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The FIFA World Cup Thread (Spoilers Welcome)

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Re: The FIFA World Cup Thread (Spoilers Welcome)

* that. I'm tired of pretentious hipsters who can be a hardcore Arsenal, Manchester United, or *ing Aston Villa "supporter" when the only tangible connection to England they have is reading Dickens in High School! And all the media that jump on this bandwagon with them, Bill Simmons easily the worst offender along with Deadspin.

This isn't protectionism. I will readily admit MLS isn't the highest level, but these people who hold their noses up at it and constantly complain about MLS being "not like in Europe!" can go die in a fire. It's not terrible, it is entertaining, there is skill, there is action. But to hear it from people it's the equivalent of three grandmas kicking a ball in a park! Yeah MLS does things I don't like, but that's any league.

This is the equivalent of a student at RIT who follows Minnesota instead because "Big Ten is so much better than Atlantic Hockey!" :rolleyes:
If someone in Seattle or New York or Los Angelse told you that, I would agree, but for those of us in the Midwest who aren't from Illinois or Ohio, do you really expect us to just pick a team and root for them over watching what is better soccer in Europe? The only time I ever followed EPL at all was when Donovan and Howard were both at Everton because I could wrap my head around rooting for those 2 to succeed in Europe.
 
Re: The FIFA World Cup Thread (Spoilers Welcome)

My tangible connection to England is my family is about 21st in line for a castle there. :p
 
Re: The FIFA World Cup Thread (Spoilers Welcome)

Grant Wahl reporting that the USA-Portugal had the biggest US TV audience ever for a soccer game, averaging 24.7 million viewers (18.2M ESPN, 6.5M Univision).
 
If someone in Seattle or New York or Los Angelse told you that, I would agree, but for those of us in the Midwest who aren't from Illinois or Ohio, do you really expect us to just pick a team and root for them over watching what is better soccer in Europe? The only time I ever followed EPL at all was when Donovan and Howard were both at Everton because I could wrap my head around rooting for those 2 to succeed in Europe.
If you start waking up at 6am to watch and follow Everton, yeah I will.
 
Re: The FIFA World Cup Thread (Spoilers Welcome)

If you start waking up at 6am to watch and follow Everton, yeah I will.
I never did that. I'd dvr the game, or catch it when it was on because it was the "late game." I just don't care about the MLS, its hard to care when I don't have a team.

EDIT: Not that I think it really matters because I care about the US National players and want to see them succeed on the 2nd biggest stage out there...once again that gives me a rooting interest vs any of the MLS teams. If it takes Minnesota a long time to get a team, I might start following Sporting KC because I loved their park and Zusi is a fun guy to watch.
 
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Re: The FIFA World Cup Thread (Spoilers Welcome)

* that. I'm tired of pretentious hipsters who can be a hardcore Arsenal, Manchester United, or *ing Aston Villa "supporter" when the only tangible connection to England they have is reading Dickens in High School! And all the media that jump on this bandwagon with them, Bill Simmons easily the worst offender along with Deadspin.

This isn't protectionism. I will readily admit MLS isn't the highest level, but these people who hold their noses up at it and constantly complain about MLS being "not like in Europe!" can go die in a fire. It's not terrible, it is entertaining, there is skill, there is action. But to hear it from people it's the equivalent of three grandmas kicking a ball in a park! Yeah MLS does things I don't like, but that's any league.

This is the equivalent of a student at RIT who follows Minnesota instead because "Big Ten is so much better than Atlantic Hockey!" :rolleyes:

I think you might be drifting into the land of hyperbole or reacting to things you've seen and heard outside of this board, because I don't think anyone is representing that kind of mindset here.

I, for example, have absolutely no club affiliations whatsoever, so my belief that the Premier League offers a better and more entertaining product (outside of it's obvious competitive balance issues) has nothing to do with homerism, anti-homerism, bandwagoning, or some sort of poseur pretension. I'll probably watch either if it's on TV, but I'd be lying if I said that EPL wasn't more likely to keep my attention when it's on.

EPL and a handful of other European leagues are objectively better, and I don't think I'm relegating MLS to Granny Rec League status by saying that it is best described as a feeder league for other, more reputable leagues and a pre-retirement destination for top-end talent. I don't follow the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers as closely as I do the Milwaukee Brewers, but that doesn't mean that saying that class A minor league baseball is tantamount to t-ball.
 
Re: The FIFA World Cup Thread (Spoilers Welcome)

Minnesota has the Minnesota United team in the NASL, but they aren't on TV and driving up to Blaine with any sort of regularity to watch a league that is a step to step and a half below the MLS isn't reasonable.

W T F you talkin bout? :confused: Every home game is on 45.
 
Re: The FIFA World Cup Thread (Spoilers Welcome)

Wow. That wasn't a yellow at least for shoving Neymar?

He got justice anyway with that goal.
 
Re: The FIFA World Cup Thread (Spoilers Welcome)

From my perspective, I enjoy soccer much more than your average soccer fan here in the US... But even with the Fire being here, I don't really feel a pull to go watch them... I have tried over the years... My dad took me to Soldier field for a few games in the late 90s... Those were fun, but nothing spectacular... Since the Fire moved to Toyota park in Brideview, I just can't justify the cost of going to a game... The main problem is $15 parking when you are paying $10-20 for a game ticket... Then add in that concessions are $1-3 more than an equivalent at a Hawks/Sox game and you have major issues with me... It's a premium price for a second tier product...

