Canada, the best athletes play soccer. However, the best athletes in the world are Americans. It's not a genetic superiority thing (I'm not Hitler), it's a cultural thing. Americans are absolutely sports-crazed. Being athletic and honing that skill is more valued in the US than anywhere else in the world. So if you took a poll of the nationality of the best athletes in the world, there would be more Americans than anyone else. Kobe, LeBron, D-Wade, Ray Lewis, LT, TO, et cetera are all American. And if you took a poll as to which sports the best athletes played, as much as I hate to say it (I'm more of a professional football fan), it would probably be basketball.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

It's just about time for the World Cup to start. Can't wait. Last world cup was summer before college, and I think I watched at least 1 game every single day. It's amazing what these players can do. This is easily the best sporting event in the world. The worlds best athletes coming together for this one sport. It's really not up for debate either. In every country but US/Canada, the best athletes in that country play soccer. Should be an exciting month. I really think US should get out of it's group, and advance to single elimination stage. That game would be nuts.

So, how excited are you guys for the World Cup to start?

I would rate the Olympics higher. Single sport event I would agree with the World Cup. I honestly can't get into soccer. I can appreciate the athleticism it takes to play. I will pay attention to what happens, but I can't watch more than five minutes of matches. I do love the highlights though. Soccer has some of the best highlights of any sport.

 

[DontMissHim]

I would rate the Olympics higher. Single sport event I would agree with the World Cup. I honestly can't get into soccer. I can appreciate the athleticism it takes to play. I will pay attention to what happens, but I can't watch more than five minutes of matches. I do love the highlights though. Soccer has some of the best highlights of any sport.

Really? I think if you ask every country: Would you rather win the gold medal count in the olympics or win the World Cup- They would take world cup easily.

 

[JasonS]

The World Cup is better than the Olympics for soccer. Most teams send their U-21 teams to the Olympics. The World Cup has the best players in the world regardless of age. It is the most prestigious soccer tournament in the world.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Really? I think if you ask every country: Would you rather win the gold medal count in the olympics or win the World Cup- They would take world cup easily.

Quite possible, but as a whole the Olympics are a better event. I would venture to guess ratings are much better for the Olympics. It includes more countries that might not be soccer powerhouses and can give those countries a reasonable expectation to win a medal. A whole nation can rally around one sprinter or weightlifter or downhill skier the same as a whole nation rallying around their soccer team.

 

[Kingsley Court]

I dunno, ratings for Olympics might be better in the USA, but I think total it would be very close.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Hey, Kingsley's Court, my experience last week while in Paris might have tilted me a little more to your side. They had up a public viewing area for all the games, so we went down for the France vs. Mexico match. It was tamer than it could've been, but it was still pretty crazy. They drew what I estimated of at least 20,000 people to view it -- mostly 16-25 year olds. I was afraid when Mexico scored it's first goal the crowd might get out of hand. There obviously was a heavy France lean in fans there, but there was a good percentage of people rooting against France. They lit up flares everywhere which was kind of crazy and there was a decent amount of back and forth going on, but everybody was pretty respectful. I still think overall that the Olympics is a bigger event as a whole, but I'll concede the World Cup might have more enthusiasm.

 

[DontMissHim]

That sounds pretty awesome. Id love to be in another country during the world cup. David-by chance did you hear what some of them thought of USA? Im not too sure how others look at us but I feel like they dont want us to be any good since Soccer reallys isnt a big time sport here.

 

[JasonS]

My wife was in France in 1998 for a study abroad thing when France was hosting the World Cup and won it. She said it was ridiculously nuts in Paris after they won.

 

[swg]

Its cool to see international play, but give me the college bowl season and final four any day. Just better tv with more action, less referee action to kill a game/cup with ONE call.

 

[DontMissHim]

Its cool to see international play, but give me the college bowl season and final four any day. Just better tv with more action, less referee action to kill a game/cup with ONE call.

uhm...did you watch the SEC this year? The refs killed the conference and determined who they wanted in the SEC final. Complete gifts to Florida and Alabama all year-it was pretty big news on ESPN as well so you didnt even have to watch SEC football-just ESPN.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

That sounds pretty awesome. Id love to be in another country during the world cup. David-by chance did you hear what some of them thought of USA? Im not too sure how others look at us but I feel like they dont want us to be any good since Soccer reallys isnt a big time sport here.

I didn't. If I had realized the USA match was Friday (I thought it was Saturday) I might have gone down for that. The only soccer conversation I got in a guy told me that a lot of the French people aren't supporting this team (or at least can't get behind this team) because they don't like the coach and the players seem to be prima donnas and don't play as a team. And this was before they flopped in the World Cup. That would explain the number of people rooting against them vs. Mexico. There were a handful of fans dressed in Mexico's colors, but I saw others rooting for Mexico that seemed to be local. It was a young and ethnically mixed crowd so it is hard to say where all their backgrounds are from. We saw other Americans there and they seemed to just be taking in the atmospehere like I was.

It would be interesting to hear what other countries thought of us. I got to imagine their is little support for the US. Most of the world hates the US so I can't imagine soccer being any different.

 

[Kingsley Court]

Can't wait to watch tomorrows game. Should be a thriller.

 

[swg]

Gotta win tomorrow! Go USA!

 

[swg]

WOW. What a finish.

Another goal taken away. Then they baited the algerians, then pushed it with an advantage. Goal in the 90+ minute!

 

[Thegreatone]

Very entertaining 30 minutes that I saw.