Read the following - How Soccer Explains the World


great book on this subject. relgious, economical, political influences of soccer in the world.

quote:

Football = social mirror. That's the way has been for more than one century.

Hmm.,, Ok, I think I am starting to understand. So basically Football is not primarily first a money making venture in the form of entertainment, but rather it is a cultural and social rallying point much like the US, Israel or Russia uses war or Religion. Sounds to me like there is a lot more cultural tension in these Football fanatic regions than I was ever lead to believe. So from an entertainment standpoint, the game will never evolve because the fans are enamored more with the social aspects of it than the game play?

quote:

Originally posted by djverne Why is it that soccer fans get so violent? We really don't have this problem in the US anymore with any of our major sporting events. I wonder if the violence could be attributed to the lack of major sporting events in these countries? In the US, if your team looses you just turn to different channel and watch another favorite team in a different sport. I watched the world cup last year and I'm trying to get into soccer, but what the heck is up with all the diving(ITALY)? It seems like all the players and fans are frustrated with the sport because it is so dam hard to score. The NFL, NHL, Nascar, NBA, MLB, all changed there rules over the last 40 years to make there sport more exciting for the fans, maybe soccer needs to do this.

No-one is frustrated with the sport, it's rivalry that gets taken too far. In this case in italy it looks to have had little to do with the football whatsoever, in fact just a large group of morons out to fight with the police.

With regards to your other points, you clearly don't understand the mentality of the football fan. Many people live for the weekends games, when their teams win it's reason to go out on the lash and celebrate, when they loose it's reason to beat their wives.

Simple fact is their isn't a more passionate game that football, people live and breathe it, and there is absolutely no reason for it to be any different.

quote:

Simple fact is their isn't a more passionate game that football, people live and breathe it, and there is absolutely no reason for it to be any different.

Ok, do you guys take an interest in any other sports?

quote:

Originally posted by djverne Ok, do you guys take an interest in any other sports?

cricket, rugby, tennis, cycling, athletics, snooker, pool, swimming.

enough ?

in other news, football was also suspended

___________________

insignificant cor member alliance

quote:

Originally posted by Ian athletics

elaborate please

___________________

quote:

[11:58] Bas //: fuck he's hot

quote:

Originally posted by verndogs elaborate please

i could be mistaken but that's track and field

damn

quote:

Originally posted by Ian cricket, rugby, tennis, cycling, athletics, snooker, pool, swimming. enough ?

ill add basketball (spain are world champs), waterpolo, volleyball, hockey, and handball.

but i dunno if all that can compete with baseball and american football. :/

quote:

ill add basketball (spain are world champs)

Go figure, I and everyone one else in America thought we had that Gold Medal locked up for the next 50 years. Unfortunately we sent a bunch of ball hogging, money grubbing, homey “G”s, to represent our country. Lol, that was the first time I found myself routing against my country in the Olympics. The NBA does not have the same class it did in the 70s, 80s, and early 90s,.,, well at least Kobe has become a team player.

quote:

Originally posted by RapidFire ill add basketball (spain are world champs)

Yep, and counting 1998 (Yugoslavia) and 2002 (Serbia & Montenegro), already 3 consecutive World Championships with USA out of the 'game for the gold'.

___________________