Saturday Open Thread: World Cup Edition
by PubliusToday, USA begins its 2010 World Cup with a match against England. The USA team is better than people assume and England often underperforms and has been hit by some key injuries. That said, we would need some really good odds to bet on USA in this match.







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103 Comments
To be completely honest, with everything that is going on in the USA today, I don't care one bit about the 2010 World Cup!!
….Sports, Politics and Marriage reveal much about the participants….and much about the spectators….
If the participants don't wear helmets, I ain't interested. Nice women in the pic, though.
USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
I love soccer in the international sense. It reminds of when I lived in the U.K. for eight years and I would get home as soon as possible to watch Arsenal play against Man U. Ah those were the days. But now that I'm back in the U.S. I watch College Football and root for the USC Trojans.
Who cares soccer is a non-thing. Could be a good game if they cut the size of the field so players could do some serious fighting or something.
Here's a winner: Barack Obama: I Can't Suck It Up With A Straw – You Tube
The Huskies are gonna have something for the Trojans this year.
Here is the USC free safety after Jake Locker runs him over.
%(P
The fighting is limited to the drunk spectators. Alcohol, and three hours of watching grass grow. Yeah, that'd make me wanna fight, too.
I'm waiting for (American) football season.
Wow. The world cup.
And this is news, a worthy subject, or somehow related to governmenty things for biggovernment.com how?
Come on. Does big government have standards, or is it just a floozy blog for some otherwise awesome conservative writers? Or is it that the editors keep on flipping to their personal topics at a whim?
Frankly I wonder. Is this to be a news site, one to make people aware of the goings on in government that the MSM will not share, dare not share, or is it just another personal blog with great contributors?
I hope the USA does well but this is kind of a yawner. If we are the only country that does not get excited about soccer, I think that speaks well of us. Barry should like it being a third world person that he is.
Who cares? This is probably just another reason for the Dali Bama to throw a party on our dime.
I prefer rugby over soccer.
It seem's a bit more manly……………….and you can use your hands in rugby, for holding the ball in one…………………and punchin people in the face with the other.
and the balls a little different too……………………but hey!
A bit more manly?! I guess so. Unless you are attending a women's rugby match.
You hit another Homer……real nice job!…….i like violin music (my great-grandfather was a luthier) and I enjoyed the score on this tract. I've heard it before as well. Do you know what it's called?
Americans couldn't give a rat's patoot about Soccer. My theory is that's because there are no cheer leaders.
i was gonna say "and girl's rugby too, especially"……..hahaha
Thanks, It's called Lux Aeterna and I love it, too. I use it a lot.
How are those people able to sit with the Dali Bama with a straight face and keep their food down? If I lived on the gulf, there is no way I would allow him to use me as a prop.
I wont be watching unless I see mexico losing. I hope they go down in flames. If they would of been a bit more repectful towards America I might feel differently.
Hmmm…
The American "sports" of baseball, basketball and football vs. the internationalist "game" of soccer…?
I'll take the American sport every time, we don't waste our time on sports that can end in a tie and we wouldn't bother to invent them either.
Real Americans do not accept "participation" trophies!
.
I just woke up. What'd I miss in the exciting world of soccer?
.
.
.
That's what I thought.
it's soccer who cares…lol
Off topic: this is probably the best anti-illegal protest sign I've seen in a while….and very true…
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/DonaldDoug...
I know it's an "internationalist" game for commies, but I still dig commie chicks!
Come on! It's soccer! It's not like it's a real sport.
I am in awe! Really. It takes stones to say something that vapid. This takes the disingenuous-ness of Bill Clinton and pumps it up to 11!
HEY DUMBASS!!!! (and let's face it, this time, he's earned the name) WE DON'T EXPECT YOU TO 'suck it up with a straw'. WE EXPECT YOU TO GET THE JOB DONE. WE EXPECT YOU TO CUT ANY RED TAPE TO GET WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE DONE. WE EXPECT YOU TO RELAX STUPID RULES ABOUT BOON COLORS AND OTHER CRAP.
In short, Mr. President (and I've never been more ashamed to call you that), shut the hell up and do your goddamn job!
As my late father said many moons ago during the world cup in America, "It's was a insurmountable 1-0 lead". Boring to day the least.
