tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post115015323950141269..comments2023-11-05T02:42:05.343-05:00Comments on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Nachos: "And Now There's a Beach Ball on the Field, and the Ball Boys Are Arguing About Who's Gonna Go Get It"Studiodavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16784469805972410740noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1152502483996311002006-07-09T23:34:00.000-04:002006-07-09T23:34:00.000-04:00Well done, Otto Man.. it's interesting to see "Ame...Well done, Otto Man.. it's interesting to see "America's sports" put through the same criticism that soccer always faces (and very eye-opening to see that baseball and football do not measure up when put in this perspective). I think the reason that so many people find soccer boring is because to the untrained eye, the game of soccer lacks strategy (as Analyzer pointed out). It's not that soccer actually lacks strategy, it's just that people who don't understand soccer don't know where to look for it.<BR/><BR/>In football, the objectives are clear; get to that little yellow line that runs across the TV screen, and keep doing that until you get to the end zone. There are 30 second breaks between plays, which is where all the strategy comes from. This gives the fans a chance to catch up to the game and anticipate what is coming next. It gives the coaches a chance to observe the outcome of one play, analyze their situation, and decide on the next play.<BR/><BR/>Can you imagine if, during a soccer game, everyone froze for 30 seconds after every pass so that the recipient of the ball could take time and choose his next move? It would be ridiculous. However, as Americans, we've grown up with football and baseball, and we've become immune to the boring breaks in the action.Paul Rupphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05817171131381214271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150303860959239252006-06-14T12:51:00.000-04:002006-06-14T12:51:00.000-04:00Sure, the NFL will always have top honors in my he...Sure, the NFL will always have top honors in my heart, Analyzer. I'm the kind of guy who runs three fantasy leagues and watches preseason games all the way to the third-string end.<BR/><BR/>The NFL clearly has impressive strategies, but so does soccer. But with the exception of set pieces (like corners or penalty kicks), soccer doesn't script them for the short orchestrated bursts that football does. Instead of one guy calling the shots, you've got a team applying strategic strikes on the fly. There's a lot more innovation and improvisation, and a lot less of a script.<BR/><BR/>As far as the interruptions go, I never really minded them so much until I started watching the DirecTV Short Cuts. Seriously, with all the chaff sorted out, the games are much more exciting. Soccer just does that from the beginning.<BR/><BR/>Finally, I'm afraid that, as a lifelong Chiefs fan, I am legally obligated to tell you that the Raiders suck.Otto Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051682366565874144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150302461044291482006-06-14T12:27:00.000-04:002006-06-14T12:27:00.000-04:00NFL football will always be my favorite sport. It...NFL football will always be my favorite sport. It's so much more of a strategic game than baseball or soccer. I'm not saying these games aren't strategic but not as much as American Football. The interuptions aren't really that bad and a lot of commercials played during NFL games are more entertaining than comedy TV shows.<BR/><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://theoaklandraiders.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">TheOaklandRaiders.blogspot.com</A>The Analyzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07731758068406400728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150242534151029882006-06-13T19:48:00.000-04:002006-06-13T19:48:00.000-04:00Or at least a figure 8 in the middle...vw: enlonOr at least a figure 8 in the middle...<BR/><BR/>vw: enlonPoohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088628100700088755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150239208740031762006-06-13T18:53:00.000-04:002006-06-13T18:53:00.000-04:00I'd watch NASCAR if they were racing in both direc...I'd watch NASCAR if they were racing in both directions at once. Two lanes, divided by a thin yellow line. Works on the highway, why not?Otto Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051682366565874144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150233959829839102006-06-13T17:25:00.000-04:002006-06-13T17:25:00.000-04:00I thin kpart of soccer's lack of success in Americ...I thin kpart of soccer's lack of success in America has to do with how much we suck at it.<BR/><BR/>Kind of like how the rest of the world was a little slow to warm to basketball because we always mopped the floor with them; at least we did until we became all fat, lazy and shiftless.<BR/><BR/>Speaking of NASCAR, I have a great idea to propel the sport into the next century...one word: clockwise!Isaac Carmichaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17402890244648619420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150226213467482652006-06-13T15:16:00.000-04:002006-06-13T15:16:00.000-04:00Well, Bill. Touché.I'm still waiting for Thrillho...Well, Bill. Touché.