So that being said, where am I supposed to go for my soccer needs in Chicago? There aren't any options other than the fire (no winning NCAA programs, NASL teams, etc)... TV is kinda "meh" for me... I'll put on the BPL when it's on in the mornings for background noise instead of Sportcenter, Sunday Countdown, etc... There isn't any program that seems to be trying to bring me in... I'd like to follow something, but nothing has compelled me to buy into their brand...
 
I think you might be drifting into the land of hyperbole or reacting to things you've seen and heard outside of this board, because I don't think anyone is representing that kind of mindset here.

I, for example, have absolutely no club affiliations whatsoever, so my belief that the Premier League offers a better and more entertaining product (outside of it's obvious competitive balance issues) has nothing to do with homerism, anti-homerism, bandwagoning, or some sort of poseur pretension. I'll probably watch either if it's on TV, but I'd be lying if I said that EPL wasn't more likely to keep my attention when it's on.

EPL and a handful of other European leagues are objectively better, and I don't think I'm relegating MLS to Granny Rec League status by saying that it is best described as a feeder league for other, more reputable leagues and a pre-retirement destination for top-end talent. I don't follow the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers as closely as I do the Milwaukee Brewers, but that doesn't mean that saying that class A minor league baseball is tantamount to t-ball.
Ok, I was referring to the original statement of "sophisticated" soccer fans, not attacking anyone here personally. So yes, I am talking about the Eurosnob, Europoser fans in my anger.

I can understand watching an occasional EPL and Champions League game because it's on. What I hate are the people who try to tell you that Stoke City vs Cardiff City is infinitely better than Seattle vs Portland. It's the people that are talking about how MLS is ruining the National Team. I actually do question MLS being a feeder league though. I will be honest to say that staying in MLS is a good career for players. MLS is competitive league, there a few matches that are meaningless, very unlike the EPL.

What I really hate is the media hype. Not so much from NBC, but from places like Grantland and Deadspin (who had an article telling why they shouldn't watch MLS!) who will pump up the EPL to no end.

tl;dr I hate the term "sophisticated" soccer fan.
 
From my perspective, I enjoy soccer much more than your average soccer fan here in the US... But even with the Fire being here, I don't really feel a pull to go watch them... I have tried over the years... My dad took me to Soldier field for a few games in the late 90s... Those were fun, but nothing spectacular... Since the Fire moved to Toyota park in Brideview, I just can't justify the cost of going to a game... The main problem is $15 parking when you are paying $10-20 for a game ticket... Then add in that concessions are $1-3 more than an equivalent at a Hawks/Sox game and you have major issues with me... It's a premium price for a second tier product...

So that being said, where am I supposed to go for my soccer needs in Chicago? There aren't any options other than the fire (no winning NCAA programs, NASL teams, etc)... TV is kinda "meh" for me... I'll put on the BPL when it's on in the mornings for background noise instead of Sportcenter, Sunday Countdown, etc... There isn't any program that seems to be trying to bring me in... I'd like to follow something, but nothing has compelled me to buy into their brand...
Ok, you I will call out. I can understand not wanting to go to Bridgeview all the time, that's fine. But you can't be bothered to watch them on TV even? Follow on the internet? You enjoy soccer but you can't even try to follow a team literally in your area, even on TV?
 
Ok, you I will call out. I can understand not wanting to go to Bridgeview all the time, that's fine. But you can't be bothered to watch them on TV even? Follow on the internet? You enjoy soccer but you can't even try to follow a team literally in your area, even on TV?
You can't require someone to follow a team simply cause they live near them. There are plenty of Minnesota and Pittsburgh teams I'd never follow. Doesn't mean I'm not a proper fan.

This is starting to make you sound like an elitist.
 
Re: The FIFA World Cup Thread (Spoilers Welcome)

Ok, you I will call out. I can understand not wanting to go to Bridgeview all the time, that's fine. But you can't be bothered to watch them on TV even? Follow on the internet? You enjoy soccer but you can't even try to follow a team literally in your area, even on TV?

TV has been random for their coverage... I know they are on MY 50 Chicago for some games... It's not every game... And when a game is on TV, I do not see it advertised anywhere... I see the Fire more often on ESPN/NBCSN than I do on local TV... They aren't doing a very good job of marketing themselves, and that was the point of my post...

I'm willing to commit to something... No one seems to be making an effort to convert me to themselves however... The Fire have not compelled me to say "Hrm... I wonder where the Fire stand in the MLS standings?" Hell, I didn't even know they were in the US Open cup against Columbus tomorrow.. I don't know what the US Open Cup is or why I should care for it, but it sounds important... If someone made me care about that, I could easily be converted... The only team that has compelled me to care is the USMNT...
 
Re: The FIFA World Cup Thread (Spoilers Welcome)

The us open cup is another where the entire marketing staff needs to be fired. I had no idea what it was until a couple years ago. Even now I don't see a **** thing about it. Ever.
 
You can't require someone to follow a team simply cause they live near them. There are plenty of Minnesota and Pittsburgh teams I'd never follow. Doesn't mean I'm not a proper fan.

This is starting to make you sound like an elitist.
Yeah but I'm also willing to bet you don't like basketball or lacrosse either. He claims to like the game "more than the average US Soccer fan" but he can't be bothered to follow team in his area? Alright, I'm elitist.
 
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