Have a theory. When you're a young boy, soccer seems fun. But when you get older and notice girls and notice CHEERLEADERS. Cheerleaders don't cheer at soccer, they cheer at football and basketball. Thus, boys move to those sports. As with many things, it's about attracting the ladies.
The only sport that Europe invented that we participate in….That I care about….is Motocross….The Motocross Des Nations is like the World Cup…….except we are favored to win every year….and usually do..
I spent a lot of weekends on the sidelines watching my Daughter play soccer from the age of 4 to the age of 18. I enjoyed it. Professional soccer not so much. I can't stand it when one of them gets "Hurt" and whimpers rolling around on the ground like a WUSS. Only to get up and continue play when they realize their not getting the call. Shameful and as bad as our intentional walk!
I'll root for the United States as a matter of principle!
don't forget hockey! yea I know it's Canada's main sport but heck even Florida has a couple of teams…lol
I am for the USA on general principles. I love baseball, watch some (American) football and basketball, and watch hockey from time to time. But I don't care about soccer and nobody can make me.
Why is this today's Open Thread on BG? The answers are obvious to me.
1) Americans may generally be disinterested, but more than a few will be watching US v. England because it is the USA team. The further our team gets, the bigger the audience.
2) Soccer isn't cricket: kids' leagues are everywhere.
3) Ignoring something of such importance to the citizens of the world seems pretty silly. Even if it is "just a game", it has more in common with the Olympics than with the "World Series." Though admittedly, I'd rather watch the World Series, how many of us follow the Olympics in some form or fashion?
Besides, sometimes you need a break from the economy, wars, natural disasters, and general ugliness. This topic does nicely; thanks!
Three more hours! I'm in football overload this weekend. I have the TV and game schedules posted all around my house, the DVR programmed and my family warned that all phones will be turned off during the games. When USA and England play I will be screaming my head off or praying to the Soccer Gods that Wayne Rooney does not break my heart again.
I watch every game in the world cup finals as is humanly possible and have done so since the 70s. For one month I let myself go mad and talk football with people who ordinarily never watch a game.
And Team USA is bad for not having Onsted play one more Cup as Keeper. He kicks major bootay in Houston and has helped them win 3 MLS championships. And we will forever miss Brian Kinkaid.
I didn't forget hockey but at least the canucks can appreciate some bloodletting between athletes while watching a tie game happen!
Mexico drawing with South Africa — a team only in the Cup because they are the hosts — is almost as bad as a loss to them.
God I hate football, ever since the Saturday evening results before Dr Who in the 1970's seemd like the longest ten minutes possible and right through high school when I was forced to play this stupid 'sport' twice a week.
The only point of interest to the US/England match to me is that I'm hoping it will really annoy Obama, who obviously hates the UK, if the US team to lose to England.
There is this picture on Drudge.. .http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20100529/i/r2026752858.jpg?x=400&y=259&q=85&sig=nnSHNk9VF8lEk3nVsFoNuA– I have no idea what country that is a team picture of… My following of soccer is nil.
Personally, I'm waiting for a thread to start on the young lady who tried to sail around the world.
She failed, but gave it a good try. What has driven me crazy is those that are calling on her parents to be punished for allowing her to try. Charges of neglect, child abuse and other such nonsense has been filling the airways. What ever happened to being better? What ever happened to doing more than is expected of you? This young lady should be applauded for trying. Her parents should be appauded for raising such a brave child.
In this day and age, when being even/equal is expected, going above and beyond is now considered abnormal. This young lady has more guts and determination than those patheitc "leaders" in D.C..
Morning rant is over. Time for a nice cup of tea and some asprin.
SOCCER SUCKS!
When they can unleash a slap shot at 100+ MPH while skating 25+ MPH and get a gash on the face requiring 40+ stitches to close and not miss a shift, call me.
But you forget, he obviously hates the USA, too.
My wife is German. She's in her office watching this brain-numbing sport right now. Since she become a US citizen, she's become a Republican voting, NASCAR watching, country-music loving dream girl, but she still can't shake the soul-killing disease that is soccer.
This, to me, is Soccer in a nutshell: http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/ghazi1012...
huh??? wha???? oh yeah I agree….off with their heads!!!!!
if they only had a "bat" day…the fans could real have fun beating each others brain (the mobs at soccer games only have 1 between them) cell out….now that makes good tv!!!
