Don Cherry Rips Soccer (so does Jim Rome)

[FORMULA316]

I have been meaning to discuss this as Hockey Night in Canada's
Don Cherry has been all over Alex Ovechkin for his celebratory
displays after scoring goals, comparing him to soccer players:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5ZPa_wmkyI

Some excerpts:

Quote:

"What I try to do is teach the kids the Canadian way!!" "We don't want to start acting like those goofy soccer guys" "Watch the way these guys act, ya maybe its better we show these goofs the way they act"

It may sound like the opinion of one media guy, however a lot
of people emulate the notion that soccer sucks, it's boring, and
I hope that the MLS in particular, is able to break through some
of this broadcasted nonsense. In the U.S., soccer is often
ripped by ESPN and Talk Show Radio guy, Jim Rome. He's always
on soccer if there is a riot, and just blasts the game any chance
he can get. From Wikipedia, a funny backlash to Jim Rome:

Quote:

During a discussion with the soccer blog Fulham USA on April 4, 2007 he made some disparaging remarks aimed at fellow ESPN broadcaster, and frequent soccer critic, Jim Rome. Wynalda was quoted as saying "Jim Rome can s_ my d_! And he should be very afraid, because I’m the kind of guy, if I get too many drinks in me, I will club his ***." He was suspended one game, and later apologized.

Part of me feesl that is a sporting interest in the U.S., and
emulated by media goofs such as Canada's Don Cherry, that
dismiss soccer and wish the sport failure. When the NASL was
getting big, the other sports took note, and made it difficult
for the NASL to grow further. While the league may have grown
too fast with dishing out sizeable contracts to aging players,
it was an increasingly popular draw for fans in the U.S.

Any thoughts on an anti soccer/football element in the U.S.
and Canada?

[AtXj]

Jim Rome is a tool who knows nothing about the beautiful game.

[Altimus]

Quote: Originally Posted by AtXj

Jim Rome is a tool who knows nothing.

Fixed.

[Altimus]

After watching that idiot Rome rip soccer in some YT videos, I came across this:

[getinthevan87]

It's kind of funny how many people have this automatic hatred of soccer. It's not like it's a real or serious hatred.. it's just treated like the red headed step child of sports in America for no valid reason at all.

I actually like listening to the Jim Rome show for the most part. But I always change the station when he starts going off on one of his soccer rants. He always makes a point of ripping soccer whenever something ridiculous or embarrassing happens. Then he uses whatever happened as some sort of justification for hating the sport so much.

As a fan of soccer it really comes off as ignorant and hypocritical. Maybe he fails to realize that he spends 90% of his show talking about ridiculous/embarrassing things that happen in the other major sports.

When you get down to the bottom of it you realize that hardly any of the dislike of soccer in North America is rooted in anything substantial or fair. It's just people being ignorant. But it stops being ignorant and it becomes stupidity when people with a public platform feel the need to share their ignorance and put down soccer for no reason at all.

[Laffer]

Quote: Originally Posted by getinthevan87

When you get down to the bottom of it you realize that hardly any of the dislike of soccer in North America is rooted in anything substantial or fair. It's just people being ignorant. But it stops being ignorant and it becomes stupidity when people with a public platform feel the need to share their ignorance and put down soccer for no reason at all.

This isn't a fair comment. The fact is that soccer (while I really love watching) can be absolutely painful for spectators, and especially for neutrals.

Much like hockey was before the lockout, negative play is rewarded far too much. Look at the difference between Stoke City and West Brom in the current EPL table. Stoke plays a terribly boring style and look like they are going to stay up this year, while West Brom has at attempted to play attractive soccer, and have been hammered game in game out.

Frankly, I feel if the product was better, more people over here would embrace the sport. Legitimately ask yourself how many teams play an attractive style in the major European leagues? Maybe 1/3? And how many of those legitimately have a chance to win silverware? 2 or 3 per league? That combination doesn't produce compelling soccer, or compelling storylines throughout the season.

[getinthevan87]

Quote: Originally Posted by Laffer

This isn't a fair comment. The fact is that soccer (while I really love watching) can be absolutely painful for spectators, and especially for neutrals. Much like hockey was before the lockout, negative play is rewarded far too much. Look at the difference between Stoke City and West Brom in the current EPL table. Stoke plays a terribly boring style and look like they are going to stay up this year, while West Brom has at attempted to play attractive soccer, and have been hammered game in game out. Frankly, I feel if the product was better, more people over here would embrace the sport. Legitimately ask yourself how many teams play an attractive style in the major European leagues? Maybe 1/3? And how many of those legitimately have a chance to win silverware? 2 or 3 per league? That combination doesn't produce compelling soccer, or compelling storylines throughout the season.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I should've worded myself better. I can easily see how a completely neutral person would be bored to death watching a soccer match. Though I think a majority of people don't give the sport a real chance. And that's not necessarily their fault. It is hard to follow competitive entertaining soccer in the U.S.. I was focusing my comment towards people on the Jim Rome end of the spectrum. Those being the people that have never given the sport a fair chance, and instead of just dismissing it as not being for them, they take the extra effort to put the sport down and make it the butt of jokes. My view may be somewhat biased though. I live in the south where there is an overwhelming setiment that soccer is for *******.

Though many of the points you made about soccer can be made for the major american sports as well. There are always going to be those elite teams in every league that dominate more often than not. Soccer is not radically different in that aspect. And there are plenty of compelling story lines to be had if you really follow the sport.

[RTP2110]

and IIRC, Rome's kid(s) play(s) soccer too.

Soccer is the most played sport for youths in the USA. I think the lack of a solid domestic league turns kids to other sports as they get older. Hopefully MLS can grow to the point that kids will grow up wanting to play soccer.

I think it will take a few generations for MLS to become big time in the states. It's hard for people who did not grow up on soccer to just jump into it. If we have a solid league here that kids can grow up on, that will help a lot.

In a way soccer doesn't fit in with today's ADD society. Watch SportsCenter and 90% of the show is homeruns, touchdowns, and slam dunks. Most people nowadays cannot appreciate a well played 0-0 draw.

[Gizmo]

Cherry = Tool

Rome = Even bigger tool

Seriously, Don should just stick to what he knows (if he even does). I personally don't watch hockey, so I won't comment, but when you score in a sport, like soccer and hockey, where the scores are low, you should be given the right to celebrate. If the refs or league find concern to the celebrations, then THEY will address, not some guy who, IMO has some sort of problem with Ovechkin.

[stagnant]

Some people just hate soccer... to them it's foreign and they almost treat it as a threat to their way of life, it's pathetic.

I will entertain the argument that it's boring, but I tell people that if they had a stake in a game it wouldn't be so boring. However let's be honest, it can be boring, every year there is atleast two Dynamo games that I think to myself, I'm glad I didn't invite anyone today, because it was a boring match.

What I will never understand is the people that say soccer is boring but love baseball. I like the strategy of baseball, but for anyone to say that baseball is more entertaining than soccer is rediculous. Try watching a baseball game on TV without sound. It's like going to a game without all the distractions, I go to a lot of baseball games and I spend more time talking and looking around the stadium than I do watching the game... at a soccer game my attention is on the field.