Madrid vs Barca and ManU

[uscjeremynca]

Originally Posted by Garnet I Bleed

Would love to see one of these Soccer Gods, Step in the box and hit a 97 MPH fastball then have a 86 MPH Curve ball fall of the earth. Sports require different skill sets. I prefer Football Baseball and Basketball.. However I respect soccer and the athletes that play it. You should try it.

Originally Posted by uscsig

I would like to see one of these baseball gods run for more than 90 feet without an oxygen break. I love all sports except that one, baseball would be better off with a pitch clock, so I could stop falling asleep. Love baseball all you want, it just isn't for me.

I grew up playing baseball, was decent, and wanted to play professionally. Obviously, I wasn't that great but it was my first love.

These days, I would actually say that soccer is my 2nd favorite sport behind college football (baseball is still up there). However, I love the European game and follow it almost as much as I do football. I never grew up playing the sport at all but I am a die hard fan of my teams (Chelsea, Barca). I've seen Barcelona play at the Camp Nou and want to see Chelsea play at the Bridge.

So it is possible to love both.

[USC-Hokie]

Grew up with my first love being soccer followed by basketball. Was a huge Leeds fan until they plummeted in which I needed to find a team I could catch on TV more often. I am still a Leeds fan but at the time Claudio Reyna who was my favorite US player was on Manchester City. I have followed them since. Played soccer at a fairly competitive level and basketball only at the high school level. The reason American's hate soccer so much is because they are lazy and it's not high scoring enough.

I know what baseball fans will say, you have no idea how tough spring training is. And football fans will talk of two-a-days. The fact of the matter is, soccer players play for 11 months a year(some years 12 months) and have the same two-a-days. In the years where they play 11 months they get a month off before two-a-days start. They play 90 minute games 2 or 3 times a week which involve constant movement both on and off the ball(stamina.) Football players need oxygen after a 100 yard kick off return, untouched. In some games baseball players don't sprint once a game. But the sliding drills they practiced in spring training seemed mighty tough.

If soccer were to make the goals count for 6 points a piece, it might make Americans like it which is sad. Americans also don't understand there is more to soccer than just the goals. You can't be scoring goals the whole game. There are defenders to stop that and there is also build up, strategy and movement off of the ball that will never make sense to many.

To say it is not physical is laughable. To say it is a "sissy" sport for cheaters is laughable. Ever seen a football player use the ground to try and catch a ball and then hold it in the air as if he had caught it...that's cheating. Same goes for diving, it's cheating but it's strategy. Basketball players saying the ball did not bounce off of them out of bounce when it clearly did is cheating. Baseball players using PED's, that's cheating.

I won't even get into technique, balance, agility, etc. I would venture to guess if soccer players were timed in the 40, there would be a lot of 4.2 guys. People can hate on soccer all they want in the, but soccer players are probably some of the best athletes out there.

[uscjeremynca]

Originally Posted by USC-Hokie

Grew up with my first love being soccer followed by basketball. Was a huge Leeds fan until they plummeted in which I needed to find a team I could catch on TV more often. I am still a Leeds fan but at the time Claudio Reyna who was my favorite US player was on Manchester City. I have followed them since. Played soccer at a fairly competitive level and basketball only at the high school level. The reason American's hate soccer so much is because they are lazy and it's not high scoring enough.

I know what baseball fans will say, you have no idea how tough spring training is. And football fans will talk of two-a-days. The fact of the matter is, soccer players play for 11 months a year(some years 12 months) and have the same two-a-days. In the years where they play 11 months they get a month off before two-a-days start. They play 90 minute games 2 or 3 times a week which involve constant movement both on and off the ball(stamina.) Football players need oxygen after a 100 yard kick off return, untouched. In some games baseball players don't sprint once a game. But the sliding drills they practiced in spring training seemed mighty tough.

If soccer were to make the goals count for 6 points a piece, it might make Americans like it which is sad. Americans also don't understand there is more to soccer than just the goals. You can't be scoring goals the whole game. There are defenders to stop that and there is also build up, strategy and movement off of the ball that will never make sense to many.

To say it is not physical is laughable. To say it is a "sissy" sport for cheaters is laughable. Ever seen a football player use the ground to try and catch a ball and then hold it in the air as if he had caught it...that's cheating. Same goes for diving, it's cheating but it's strategy. Basketball players saying the ball did not bounce off of them out of bounce when it clearly did is cheating. Baseball players using PED's, that's cheating.

I won't even get into technique, balance, agility, etc. I would venture to guess if soccer players were timed in the 40, there would be a lot of 4.2 guys. People can hate on soccer all they want in the, but soccer players are probably some of the best athletes out there.

Just don't include me with all those Americans. I get it. I love the game. Soccer athletes are in incredible shape. It is a beautiful game - much more than just the goals.

Like every sport, soccer has its ugly and boring matches too. However, if you see what they can do up close, it is fascinating.

[Kaka]

I dont understand why Messi was on the bench yesterday, wtf!

[uscjeremynca]

Originally Posted by Kaka

I dont understand why Messi was on the bench yesterday, wtf!

That loss was shocking. But let's be honest - with that inferior crap RM has put on the field for every match, you can't talk trash about Barcelona.

[Kaka]

Best in the world. HALA MADRID!!!!!!!!!

[USC-Hokie]

Not even the second best in Spain, how can they be the best in the world?

[Cocks and Canes]

Originally Posted by Garnet I Bleed

Would love to see one of these Soccer Gods, Step in the box and hit a 97 MPH fastball then have a 86 MPH Curve ball fall of the earth. Sports require different skill sets. I prefer Football Baseball and Basketball.. However I respect soccer and the athletes that play it. You should try it.

This.

