"With all due respect, but the piece that you just posted, I hope is not yours, because I think it is the biggest piece of BULLSHIT I have ever read. It is defeating in character and a sorry piece full of crying sorrow and shame, this is the crap that fraudulent tele-evengelist love to use. Feel sorry for yourself bullshit."
Well it is written by a guy who covers the Detroit Lions (of the sport played by hands). This is how soccer is still perceived in this country. And this showing in this WC has hurt the sport no doubt in my mind.
"Above all, I disagree."
I respect that.
"But soccer is NOT dead in the USA, far from it, there are now generations of young kids with soccer blood, that probably have no idea what baseball is (which is good for them, otherwise they will be bored to death)."
There have been generations of kids playing soccer for quite a long time. But the problem is that these kids do NOT continue to play after their teenage years. Show me a kid in USA who doesn't know what baseball is....show me one! Are you kidding me? I was watching my local TV station for Sunday night's sports special...After the wrapup on another loss by the Detroit Tigers, an update on where the Stanley Cup is right now, of course the US Open Golf tournament, some Nascar racing, THEN the loss to Iran....Wake up, it's nice to dream but we are decades away from the top teams in the world Period! Thank God for the Spanish channel. I got to see Iranians celebrating, I got to see Buenos Aires streets deserted during the game, families watching and celebrating each goal. In USA, we don't grow up with soccer. Kids grow up watching the 49ers, Packers, Braves, Bulls...heck USA could not even overtake General Hospital in the ratings.
"So the USA lost, big deal yes it is very painful but it is a far cry from saying "Soccer is dead in the USA", that is BULLSHIT and DEFEATIST BULLSHIT AT THAT."
I did not say soccer is dead in the USA, just that this miserable performance did NOT help the sport a bit, if not set it back. At least the last World Cup helped MLS soccer league to get going, now what...
"BELEIVE ME when I tell you that the US has advanced a GREAT DEAL, remember my post about the "giraffe looking blondies" playing soccer and getting beaten, at least 3 x 0 (on a bad day for the winner)?"
I know that. I got to this country in 1984. I was lucky to scramble to catch the Canadian channel for some World Cup Games. In 1990 I was lucky to have the Spanish Univision channel to see some games. Since 1994 I get to see more games on TV than ever before. In 1998, ALL games are televised. Heck, that's progress to me...I remember the 1990 team in compared to the 1994 team, that's progress. I remember the 1998 team and I am ashamed, mostly for the waste of our talent.
"So, no more of the defeatist attitude, or I will nominate you for the Thread Morons....."
Oh no, not that!<g>
"The USA played badly, they lost, end of story, it is now in the past, forget it and get ready for the next cup. In a strange way, this defeat may turn out to be the best thing that has happened to the US."
The first thing that must happen is the firing of the clown and the hiring of an experienced coach (prefer Bora or Perreira) who will be given all authority to mold a team as they see fit.
"Again, remember that only a few years ago the USA would have no hope of qualifying for the tournament, now, you feel disappointed because you did not went on to the second phase.... I would say that there has been progress, and there will continue to be progress, but you do not get it for free."
There is always hope in the Concacaf...look who we have to play against. Yes I feel disapointed USA did not go to the second phase. Losing to Iran who got its first ever WC victory playing "attacking soccer, playing like Americans" (words of the Head Moron) see all this talent wasted...it hurts my friend.
"To be amongst the best it takes great effort, great work and the ability NOT to make mistakes, the USA WILL BE BACK AND WILL DO GOOD, COUNT ON IT"
There is no doubt in my mind that one day years from now this country can win the World Cup. I will do my part. I already got a Ronaldo jersey for my 6 month son and If I can pull it off he will not know what baseball is<g>. In my referreing I try to teach the kids some fundamentals of the game. I am thinking about coaching too. But you know what, I GREW UP with this game. I knew nothing else as a kid. On TV there was always soccer, my city's pro players were like Gods to me, the national soccer team's were more than gods, I had someone else to look up to...Heck the Moron should have just let Lalas play for the marketing of the game alone!!
"On with the fest, there are still a lot of great games coming up."
Yep.
Respectfully,
George |
