Johnny-Cakes says:

This is exactly how I see the World Cup also…but I’m also an elitist American.

But really, how can ANYONE get worked up over something like this? What a snooze fest, yet when you watch it the fans are going bat-shit. I sometimes wonder if they’re watching something other than the actual game.

But then again, American sports could use some jazzing up also. For instance, Basketball could be over and done with in about 5 minutes. What you do is have both teams sprint around the court for 2 minutes…and I mean flat out sprint as fast as they can. Then you give each team 99 points, put 2 minutes on the clock and WHAM, you got yourself a basketball game! Hell, you could have a whole playoff in an afternoon.

Michael G says:

American hate soccer, because you have watch it for 45 minutes at a time. No Timeouts, no commercial breaks,

If you have never played the sport you will never watch it on TV.

Badmitton anyone?

John says:

Bring on Death Race 2000, now there’s a national sport you can sink your teeth into.

Hugo Carreira says:

As with any game, to enjoy soccer you must understand the flow and the dynamics involved (to be able to “read” the game). That’s when it stops being a bunch of players running around and kicking a ball aimlessly and it becomes a collective effort to reach a goal (no pun intended).

So, it’s not that “they’re watching something other than the actual game”, as was posted before (with exceptions, granted). It’s more like you (Johnny-Cakes et al) aren’t watching at all.

Obviously, it can also be poorly played and just tedious to watch. Just like every other game.

lord_drachenblut says:

very simple
untill it is only a penalty to rip someone’s arm off and beat them for 3 minutes i find all sports boring

Angel H. Wong says:

#6 IT WAS FOOTBALL UNTIL SOME DIMWIT STUDENT CAME WITH THE IDEA THAT FOOTBALL WAS EASIER IF YOU USE YOUR HANDS, sounds like something out of the Simpsons but so far it’s the only thing that stuck on my head from the PE high school classes.

What does American Football and Real Football thing have in common?

Both demand a lot of stamina and energy from the players.
Both are full of strategy.
Both have there overpaid superstars that do all sorts of messes.

The difference?
In american football the only smart one needed is the coach, the rest are just pulsating lumps of flesh.

If you want the nasty stuff watch Aussie/NZ footbal, they wear clothing similar to rugby but they play the game rougher than the american football, none of that multicoloured glosy spandex + kevlar armor.

Mark T. says:

Uh oh! I just saw on the evening news that the robots are coming to crush the World Cup!

It appears that robot engineers have set a date of 2050 when they hope to have a team of robot soccer players that will be able to beat the World Cup champion team.

http://www.robocup.org/

I guess a team of robot soccer players will just crush the opposing team’s kneecaps and then coast to a win.

Jonas says:

American elitist?? more like Stupid American…. the way the rest of the world views us.

I really hope our team wins Saturday against Italy! It’d be fabulous!

JohnnyM says:

I agree that watching Soccer is Dull but the only thing that people watch nascar for is the crashes Who really thinks driving to the right for an hour is fun?

Someone says:

It’s funny how there’s the World Series for american football, when only US teams are playing in it. It says a lot about how some americans view the world. Just call it the USA series already.

I’m not a big football (soccer) fan. But there is more action than in american football. The world cup finals are interesting because the players are so good, and there is a lot at stake.

Sean says:

#24 “Yeah, there’ s nothing like American Football… play for 3 seconds, all fall down”

American football is all about strategy, much like chess. Someone who doesn’t know the rules to chess would probably be even more bored watching a chess game than your average person. I would expect someone to be bored watching American football if they don’t know the rules, because they don’t see the strategy behind it.

Maybe that’s why Americans don’t like soccer: We don’t understand the rules or nuances. Although to be fair, most Americans are taught how to play soccer in elementary school, it’s just that most don’t care.

And to anyone out there saying, “Oh, your American football players, with all their padding”, I’ll tell you this: I’ve watched more than a few rugby games, and rugby is not played like American football. Rugby players *do not* get hit the way American football players get it. Rugby players jump on each other, and pull each other down. American football players run into each other like freight trains.

If rugby was anywhere near as rough as American football, rugby players would also be wearing protective gear.

Matt says:

It’s not just the U.S. in baseball’s World Series! We have, umm, a team or two from Canada…

I understand how soccer is played, and I find it boring. In America, it’s a sport for our daughters.

I would gladly export NASCAR, the most boring racing ever, for more stateside Formula 1. F1 rocks!

Olly says:

“American football is all about strategy, much like chess. Someone who doesn’t know the rules to chess would probably be even more bored watching a chess game than your average person. I would expect someone to be bored watching American football if they don’t know the rules, because they don’t see the strategy behind it.”

I understand the rules of American football and chess, but I wouldn’t watch either of them on TV because they’re dull and constantly stopping. Football (soccer) is about strategy too – different formations are more effective against other playing styles, you can pick a defensive formation and play a counter-attacking game if you’re up against a team of strong attackers like Brazil, etc – but much of the strategy there is done on the fly without taking a break after every ten seconds of action so that they can get another commercial break in.