Lol- my sentiments exactly. On both counts.
YAWN.
Wake me up when the REAL football season starts.
You're so right Larry- how many teens are killed in automobile wrecks each year? Should we ban teen drivers altogether because it's unsafe? No, they won't even consider that, nor should they. The risk is just part of the territory. (Then again, maybe I shouldn't give them any ideas). The libs will wail and holler about her attempt to sail round the world, but they will happily condone sexual behavior in our teens at high school, and encourage abortions, which are also quite harmful to the mother in addition to destroying the child. Once again, they do protest too much about the wrong things. On and on we could go.
Appreciate your morning rant. Have a good afternoon….
I once heard it said that soccer is a gentleman's game played by thugs, whereas rugby is a thug's game played by gentlemen.
Americans just need to give soccer a chance. I'm not into MLS but I do Love our U.S. Team! Soccer is not as commercial as other American sports and the players need to be hella fit in order to play for 45 min. without stopping. As a national team, these players represent our country and we can all be proud of their skill. It's such a thrill when the US whomps Mexico! It doesn't hurt that Landon Donovan's such a hunk!
Never got interested in Soccer…But the news after some of those Soccer
games is interesting…Seems like the people get a little "riled up"…So I
come to the conclusion the game is boring, but the crowd can be pretty
interesting!……lol
Hello!!! I could care less about soccer but the lovely ladies sure got my attention!
Moar hawt, please?
HAHA!! Classic!… and the best reason ever given for the residual violence after nearly every soccer match.
american football can end in a tie.
Great Soccer Book
Sports do reveal a lot about the athletes and the spectators. A great sports book for kids on the subject of role models in sport is Shawn Sheep The Soccer Star. The book is avaiable at Amazon.com or autographed copies are available at <a href="http://www.erinmirabella.com” target=”_blank”>www.erinmirabella.com.
Shawn Sheep The Soccer Star
Shawn Sheep wants to be just like his favorite professional soccer player, Paul The Peacock. He copies everything he does, right down to his peacock power dance.
Shawn is the best soccer player on the Barnsville Sports Squad Team. He can dribble upfield and down. He can shoot from the corner and catch the edge of the net. He can pass, he can kick, and most of all he can score goals better than anybody else.
But when Shawn's confidence turns into cockiness, he irks his teammates and makes some mistakes that could cost them the game.
After a very disappointing run in with his hero, Paul The Peacock, Shawn realizes he has a lot to learn about being a good team player.
Football can NEVER end in a tie, the game doesn't end until they go through as many overtimes as required for a clear winner to be determined, soccer can end in a 0-0 tie. There used to be "draw" games until 1974 when "sudden death" overtime was introduced and there were still "draws" however rare up until the 2007-2008 season when the NFL changed the rules to require as many overtimes as necessary to determine a clear winner. In the 2007-2008 season the NFL also permanently adopted the "optional extra point" after a touchdown (which is a touchdown attempt from the five yard line that is worth two points) instead of just a one point field goal so that games would be certain to never end in a tie.
Ties lead to VERY upset fans and the NFL recognized that fact and made sure it could never happen again.
American football is the only football. Jealousy of our football is why the rest of the world hates us …
From his (Obama's) own mouth, finally a confession:
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2...
Tim Howard is The Man. He is one of the best keepers in the world. We definitely had good fortune on our side today to get a draw, but give credit to Howard for protecting the goal as well as he did and getting us the point. I would love to see the US go through to the next round.
It's called The World Cup. The trophy should be a cup, instead of an ugly globe thingy.
The official time should be shown to the spectators and players instead of being kept solely by the ref, so people know how much time is left. It is weird that there is this "injury time" or "substitution time" that runs a few minutes over the regular 90 minutes. You can't tell when the game is going to end. Suddenly the ref just signals the end of the game. That sucks. And the clock should count down instead of up, like normal American sports.
They should wear helmets. All that banging their heads against the ball has got to cause brain damage.
What a game! With both keepers making rookie mistakes early on, it kept the heat on wondering if someone would kick in the tie breaker. Both of them played an excellent game after that so we will have to be satisfied with One All and move on to the next level. After 60 years it was just an awesome game. Dempsey was pretty awesome as well.