Originally Posted by uscsig

I would like to see one of these baseball gods run for more than 90 feet without an oxygen break. I love all sports except that one, baseball would be better off with a pitch clock, so I could stop falling asleep. Love baseball all you want, it just isn't for me.

As someone who played both soccer and baseball, they each require their own unique skill sets and neither are easy. There's no reason to be a douche about it just because you're too simpleminded to understand baseball, just like there's no reason for people to be douches who are too simpleminded to understand soccer.

Originally Posted by Kaka

Best in the world. HALA MADRID!!!!!!!!!

You are 16 points behind Barca in La Liga.

[Kaka]

Originally Posted by Cocks and Canes

This.



As someone who played both soccer and baseball, they each require their own unique skill sets and neither are easy. There's no reason to be a douche about it just because you're too simpleminded to understand baseball, just like there's no reason for people to be douches who are too simpleminded to understand soccer.



You are 16 points behind Barca in La Liga.

Injuries.

Varane is a boss, the 18 years old Frenchy is gone be the next Hierro.

[uscsig]

Originally Posted by Cocks and Canes

This.



As someone who played both soccer and baseball, they each require their own unique skill sets and neither are easy. There's no reason to be a douche about it just because you're too simpleminded to understand baseball, just like there's no reason for people to be douches who are too simpleminded to understand soccer.



You are 16 points behind Barca in La Liga.

I understand the game of baseball completely, doesn't make it any less b oring. Sorry if that makes me a douche, I couldn't care less.

[Kaka]

Originally Posted by uscsig

I understand the game of baseball completely, doesn't make it any less b oring. Sorry if that makes me a douche, I couldn't care less.

to be fair, the first time I saw american football i used to think it was boring bc it was on tv, i didnt know crap of what was going on.

then i went to games, being there, seing dudes tackling the crap out of each other, seing fast people, I was like "crap, this is fun" plus the fans getting really into the game.

I work at baseball games, is no as intense as football.

Soccer can be a little boring sometime, sp when teams play too defensive and everything is stuck in the middle of the field with bad passes.

but I think baseball is more boring than soccer, but if we are going to talk about boring sports to watch, lets talk golf

Anyway. The big arguments now are soccer vs baseball, I guess there a is fight for which is gone be the "3rd" mainstream sport.

I say, let it be, the kids and the parents will prefer what they are best at, or think they can do better at.

I say, if I have kids, I gone encourage them to play both. Soccer keeps you in great shape which is really healthy, baseball gives you a lot of upperbody strenght.

Think about Erick Wynalda, one of the best American soccer players ever, his son is a baseball player, he wrote about how dissapointed he was, but his son preferred baseball because all his friends were baseball players

Just let it be, soccer and baseball can share the 3rd spot, basketball and football are still above.

rugby and lacrosse are slightly growing.

[tkousc]

Who's ready for that titanic North London darby on Sunday? Must win for my gunners. Now excuse me I have to pay some guy to go pay Gareth Bale's legs a visit with a baseball bat.

[Barry_gamecock]

Americans generally dont like sports where you cannot use your hands. Something about a foot only sport feels like a sideshow.

I do enjoy soccer. I can see how baseball is boring to watch. I loved playing it however. Football is very fun to watch. A hard hitting football game is the best.

[Transmaniacon]

Originally Posted by tkousc

Who's ready for that titanic North London darby on Sunday? Must win for my gunners. Now excuse me I have to pay some guy to go pay Gareth Bale's legs a visit with a baseball bat.

Come On You Spurs!

This derby feels like it could be especially intense. Can't wait. I even dumped Cazorla on my fantasy team to avoid any conflict of interest here. Picked up Lennon, who will score a brace and put to rest the "poor man's Walcott" silliness.

[uscjeremynca]

Originally Posted by tkousc

Who's ready for that titanic North London darby on Sunday? Must win for my gunners. Now excuse me I have to pay some guy to go pay Gareth Bale's legs a visit with a baseball bat.

I just picked him up on my fantasy team. I am in the 93% on ESPN for the EPL this season. Do that and I will find a bat for your legs. Leave Bale alone now that he is on my team :)

[gamecockphan]

Originally Posted by Transmaniacon

Come On You Spurs!

This derby feels like it could be especially intense. Can't wait. I even dumped Cazorla on my fantasy team to avoid any conflict of interest here. Picked up Lennon, who will score a brace and put to rest the "poor man's Walcott" silliness.

IDK who is better from a fantasy perspective but I like Lennon more as a player than I do Cazorla. Speed kills and Lennon makes things happen down the flank.

[Transmaniacon]

Originally Posted by gamecockphan

IDK who is better from a fantasy perspective but I like Lennon more as a player than I do Cazorla. Speed kills and Lennon makes things happen down the flank.

Cazorla is certainly producing more fantasy points than Lennon (especially on the Yahoo game), but he cost twice as much and Lennon is due for a goal.

[gamecockphan]

Originally Posted by Transmaniacon

Cazorla is certainly producing more fantasy points than Lennon (especially on the Yahoo game), but he cost twice as much and Lennon is due for a goal.

You called it!

Great run. Terrible defense.

[Kaka]

for the record, better American athletes are joining the game of soccer now days.

Check out the list of the top 10 under 21's American players, the number 1 is a 6 7" center back

You almost never see 6 7" soccer players, this is saying that a few athletes are already preferring soccer over basketball... how does a 6 7" high school kid doesn't get recruited to the bk team in America?

Soccer is slightly growing, and again, once better athletes start joining the American soccer game, we gone have those dominant American Ibrahimovics and Ronaldos that are playing football and basketball now, and quit soccer in high school just like Ocho Cinco.

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/soccerusa/id/1009?cc=5901

6 7" John Anthony Brooks

[Kaka]

BTW Madrid took care of business, we whooped Barca with our jv, now lets get the English.