Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: FIFA World Cup 2010

This is topic FIFA World Cup 2010 - South Africa in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 06-09-2010, 08:02 PM:

I doubt the World Cup will have much impact on the US box office, but in other countries does it have a noticeable effect?

Also, anything else on the general "World Cup" topic? (predictions, impressions, team you support if your country gets eliminated... whatever)

Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 06-09-2010, 08:12 PM:

I'll watch it as long as the US is in it, then I'll watch the final. It's no Stanley Cup.

Posted by Todd McCracken (Member # 4718) on 06-10-2010, 10:47 AM:

We are doing the live 3D feed to theaters, so Ill be watching it here from the NOC. It should be interesting to see what the box office is for this event, and geographically who books.

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 06-10-2010, 05:43 PM:

It will decimate business in the UK and Europe, and most tentpoles have been moved either forward or back from their US release dates to avoid this. The release schedule consists of chick flicks or poorly reviewed films. Shrek and Twilight will open during the later stages of the tournament but both have advance previews the weekend before their friday open to compensate for this. July looks like a strong month though so any cinema that plans properly and manages their costs effectively will be fine.

I leave for South Africa on Sunday morning for three weeks. Hopefully the World Cup does some good for South Africa and everyone enjoys it as much as the last tournament in Germany which was great fun.

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 06-10-2010, 06:21 PM:

Everytime I see soccer highlights, they seem to include guys faking fouls and injuries during play. It's worse than the NBA. Maybe it's just the editing of our sports programs, but I just can't get up for that. Also, despite all marketing efforts, soccer has just never caught on in the USA like some of the other sports. I guess people only have so many things they can pour themselves into.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-10-2010, 10:12 PM:

So, how are you getting the consumer 3D into theatres? That is, how are you getting the DCinema projectors to be 3D projectors with the consumer content?

Steve

Posted by Peter Castle (Member # 1997) on 06-11-2010, 05:54 AM:

Steve,

I've asked the same question in another thread with no answer.

Is it a method covered by some non-disclosure?

Posted by Todd McCracken (Member # 4718) on 06-11-2010, 11:53 AM:

Steve,
As far as our end the signal originates in a raw satellite feed from the site. We use our Cinelive decoders to decode/parse the signal out to individual theaters. I don't as of yet know what the bookings for this in the US look like. The licensing for each event varies, and affects bookings accordingly.

Our Cinelive decoders are Sensio based, and exclusively licensed.

http://cinedigm.com/cinelivecontentowners.html

http://celluloidjunkie.com/2010/06/10/cinedigms-partnership-for-fifa-world-cup-makes-sensio/

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 06-11-2010, 02:41 PM:

What's up with those damn horns the African's blow during the entire match? I had the TV on ESPN this morning when the game started. After 2 minutes, I thought something was wrong with the audio feed. Nope - plastic horns. After 3 minutes it was either change the channel or go insane. I used to think thunder sticks were bad, but those horns are by far the most annoying thing I've ever heard during a sporting event.

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 06-12-2010, 07:53 PM:

With the 'faking' of injuries/fouls, yes there can be some of that in Football but it gets massively hyped up by the media. Every second of every match gets poured over by the press and they can tend to illustrate the negative aspects of the game as it sells more papers. The English media are always trying to scupper our chances in tournaments in this way, or trying to blame defeats on 'cheats'.

The USA must be unique in having so many 'major league' sports that people actually follow, in addition to all the College sports. The people in charge of MLS look like they are going about developing 'soccer' in the right way.

The horns sound terrible, got seven matches worth of those over the next three weeks. Going to look for some earplugs at the airport!

Posted by Jon Miller (Member # 163) on 06-13-2010, 08:20 PM:

Vuvuzelas are those plastic horns responsible for World Cup matches sounding like they are being played inside a giant beehive.

