A lot of folks are like me when it comes to soccer. We just don't understand the game like we do other sports. We know a point is scored when the ball is legally put in the net, but the strategy of the game, understanding the difference in player positions and many other aspects of the game are foreign to us. I'm sure in other countries, they have the same problem with our sports.
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OT: The Coming Crisis in the Sport of Football
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"Franchises and TV ratings keep rising for soccer, correct. However, show me some data that they are remotely close to the NFL or baseball."
All I said is that they are rising. You're asking me for something I didn't state. Net, not doing.
"Thank you for proving my point that American football is not popular in other countries."
I didn't disagree. Just pointed out that soccer is closer to football here than football is to soccer in other countries.
"We also have police escorts for Stoops at the Cat Walk. Think we are worried about his safety there? It is a PC move. Other countries where soccer is the most popular sport has had players and referees attacked on the field during games. There are also fights in the stands. That type of unrealistic passion for a team or sport is raised over multiple generations where nothing else matters. I think we are all pretty passionate about the University of Kentucky but have you ever considered attacking a referee or opponent? What about murdering them? In a number of countries they have little to nothing and soccer is everything. We have too many other outlets here in America to care about a single sport enough to fight an opposing fan or murder a referee. You often hear our fans say "Wait until basketball season" which is an example of one of those outlets. Sure, we have fans get drunk and throw a few punches at sporting events, but nothing to the extent of attacking referees, opposing players, or opposing fans."
I think we are pre-empting violence so reduce possibility of what happens elsewhere. Did you see the video of the HS ref attacked by players?
"Sure, people watch soccer and the ratings are on the rise. That does not mean it is a major sport. The three biggest sports in the USA are baseball, football, and basketball. I do not think that MLS will ever surpass the ratings or money involved with the NFL or MLB."
I guess our argument is about what a major sport is. Yes, it will be a long time if ever that it reaches NFL. The rest? Maybe imo.
"There will always be moms who keep their kids out of football because of the fear of injury. Even with all the concussion talk in the last five years the game is not lacking."
Perhaps I'm wrong, but I think football participation is down at the peewee & HS levels.
"The NFL made changes due to concussions, and Junior Seau was a big part of that. What I meant was a change that will effect the league by steering people away from the NFL. A move to keep people safer and avoiding head to head hits is not a move that scares people away. That move made the game safer, protected the players after their careers, but did not take away from the game. I doubt there were any fans that quit watching the NFL because they took away head to head hits."
OK. I do wonder what affect lawsuits will ultimately have.
"From a NY Times article "The NFL has long said that kickoffs have the highest rate of injury of any play. When the NFL moved the kickoff from the 30 to the 35 before the 2011 season, the percentage of touchbacks went from 16.4 percent to 43.5 percent, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. And, as intended, the injury rate fell accordingly. According to NFL figures, there were 40 percent fewer concussions on kickoffs in 2011 than there had been in 2010." You're welcome."
OK.
"Always is a long time. If you have data that suggests soccer ratings and money will overcome any of those three sports, please share. Thanks."
Always is a long time. Soccer TV ratings for various leagues, not just MLS, are in the range of of NHL hockey. That's up from noting 10 years ago or so. NHL is about 1/3-1/2 NBA & MLB. Net, it's conceivable soccer could get into NBA/MLB range in 10-20 years imo.
"From the Harris poll on ESPN: "Pro football is the most popular sport in America for at least the 30th straight year. That's according to a survey taken by the Harris Poll, which has been asking adult fans, ages 18 and over, about their favorite sport since 1985. In 2014, 35% of fans call the NFL their favorite sport, followed by MLB (14%), college football (11%), auto racing (7%), the NBA (6%), the NHL (5%), and college basketball (3%).
Of the 50 most watched sporting events in 2013, 46 were NFL games according to Business Insider. The six not being NFL were college football, NBA, and college basketball. Game six of the World Series that year came in at number 51.........."
In 2014, in top 50, 4 were soccer, 3 Olympics, 1 CFB, 1 MLB, no NBA, CBB, NHL. World Cup no doubt helped soccer.Comment
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OT: The Coming Crisis in the Sport of Football
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