I must admit that I love the World Cup. I will be watching every US match and I am a big fan of the Dutch side as well. Ordinarily I would also be supporting the English side but not today. It really is a beautiful game when it is played correctly.
You must admit that England was putting the heat on for the last 15 minutes or so with 3 attackers and they had a few chances that they couldn't convert. Heskey had a great chance and kicked it right into Howard's bread basket, what a fantastic save that was. Gerard's cross that was just out of Rooney's reach was another near goal. Altidore had a brilliant break and nearly scored but Green was up to the challenge. It was a good game, especially in the second half. I can't wait for the next match with Slovenia.
» Saturday Open Thread: World Cup Edition – Big Government…
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
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You cannot blame Howard for the one that got in. That was bad defense.
I actually watched the game between the US and UK today even though I think soccer is about the dumbest and most boring sports on the planet…….yeah I was that bored that I actually watched a soccer game. I think it would be cool if the US won the whole thing, not because I give a rats arse about it, but because I know the rest of the world takes this stupid game so seriously that they would probably all commit international suicide if the US won and US citizens yawned as we won their stupid trophy and used it as a door-stop.
Libs always have to find someone to blame when things go wrong. If this girls attempt to sail around the world had been successful no one would have said a thing other than congratulations, but as soon as it looked like she failed and was lost at sea they had to find someone to be responsible……..someone to be responsible other than the girl who obviously made the decision to make the trip in the first place. They want to make the girl a victim when she doesn't want to be one…..Libs love victims.
in a regular season games you're wrong http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/suddendeath
by the rules anyways.
And the participants wear helmet, like I said earlier. Years ago, I used to go to Supercross events in the Seattle Kingdome.
Aint that the truth!
I like your way of thinking.
It is all Joe Biden's fault. The VP crashed into the Team USA lockerroom just an hour before the game to spill wisdom http://www.bigbureaucracy.com/?p=1187
You know, it's no wonder that after reading all the idiotic attitudes put forth towards soccer on this thread that the rest of the world has contempt for us. It's that type of elitist, cowboy American philosophy that will get us in trouble in the end.
Since your willing to change what is the most viewed and most popular sport on the planet simply to suit your taste, I can't wait to see what you have in store for others things that need to be "fixed."
They should definitely change it then.
If there were more teens out there with kind of gumption (quoting my grandma,rest her soul) the world would be a better place.
If there were just MORE PEOPLE like her, we'd all be in better shape!
The minute I say Soccer to a foreigner I am usually corrected (football).
Professional soccer takes too long and can wind up in a tie, 0 – 0 no less. Just because we like winners in our sports does not make us elitists.
Oh i completely agree, a tie is like kissing your sister, whats the point. To me,. soccer is still just an strange game played by impovished people.
I mean, people keep talking up the game because its the "global" sport, but the reason for that is simple economics. I did Peace Corps work in the nation of honduras, and i was trying to start a baseball team but found out the cost of outfitting them is roughly the same as getting a clean water system put in the village, so of course they play soccer. Under those conditions, who wouldn't? In the end though I transitioned the team over to flag rugby after getting equipment donations – score one for real sports.
Sure, since you asked. MLB should get rid of the DH, have the umpires call the strike zone that is in the rule book and enforce the 20 second between pitches rule, not allow the batter to call time when the pitcher is in the wind up. They also need to make bats that don't shatter.
The soccer match was pretty good today. Kind of like slow motion ice hockey. Although, I almost turned it off after the first four minute goal.
You seem like kind of a jerk.
Apparently you do enough to post on the open thread entitled "World Cup Edition." Dork.
Yeah, that's got to be it.
It's just football. Here in America we don't call it American football because, well, holy shit that's just kind of redundant.
The stadium has the official time in it. The players know how much time has elapsed, and also know the amount of stoppage time. The clock doesn't countdown because the end is at the ref's descretion. This way he can let a team who has a scoring chance try and score before blowing the whistle.
Wow, you are really into ruining some of the traditions of popular sports. Thank god your not in charge of anything.
Soccer is the sport of the future … and it always will be.
Oh, that's not the half of it, Joan– there was also…and then, there was…but the clincher was. . .Well, it, like, rilly, rilly rawked.
Is that a $10 spot sticking out of the American girl's waistband?………..nah………..couldn't be.
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