If the sound of tens of thousands of those horns being honked sounds bad on TV, imagine being at the stadium; according to an article a few days ago in the Los Angeles Times, the decibel level of all those vuvuzelas tooted en masse approaches that of a jet engine at full throttle and surpassing that of NASCAR races, rock concerts, and jackhammers. Yep, about 140 decibels, well over the 100dB danger level. That'll hurt your ears... [Eek!]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 06-14-2010, 06:26 PM:

Soccer Officially Announces It Is Gay.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 06-14-2010, 07:38 PM:

quote: Jon Miller
Vuvuzelas are those plastic horns responsible for World Cup matches sounding like they are being played inside a giant beehive.

I hate those things. They're sold (or given to fans for free) at some basketball games. Very annoying.

Posted by Kori Marvin (Member # 5763) on 06-19-2010, 12:07 AM:

Go USA! We've tied England and Slovenia(we we're robbed of the win by a terrible ref) and all we need is a win against Algeria and were in! Hopefully England wins their game as well because I support them also. Yes the vuvuzelas are very annoying. Fifa thought about banning them because they were receiving so many complaints, but they ruled that are a part of the African culture and will be permitted. [Frown]

oh well i guess.

Who do you guys think will win the world cup? my moneys on Argentina

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 06-19-2010, 02:36 AM:

I can't wait until the World Cup is over. I am not a sports fan in general, but there is no excitement to be had in soccer. I simply cannot understand its popularity. It's not very popular in the USA. My theory is that the less interesting a country is, the more it loves the hell out of soccer. I can understand why the world doesn't get excited about American football since it is more standing around and doing nothing than anything else, but soccer/futbol? C'mon. Even the Olympics are more exciting.

A few days ago I read that Obama tweeted something like (paraphrasing) "Good luck to the US soccer team, we are proud of what you have accomplished so far." First of all, it is soccer. They are not fighting for freedom and saving lives. They do not matter. Secondly, how could you be proud of a tie? That's like saying "Well, at least we didn't lose, but we weren't good enough to win". Where's the nearest sports store? I'm off to go buy me tons of Team USA gear to celebrate that amazing accomplishment. Man on the moon? Fuck that, we tied at soccer!

Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 06-19-2010, 08:05 PM:

I have to give a "bah" to that, if you're not into the World Cup, or soccer in general, it's pretty easy to ignore (well, here in the States it is, anyway).

I was in Europe in '06 for a bit more than half of the World Cup (I wasn't in the host country, Germany, until after it was over though). Watching England win a World Cup match while in a pub in London was one of my more memorable "sports" memories that I've had. Watching Italy and France in the final, with a massive crowd outside in Budapest was quite an experience too ... this in a neutral location while two teams I had no ties to played the match, it was still a rather memorable time.

Initially I had wanted to be in South Africa during some or all of the World Cup, but that didn't work out. Also, due to the time zone issues, I haven't been able to watch much of this current one on tv either.

Anyway [beer]

Go USA!

Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 06-29-2010, 07:40 AM:

Well, the Round of 16 hasn't been all that great for me. USA, obviously... but also every other match, the team I was going for got knocked out. [thumbsdown]

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 06-30-2010, 12:38 PM:

They're still playing that thing out? [Razz]

I saw yesterday that Spain, a favorite to win it all, won 1-0 over some little country that you can't get to unless you go through Spain anyway. How completely boring is this sport when one of the best teams can only muster one lousy goal in a whole game. That's why nobody here pays attention. It's sooo boring.

Now that USA is out all the bandwagon, pretend fans will go back to not giving a crap at all about soccer and ESPN will get back to something that matters like where LeBron is going. Like hockey in the Olympics, these sports try and try and try to catch on and they have little surges, but ultimately they're never going to. They would have by now.

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 06-30-2010, 01:01 PM:

Chad, my same thoughts.... I was out of town at my sisters this weekend and they HAD to watch the game...I was sitting in the other room thinking what the fuck? when there was a score

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 06-30-2010, 02:37 PM:

I still love how people think that the size of a country matters when talking about their soccor team. "Oh they couldn't beat the team that only had 2 million people" A soccer match that the score is only 1-0 can be some of the most exciting stuff you can watch. Americans are to stuck on having high scoringfests and if the score isn't a million to a million and half they don't care. Kinda sad actually.

