RE: Women's world cup

**theIrish1** · 07-11-2011, 12:59 PM

Wow... pretty quiet section of the forum. I realize most come here to talk about tech.. but man, can't help giving kudos to the US women for yesterday's match. THAT was impressive!

Sad to see Germany out of it... US v Germany would have been a great final if they could both have gotten there.

**speedking** · 07-13-2011, 01:01 PM

US WOMEN DEFEAT FRANCE AND REACH THE FINALS.....click here

**Clay** · 07-13-2011, 01:06 PM

I love soccer, awesome win!!!!

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**jjrandorin** · 07-13-2011, 02:34 PM

<-- bandwagon soccer fan. I love rooting for the US in sports though, so tend to watch just about anything where a sports team is representing the USA. I cant get into soccer games that can end in a tie, but "knock out round" soccer is exciting.

I also think high level womens soccer is more enjoyable for a casual fan to watch than high level mens soccer, simply because there is more "movement" and "runs". Seems like there is a lot more space than the mens game, probably because the men are bigger / faster, so close more ground.

Kinda like tennis for me. I would rather watch womens tennis than mens tennis, as the rallys are longer, and I would be considered only a casual fan. Was working during the france game but will probably watch the DVR.

**speedking** · 07-13-2011, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by jjrandorin

<-- bandwagon soccer fan. I love rooting for the US in sports though, so tend to watch just about anything where a sports team is representing the USA. I cant get into soccer games that can end in a tie, but "knock out round" soccer is exciting.

I also think high level womens soccer is more enjoyable for a casual fan to watch than high level mens soccer, simply because there is more "movement" and "runs". Seems like there is a lot more space than the mens game, probably because the men are bigger / faster, so close more ground.

Kinda like tennis for me. I would rather watch womens tennis than mens tennis, as the rallys are longer, and I would be considered only a casual fan. Was working during the france game but will probably watch the DVR.

I've tried to like Soccer...just doesn't appeal to me...I used to like Tennis...when there were actual volleys...now it's just smash the ball on high velocity serves...and there were icons to follow then...Connors..Borg(resistance is futile)...McEnroe...even if you weren't a tennis fan they were high profile events that captured the nation...bars were packed with people watching the match...whole different atmosphere now...

**theIrish1** · 07-13-2011, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by speedking

I've tried to like Soccer...just doesn't appeal to me...I used to like Tennis...when there were actual volleys...now it's just smash the ball on high velocity serves...and there were icons to follow then...Connors..Borg(resistance is futile)...McEnroe...even if you weren't a tennis fan they were high profile events that captured the nation...bars were packed with people watching the match...whole different atmosphere now...

McEnroe himself was entertainment value.

I am a huge soccer fan. I follow both the US & German national teams (men and womens), and I follow a team in the English Premier league (Arsenal), and a team in the Bundesliga - Germany's league (Bayern Munich), and then to a lesser degree I follow a team in La Liga - Spains League (Real Madrid).

I believe it is an acquired taste, and love it. When it is played right, and you are watching a match played at a high level, it truly is "the beautiful game".

I also follow baseball (for the strategy and gamesmenship) and am a Cardinals season ticket holder. And then I'm a big fan of american football, both college and NFL (and do all the fantasy football stuff). I used to be a huge hockey fan, but the lockout and some horribly ownership here in St. Louis put a damper on that. I am slowly coming back to it though. I happened to be in Toronto for the NHL finals this year, and it was good fun rooting against Vancouver, not because it was a US vs. Canada thing... but simply because I hate that team. That I was in Canada just made it a fun thing to experience (I was surprised how many Mapleleaf fans were rooting for the Canucks, just because they are a team in Canada).

On top of that I coach my older son's football & baseball teams, and my younger son is starting football this year as well.

**theIrish1** · 07-13-2011, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by jjrandorin

Bandwagon soccer fan. I love rooting for the US in sports though, so tend to watch just about anything where a sports team is representing the USA. I cant get into soccer games that can end in a tie, but "knock out round" soccer is exciting.

I also think high level womens soccer is more enjoyable for a casual fan to watch than high level mens soccer, simply because there is more "movement" and "runs". Seems like there is a lot more space than the mens game, probably because the men are bigger / faster, so close more ground.

Kinda like tennis for me. I would rather watch womens tennis than mens tennis, as the rallys are longer, and I would be considered only a casual fan. Was working during the france game but will probably watch the DVR.

hehe JJ, how can you say that with a straight face, I thought you were an NBA fan.....?

**jjrandorin** · 07-13-2011, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by theIrish1

hehe JJ, how can you say that with a straight face, I thought you were an NBA fan.....?

Lol.. I am. See its different in the NBA / Basketball. I simply cant watch womens basketball. I have tried. It would be like trying to watch womens (american) football. For some reason, to me, womens soccer is more exciting, precisely because they are slower / less athletic than the men. Probably because there is more open space on the field I mean. There are exciting plays, more broken plays more "one on one" action, and (typically) more scoring.

Remember, for a casual / non soccer fan, the worst thing that can possbly happen in a soccer game is one that is 0-0, or 1-1. I realize that can be an exciting game, but, it normally isnt. Its like a baseball game thats 2-1, thats a pitchers duel with 1 two run home run, and 1 one run home run. To ME that is an extremely boring game (I never played baseball, and for me its generally boring).

A 1-0 game can be really exciting, if they are making contact with the ball and there are great defensive plays. Defensive plays in baseball = exiting. a 1-0 baseball game can be exciting without the defense, if the pitcher is throwing a complete game. For a lot of people, a 1-0 game where the winning team platooned like 5 pitchers is just mega boring.

If you play(ed) baseball, maybe its exciting. /shrug. I played football and basketball, not baseball or soccer, so maybe thats one reason.

Womens basketball plays out completely different than womens soccer... talking about both at world cup / high level. high level womens basketball is VERY physical, without the extreme athletics. Lots of fundamental play, without glitz... but the glitz in basketball is exciting to me, rofl.

**theIrish1** · 07-14-2011, 07:22 AM

Really though I wasn't comparing women's soccer to anything. It was more a comment based on what you said about men's soccer. I just found it funny/interesting that you would say that men's soccer isn't as enjoyable to you because there "isn't as much space" and the men "are bigger / faster, so close more ground". Yet you'll watch grown men (VERY tall/large grown men) play on a very small basketball court that is the same size as the one that my 11 year old kids team plays on... talk about not having much space lol.

NBA Court: 94ft by 50ft
Soccer Pitch: 342ft by 222ft

eh, to each is own. I personally can't stand NBA basketball, but I do enjoy college basketball..... "glitz" in professional basketball to me = showboating, don't enjoy it at all. If many of the NBA teams out there played better fundamental ball, better technical ball... they would have much different results in wins/losses. Maybe your feeling towards women's soccer vs. men's soccer is the same as my feeling towards college basketball vs. NBA basketball.

For me, the draw to professional soccer is the skill displayed by the top players.. men or women. True in women's soccer there is more space, but that doesn't mean that they play into that space better.