<BR/><BR/>I'm still waiting for Thrillhous to come to the defense of his beloved NASCAR. What's the matter, Colonel Sanders? Chicken?Otto Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051682366565874144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150225274219860732006-06-13T15:01:00.000-04:002006-06-13T15:01:00.000-04:00Worst defense of soccer, ever!Worst defense of soccer, ever!billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16116980864333670109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150222221302393332006-06-13T14:10:00.000-04:002006-06-13T14:10:00.000-04:00My beef with soccer is that there aren't any cheer...<I>My beef with soccer is that there aren't any cheerleaders. Also, there's not a single country song dedicated to soccer. </I><BR/><BR/>A) If we could just get the BBC and ITV feeds - they do <I>awesome</I> things at halftime, the producers have gotten very good at "spot the hottie"<BR/><BR/>B) There may not be country songs, but many of them are still pretty crap.Poohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088628100700088755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150218217029448202006-06-13T13:03:00.000-04:002006-06-13T13:03:00.000-04:00That site gives new meaning to "not safe for work,...That site gives new meaning to "not safe for work," Yos.<BR/><BR/>Now my <I>pants</I> are chafing me.Otto Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051682366565874144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150215484964684202006-06-13T12:18:00.000-04:002006-06-13T12:18:00.000-04:00Here are the real uniforms that would get "Real me...Here are the real uniforms that would get "Real men" all over the World Cup (really NOT safe for work)<BR/><BR/>http://sex-worldcup2006.com/groups.php<BR/><BR/>BTW - The Cup belongs to England. They will have no problem with their Group (Paraguay - ha). Only Brazil will slow them down.Yossarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18339645862124488854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150208767353089762006-06-13T10:26:00.000-04:002006-06-13T10:26:00.000-04:00I can't help you with the country song about socce...I can't help you with the country song about soccer -- though I'd recommend the reggae tune "Pam Pam Cameroon."<BR/><BR/>As far as the lack of cheerleaders goes, you can keep your fully-clothed, overly-made-up, plastic women down on the field. I'd go with the scantily-clad, samba-dancing, real-life hotties right there in the stands at the World Cup.<BR/><BR/>(Don't believe me? Check out this link, <A HREF="http://www.cappuccinomag.com/ehsan/blog/BrazilFans.htm" REL="nofollow">not safe for work.</A>Otto Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051682366565874144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150199658150976252006-06-13T07:54:00.000-04:002006-06-13T07:54:00.000-04:00Lordy, wiggum, that was indeed some hard core geek...Lordy, wiggum, that was indeed some hard core geekage there. I feel for you.<BR/><BR/>How do folks in soccer-crazy countries watch games? I know they're downing beers like crazy, but do they just hold it until half time? <BR/><BR/>My beef with soccer is that there aren't any cheerleaders. Also, there's not a single country song dedicated to soccer.Thrillhoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03082092153634900636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150164224383911622006-06-12T22:03:00.000-04:002006-06-12T22:03:00.000-04:00That was such a tragic self-outing of a geek. I t...That was such a tragic self-outing of a geek. I think from here on out, I'm going to read your comments here in the voice of Prof. John Frink.<BR/><BR/><I>Glavin!</I>Otto Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051682366565874144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150161310056960412006-06-12T21:15:00.000-04:002006-06-12T21:15:00.000-04:00Otto, if they adjusted the score to base 7, it wou...Otto, if they adjusted the score to base 7, it would still read 2-1. I suggest the language of computers - base 2. In that case a 2-1 score would read 10 - 1. High scoring indeed!!! <BR/><BR/>(Yes, I realize you didn't literally mean base 7 in the mathematical sense, but remember - I'm a geek)Ra_wiggumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05092858610347061970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13930960.post-1150155191624035262006-06-12T19:33:00.000-04:002006-06-12T19:33:00.000-04:00Good point, Joe. For a nation accustomed to "TV t...Good point, Joe. For a nation accustomed to "TV timeouts" the unbroken 45-minute halves must seem like an eternity. <BR/><BR/>But the corporate sponsorship comes in other ways -- sponsoring airtime, stadium ads, and huge corporate sponsorships. Nike's biggest money makers aren't on the NBA.<BR/><BR/>Japan could make a run, but that's a tough task. Brazil's going to take one group spot, and now Australia has a huge lead for the race for the other and, even if Japan can tie their record, the Aussies have the head-to-head tiebreaker.<BR/><BR/>But hey, I'm a US fan still hoping for recovery. Keep hope alive!Otto Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051682366565874144noreply@blogger.com