I never watched soccer leading up to this World Cup and I can say that I am now a fan. I found myself watching pretty much all the matches that I could. I just wish Ameicans would open their eyes and not stick to their preconceived notions of it.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 06-30-2010, 03:00 PM:

What do you mean, "preconceived notions?"

Soccer is just a big game of "Keep-Away" that you can only play with your feet. Scoring goals is a non-issue because it happens so infrequently.

I was over that in, like, the fifth grade.

In REAL football, the idea is to get the ball over the goal line without getting killed by the other team.

"Smear the Queer" is much better than "Keep-Away."

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 06-30-2010, 03:02 PM:

Ha ha!

Posted by Jerome Holmes (Member # 5013) on 06-30-2010, 04:46 PM:

I think its stupid that the US can't get world cup soccer coverage except on ESPN3 or Spanish stations when ESPN 1 and 2 are playing nascar and poker events respectively. Neither of those "sports" deserve to be called such.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 06-30-2010, 07:03 PM:

I will agree that if the World Cup could be watched for free on over the air television, that more people might be in to soccer. But certainly not me!

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 07-01-2010, 08:08 AM:

I'm not going to start arguing about this, you made the point for me Randy. Hate to break it to you but when everyone else in the entire world calls soccer, football. I think that would be the real football. I love American football more then I ever will soccer but to bash on soccer because they don't try to murder the other player is just dumb. A question for you Randy, have you ever watched a single world cup match? These guys are better athletes then 95% of the NFL players.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 07-01-2010, 09:30 AM:

I have watched entire soccer games, World Cup and otherwise. I just don't like the paradigm of the game. It's the same as hockey but on grass, instead. It's the same as water polo but without water. It's the same as equestrian polo without horses. It's the same as lacrosse but soccer players are not allowed to body check. Strategies vary only insofar as the speed of the players on the field varies.

In other words, hockey is faster because they are on ice. There is more maneuvering and strategies are "tighter." Water polo is slower because they are in the pool. You can't run with the ball. There is more passing and play is more physical. Lacrosse uses sticks to move the ball. Strategies are all about passing and throwing over a distance as well as close-quarter maneuvering. Equestrian polo uses horses. Most of the rules and strategies are for the protection of the horses.

You are not allowed to play polo left handed because it can cause horses to collide as they approach on opposite sides. There are lots of rules as to when, where and how one rider is allowed to overtake another in order to get at the ball.

When you come down to it, soccer is a stripped down version off all the other games except with a handicap that only allows you to use your feet. Soccer is just running and kicking.

In hockey, lacrosse and polo the players have sticks. Any game with sticks is more interesting. There is dexterity, strength and skill needed to handle a ball using a stick. With soccer, all you need to do is kick the ball.

Soccer is, essentially, the lowest common denominator of many of the other team sports, all boiled down and reduced to the simplest form. There is limited contact but for incidental contact. You can't plow into the other guy and knock the ball away from him. Equipment is minimized. All you need is a ball. It is a quintessentially European, "Let's make everybody all the same," boring game with nothing but running and kicking.

The game is so freakin' boring that people have to bring horns to the game to keep themselves entertained! Even the rabid, idiotic sports nuts in real football are more interesting! They get naked and paint themselves blue!

Any sport which encourages a bunch of fat, drunk guys to paint themselves blue, wear horns on their heads and dance naked in front of a TV camera MUST be cool! Now, if we could only get the hot cheerleaders to do that, we'd have it all! We KNOW it could happen! We saw Janet Jackson's tit at the Super Bowl! Didn't we?

American football is fairly unique. But for rugby, it's progenitor, and Australian Rules football, there are few games like it. Even then, American Football is more like gladiatorial combat compared to soccer's namby-pamby running and kicking.

What chance of injury is there in soccer? Some guy might get a bruised shin then fall down on the ground and cry about it?

Joe Theisman got his leg PHYSICALLY TORN OFF!

