USA! USA!! USA!!! That’s what I was chanting yesterday as I sat in Merv, my favorite TV chair, and watched the US women’s soccer team win their second consecutive World Cup. Yes, I did name the chair Merv; but that’s a discussion for another day.
Today’s discussion is about soccer. I don’t know a lot about it. Yesterday was the first time I’ve ever watched an entire game beginning to end. I knew there had to be a reason why it was the most popular sport in the world, but until yesterday I couldn’t understand why. Now I think I do. It’s a fast paced, exciting game played by superior athletes. The amount of foot/eye coordination (they can’t use their hands) is astounding. Goals are so rare that when one is close to being scored the drama and anticipation increases exponentially. And you may want to go before the game starts because there aren’t any times out.
I was so revved up about my new found love of soccer that I asked with our WWL Blue Runner Gumbo opinion poll if soccer was boring or exciting. Boring garnered about 75 percent of the vote. I also received a considerable amount of texts, a sampling of which follows:
soccer lacks the inherent violence that america loves.
Tommy, don't sell yourself short soccer is not a complex game to understand. You know plenty enough. Kick the ball into the opponent's goal, score more points than them and you win.
I had the pleasure of going to school (William & Mary) with coach Jill Ellis. WAY TO GO COACH!! I dont care for soccer but top athletes have my highest regard.
Tommy. Don't you think that adults find soccer "boring" because they have never played it. Same with tennis. However I bet a lot of those same people think golf is great. That's because they have played golf and recognize how hard it is. Whaddayouthink?
Think about this concerning soccer. I can't watch it because soccer and hockey are the only sports in the world that penalizes athletes for being fast and getting behind the defenders. To me, that is the point of all sports, to get behind the defenders and you get an offsides penalty for doing that in hockey and soccer.
Not only is soccer boring...I have had enough of the media slamming it down our pie hole
(I would add here I’ve never shoved ANYTHING down ANYBODY’s pie hole)
Tommy, I have to say I really enjoyed the soccer game, and I didn't see any referees getting in the way of calls
Watching USWNT makes me want to learn more about soccer. I find it exciting when the USA teams - women & men - are playing
Soccer is exciting
SOCCER IS BORING
(From different texters but you have to appreciate the direct approach)
I texted a friend yesterday...soccer is like watching a sophisticated game of keep away.
To me watching soccer is like watching someone else play a pinball machine.
What about you? What do you think of soccer as a sport? As for me, I’m loving it. At least for now.
