And American football lives on ....
This push by the soccer lovers to make it the grand sport in America like it is all over the rest of the world has taken a major setback today, with the incredibly overrated U.S. team being eliminated by Ghana 2-1 in the World Cup. It's back to the drawing board for U.S. Soccer for the next four years. Embarassed by the Czechs, lucky enough for Italy to kick in a tying goal for the Americans in the next game, then losing to Ghana (which whipped the Czechs). And people were calling this the greatest U.S. team of all time? Is this like saying this coming season Vanderbilt could be fielding its best team ever in the SEC?
We could blame it all on the Sports Illustrated cover jinx.
Anyway, good thing, we think: Futbol DOES NOT need to replace football as the American sport where 11 go against 11 on the large grassy field in front of a hundred thousand. It's too pansy ass for Americans. We want collisions between 300 pounders, zig-zagging speedsters, strong-armed throwers, magical receivers, painful leg injuries and hot cheerleaders on the sidelines. As we have for a hundred years, let's leave the World Cup for the rest of the world who can't figure out football and think 0-0 soccer games are thrilling. A 0-0 football game beats a scoreless soccer game anyday.
Also, I don't think I could stomach another World Cup soccer column from J.R. and Henry this month or next. Let's get back to more serious subjects: mainly, the Hogs.
Comments
Soccer (Football) is the world's greatest game. But of course, in typical American fashion, it's not a matter or us not getting with the program its matter of something is wrong with everyone else (the rest of the world), NOT US!
American Football is silly when you get right down to it, the excessive rules, time-outs, procedures, plays, etc, etc. It's ridiculous.
In "Football" you play on, if someone gets hurt, the referee runs over to you and tells you get up or get off the field. It's not a "show" and there are no time-outs, you play on. There are no re-dos by the officials, instant replay and all that garbage.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 22, 2006 01:04 PM
I'm going to have to disagree with anonymous to the extent that he's claiming that soccer players aren't putting on a show when they're hurt. Reyna was a perfect example today. Made a boneheaded play, got carted off in a stretcher, came back playing a minute or two later. I realize he left the game later, but the man is way past his prime and wasn't contributing anyway.
Posted by: Tom L | June 22, 2006 01:47 PM
Jim,
Expect at least one more soccer column. We know at least anonymous will be happy.
EDITOR: I hope it's a comparison of Houston Nutt to Bruce Arena.
Posted by: JR & Henry | June 22, 2006 01:48 PM
interesting you'd call soccer "pansy ass"-- have you totally missed the homo-erotic elements in your beloved american football?
next.
Posted by: spinsouth | June 22, 2006 04:04 PM
Ummm... didn't the Vanderbilt Commodores *beat* your beloved Hogs?? Wasn't that last season?? Wasn't that game IN ARKANSAS?
Cheap shotting a program that beat you at home last season... for shame.
Posted by: Vanderbilt | June 23, 2006 09:42 AM
american football has its place and the rest of the world's soccer has its place. both are good sports. i get tired of knit pickers who poke fun at one or the other.
Posted by: Hog Soccer Ball | June 23, 2006 10:19 AM
Vanderbilt 28
Arkansas 24
See you in Nashville on September 16th.
Enough said!!!
Posted by: Vandy | June 23, 2006 10:56 AM
Other than the comment about Vanderbilt, I pretty much agree with everything 'ol Jim has to say.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 23, 2006 04:37 PM
hey ..didnt we beat you guys last year!!!!see ya in nashville if your man enough to show!!!GO DORES!!!28-24
P.S. ISNT IT RETARDED TO SAY" GO HOGS" OO YEAH HEAR COME SOME PIGGIES!!!
Posted by: vandykid83 | June 23, 2006 08:18 PM
Well thanks VandyKid83 for taking the time to make all of us seem to be illiterate boobs with that "retarded" blast. No one with a sense of sensitivity and over the age of twelve would make such a statement. Well unless that person is Tim Duncan of course.
While I disagree with the sentiment of using Vandy as a whipping boy the facts are that this season it would be inane to predict that our beloved Commodores will be better than the '53 '58 '59 any from '36 to WWII '74, '75 or the (for us) Sterling Whit Taylor senior season.
That said we should beat Arkansas in Nashville. Will we???? That remains to be seen.
Posted by: CandyManVandyFan | June 25, 2006 01:41 PM