Soccer is boring, running and kicking, boiled down to nothing and everybody is the same. American sports are unique and have character. They are fun to watch because somebody might get killed and there is even a chance that somebody might get naked!

Naked people getting killed! Now, THAT is a sport! [Big Grin]

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 07-01-2010, 11:00 AM:

[Big Grin]

Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 07-01-2010, 03:07 PM:

Well, now that we know how to get Randy all wound up...

Be that as it may it is still the "worlds game," and the US, as always, has to march to its own tune.

I for one will take world soccer over NFL any day. College ball is another matter [Big Grin]

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 07-01-2010, 08:50 PM:

quote: Kurt Zupin
Hate to break it to you but when everyone else in the entire world calls soccer, football. I think that would be the real football.

1) Just because people started calling it "football" instead of "association football" doesn't mean that any other sports aren't "real football."
2) People from Britain often joke with us for calling it soccer instead of football in spite of the fact that soccer is a British word.
3) People also make fun of us for calling our game "American Football" since it's not much like soccer (football) , ignoring the fact that the game is based on rugby football.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 07-01-2010, 09:16 PM:

The real reason why the pilgrims left Europe is not because of political and religious oppression. They left because they didn't like soccer!

400 years later those Europeans are STILL trying to shove that goddamm game down our friggin' throats!

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 07-02-2010, 02:38 AM:

I love Foosball. Now that is a real sport!

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 07-02-2010, 01:46 PM:

quote: Kurt Zupin
Americans are to stuck on having high scoringfests and if the score isn't a million to a million and half they don't care. Kinda sad actually.

Not true. While the NFL has done things to increase scoring, MLB, the 3rd most popular sport in the USA, is low scoring. Lots of 1-0 games, even in the AL. Scoring has less to do with interest as what's happening on the field and what's happening on a soccer field makes a lot of people really bored.

I heard an interview on the radio last week with Eric Wynaldo (sp?). He talked about how embarassing all the flopping and bad acting is in soccer. He said it makes it hard to defend his sport and it has to stop. That's another huge reason Americans don't care. We prefer toughness, not crybabies that flop around hoping to get a foul called. If you notice in the NBA, the most notorious floppers come from other countries.

quote: Kurt Zupin
These guys are better athletes then 95% of the NFL players.

That may be the silliest statement I've ever read on this site and being a member as long as you have, you know that's saying a lot. I would love to see some of them participate in the combines NFL hopefuls go through. It would be hilarious. As a casual guess, I bet 50% of the players in this World Cup couldn't put up the 225 bench. Maybe more. Could you imagine them trying to do the Cybex strength testing? 60 yard shuttle? Oh man that would be comical.

Fact is, if the USA cared about soccer, you would have never heard of 3/4 of those who are considered the best soccer players in the world. This country, largely due to nutrition and technology, produce the best athletes in the world. Sure, there are always a few exceptions here and there, but the sports we truly care about, we dominate. That's just how it is. We don't have the best guys in soccer because we don't give a crap.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 07-02-2010, 02:05 PM:

quote: Kurt Zupin
Americans are to stuck on having high scoringfests and if the score isn't a million to a million and half they don't care. Kinda sad actually.

I don't think it's about the score, itself. It's about the potential for scoring.

Whenever any player on a basketball team gets the ball, he has the potential to score. Whenever any player on a football team gets the ball, he has the potential to score. Virtually, at any moment, it is possible for them to score.

A hockey player can get a breakaway and score 0.68 seconds later, even from the other end of the ice. A basketball player can put the ball in the net from half court, virtually at any moment. Hell, even the 382 pound defensive lineman, William "The Fridge" Perry made a touchdown!

It is virtually impossible for a soccer player to score from more than 20 to 30 yards away from the goal. (Yes, I said YARDS, not meters!) It might be possible on some kind of freak, "Hail Mary" play but that's about it.

Any player on a football team can run the ball into the end zone from 95 yards. Any player on a hockey team can slap the puck in from the blue line. Any player at bat on a baseball team can hit a home run on any pitch. Any player on a basketball team can put up a 3-pointer.

These are not common occurrences but they happen frequently enough to make the game interesting.

In soccer, it is quite possible that you'll end up watching 22 guys run around the field for 90 minutes but not one of them ever scores a goal...
Which is probably the reason why that asshole announcer started shouting "GOAAAAAAAL!" Scoring happens so infrequently that he has to wake up all the spectators!

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 07-02-2010, 07:04 PM:

Randy I don't know how to counter your criticisms of 'soccer' without getting you to come to a game in England, because on TV I don't think you can 'get' the sport. Whereas you pretty much see all of an NFL play in the frame of the TV camera (please tell me if I am wrong here) there's so much of our Football that doesn't come across. I find it hard to watch the games on TV unless it is my team, England or a good tournament game.

Chad, with the cheating and diving being a problem I think it's not the game itself but an organisational issue. The referees aren't being picked from nations with strong leagues and it's impacting their ability to control matches. It's something that the media manipulate as well because it sells newspapers. Also I think for some people being able to rant at a cheat is part of the game, bit of transference of their anger from their own lives.

As for the fitness it's no doubt the NFL players are far better conditioned for their game, that is why increasingly our Football coaches and fans look toward that league as a way to do many things right.

I just got back from South Africa, it has been a fun and well run tournament so far, just a shame England were useless. The vuvuzelas aren't that bad when you get in the stadiums. Went to the USA v Ghana game and the US side did well but lost their composure in extra time. I would have had my US Soccer jersey on cheering you if I wasn't pissed off at them topping England's group!

I'm glad the game got a bit more exposure in the USA although I get the impression it's going to end up being like Rugby Union is in England, a big sport with a mainly middle-class following that will never challenge Football for dominance. With the money you guys put in to high school and college sports it is only a matter of time before we start seeing stronger US Soccer sides and more high-profile players.

Expect more efforts to win your hearts and minds, the lure of the US tourist Dollar to FIFA, sports companies and tournament host nations is far too strong for them to resist.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 07-02-2010, 08:13 PM:

quote: Chad Souder
Not true. While the NFL has done things to increase scoring

And even when an NFL game is low-scoring, people are not suddenly uninterested. Sure, it's one thing if the low score is because both teams are sucking but a game between two teams with great defenses is still a great game and I think most fans agree.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 07-02-2010, 08:14 PM:

Caleb, it's the same with hockey. I don't watch much hockey on TV at all.

If the camera is zoomed in to see the player with the puck, you can't see the play develop around him. Because the players move so fast and the rink is so small, plays can develop in a second. By the time the camera pans to the guy who makes the play, the puck has been stolen and put into the net by the opposing team.

If the camera is zoomed out to see the play develop, you can't see the guy with the puck. So he's moving down-ice and he comes up to a defender, fakes and dodges him then drives to the net and the camera doesn't get the details of the puck handling and maneuvering that went into the play.

Really, the best way to watch hockey is to watch it in person.

A similar criticism can be made for professional basketball on TV. It's a lot like watching tennis:

The ball goes back and forth, then back and forth. Every so often, somebody misses. [Wink]

I generally don't like to watch any sport on TV. (I don't watch much TV at all, really.) If I watch sports, it is more than likely that I'll watch at the stadium.

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 07-02-2010, 09:21 PM:

quote: Caleb Johnstone-Cowan
I think it's not the game itself but an organisational issue.

I can agree with that in part, but in another part it is a weakness of any game that allows fouls to be called by a person. When you allow the judgement of an official to be a deciding factor, you simply open the door to acting by the players in an effort to draw the official's eye. It happens in american football too, and it really happens in basketball, but neither to the extent that I have seen in soccer. It may be a reason why I love baseball above all else. Because there are no penalties to be issued, the player has no say over the official's decision. Complaining happens after the fact, but never to influence a call as it happens.

Some sports certainly play to television better than others. Many NFL rule changes have been specifically for a superior television watching experience. In baseball, you get a much better feel for where a pitch is and what kind of movement it has on TV versus live, even if you're sitting behind home plate. Maybe soccer is better live (I'm sure the atmosphere is remarkable), but since I won't be getting to any major matches anytime soon, I, along with millions of others, have no choice but to see how the game translates via television. That translation to this point has been extremely boring for the majority of the United States, which is why it hasn't caught on here.

quote: Caleb Johnstone-Cowan
With the money you guys put in to high school and college sports it is only a matter of time before we start seeing stronger US Soccer sides and more high-profile players.

Not necessarily. High Schools do sink a lot of money in sports, but they are typically sports that return the revenue. Even at a High School level, football is big business, especially in Texas. At the college level, Title 9 has changed sports programs nation-wide. It is a requirement to offer the same number of scholarships in women's sports as in men's. What has happened is that men's sports that don't make money are being cut since schools can't afford to keep them on with all the money they're pouring out to the women's sports. Women's sports rarely make money at the college level, so universities have to funnel money from elsewhere to keep the programs alive. In the state of Iowa, for example, only one of our three major universities still has a baseball program due to Title 9. Wrestling, swimming and other sports are being slashed everywhere. Anyway, that's a long way of saying that money for men's soccer just isn't there in a lot of schools, so the programs will not develop the future talent needed to compete world wide.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-02-2010, 11:17 PM:

If soccer keeps this shit up, it'll be no better than "Professional Wrestling" with all of this fake nonsense.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 07-05-2010, 06:07 AM:

quote: Chad Souder
Not true. While the NFL has done things to increase scoring, MLB, the 3rd most popular sport in the USA, is low scoring. Lots of 1-0 games, even in the AL. Scoring has less to do with interest as what's happening on the field and what's happening on a soccer field makes a lot of people really bored.

While baseball has a following, baseball is just as boring for your average American as you say Soccer is. This debate is never going to be finished as it is very much a matter of prefrence. I love all American sports, I am a Insane College football fan, and I love the NFL. My point of all this was to say that after the World Cup I can very much appreciate the game. I was like you all before the World Cup. I had not watched a single soccer game ever, now if its on I'm going to watch it. And if the US soccer team comes back to Phoenix to play a match I will be going.

As for flopping it is sad, every announcer during the World Cup has made a point to condem it. Joe you realize your GIF is of players from the same team right? My guess is that they are goofing and making a joke of a call would be my guess.

quote:
I can agree with that in part, but in another part it is a weakness of any game that allows fouls to be called by a person. When you allow the judgement of an official to be a deciding factor, you simply open the door to acting by the players in an effort to draw the official's eye. It happens in american football too, and it really happens in basketball, but neither to the extent that I have seen in soccer. It may be a reason why I love baseball above all else. Because there are no penalties to be issued, the player has no say over the official's decision . Complaining happens after the fact, but never to influence a call as it happens.

This is where I have to ask are you serious? Flopping happens in the NBA every game. Some are not as bad as others but it happens all the time, and it influence's the refs decision all the time. I shall now give you a few NBA flops for your enjoyment Example #1 Example #2 My Personal Favorite And I know there is flopping in Soccer, you don't need to post videos to prove it. I only posted these to show that flopping does infact sway the NBA ref and as you said "NEVER to influence a call as it happens".

quote: Chad Souder
That may be the silliest statement I've ever read on this site and being a member as long as you have, you know that's saying a lot. I would love to see some of them participate in the combines NFL hopefuls go through. It would be hilarious. As a casual guess, I bet 50% of the players in this World Cup couldn't put up the 225 bench. Maybe more. Could you imagine them trying to do the Cybex strength testing? 60 yard shuttle? Oh man that would be comical.

Show me one NFL player that can run for 90mins? I know not all of the soccer players have to run for the 90 minutes. NFL playesr can do the things you described because they have to be able to do those things to play their desired position. I would take your bet that less then %50 of the players in the WC could not bench 225lbs. Some of these guys are monsters that I wouldn't want to meet in a dark ally. Point being, what ever sport your playing your going to focus on what you need to to play that sport. I didn't mean to take anything away from a NFL player. Cause guess what, every soccer play and football player and anyother sport for that matter are better athletes then any of us could hope to be.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 07-05-2010, 01:35 PM:

quote: Kurt Zupin
My guess is that they are goofing and making a joke of a call would be my guess.

They were. I remember it from a clip someone had posted on youtube.

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 07-06-2010, 12:21 AM:

quote: Kurt Zupin
This is where I have to ask are you serious? Flopping happens in the NBA every game.

Yes, I'm serious. That's why I said "It really happens in basketball." I also mentioned flopping in the NBA in earlier posts on page 3 and page 1. Read what you yourself quoted. I said

quote: Chad Souder
It may be a reason why I love baseball above all else.

The NBA plays basketball, not baseball.

quote: Kurt Zupin
Show me one NFL player that can run for 90mins?

I could show you 1000. Have you really watched the games? All the standing around and light jogging away from the ball? Soccer players only run about 4 miles per hour while the game is being played. And that's the midfielders who move the most. Go ahead, look it up. That's an accurate stat and it's being generous. I could cover 6-7 miles in 90 minutes and I'm not in shape. You make these guys out to be some genetic supermen. With the possible exception of some offensive linemen, every NFL player could cover that distance in that time. Even kickers. Heck, I bet most of the coaches could power walk their way through that. Dribbling and passing a ball with your feet takes a special skill, but that's not what we're talking about. On pure fitness, they're doing nothing special.

Italian soccer practice

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 07-06-2010, 12:31 AM:

Haha I was really tired when I replyed and I probably should of proof read lol, I feel rather dumb now [Smile]

I transposed the two words lol.

I am not trying to make them out to be genetic supermen. I'm just saying that you guys give soccer players zero credit. You act like they are playing pixi sticks. This argument is never going to end, its just running into a brick wall.

Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 07-07-2010, 05:58 PM:

What I hate in soccer is the total lack of accountability by the refs. They don't have to explain who the penalty is on, let alone why he called a penalty. but the worst is the time factor. Only the ref knows exactly how much time is going to be tacked on at the end. The ref has way too much discretion in adding time. In the Ghana-USA game, a LOT more than 4-5 minutes were wasted by Ghana. yet the ref added only a few min. And the US team had no idea when the ref would blow the whistle.

I dont agree NFL players are better athletes than soccer players. They require different types of athleticism. Speed is not as huge an issue in soccer. Endurance is. Remember James Harrison nearly passing out after running back an INT 100 yards in the SB 2 years ago?

How to make soccer better for me:
1) Allow back and forth substitutions to allow players to play at a faster pace the entire game as is done in basketball. They can still limit the number of substitutions. It will only increase the pace of the game.
2) Have a separate timekeeper. Let the timekeeper allow for a certain amount of time in which out of bounds throws are permitted. Beyond that, stop the clock. As far as injuries, stop the clock right away.
3) Modify that offsides rule a tad. it's way too restrictive.
4) Instant replay NHL style for goals scored, not NFL style. There is no need for a replay to take up much time as is done in the NFL. The NHL does things great when it comes to replays. Most of the replays take half the time replay is done in the NFL.
5) Add extra refs for important tournaments like the World Cup. With all that money, is it really that tough to add a couple of extra officials for each game?

What doesn't need to change:
1) Soccer does have one advantage over US sports. The lack of frequent timeouts. NBA is really a joke in the closing minutes of games where the coaches take over way too much with numerous timeouts.

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 07-07-2010, 08:31 PM:

Right on cue This ran in Monday's paper.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 07-08-2010, 05:03 AM:

I love Get Fuzzy!! One of the Best comics out

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-08-2010, 02:48 PM:

That's one of my least favorite comics. I hate the way the characters look. I want to kick that cat.

Posted by Eric Robinson (Member # 2966) on 07-08-2010, 03:07 PM:

I just checked out Get Fuzzy

Hated it [Eek!]