Taking Sides on soccer

[Matt Cotcher]

The World Cup starts today. Do you care? Should you care? This week's Taking Sides weighs in - join us....

 

[Lukus Alderman]

First of all: Matt, you had a porcelain doll collection? Yeesh!

But seriously, good points from both sides. Soccer has been around for what seems like ages and America still hasn't adopted it as a true major sport. Maybe it's just too uninteresting and slow to follow for a fast-paced society?

But, as Matt mentioned, we've got tons of resources and a good economy. Maybe it's time to get more serious about a hugely popular sport from the rest of the world.

 

[Shevis Irons]

As many here know, I worked as a cameraman in sports for nearly twenty five years. Freelance. I worked primarily PGA Tour stops and NFL football, however over the years I worked just about everything including NHRA racing and even MMA fights. I worked one, ONE Dynamos game. I fought falling asleep the entire game. Seriously, even with all the soccer rowdies over my shoulder, I just couldn't get into it. I actually longed for the excitement of a Golf Tournament.

 

[texasdobbs]

I really don't care... but I know that there others out there that love soccer, but it bores the crapolo out of me. I do however, believe that soccer players are amazing athletes ....

 

[Juan]

I like it, watch it and follow the US Teams, even the women's natty team - they have had some fabulous-to-watch matches (World Cup/Olympics) over the last 10 years.   I wish the sport had been more widely accessible when i was a kid.

But it does not bother me if other do not feel same way.  I could care less.  I am not going to invest any of my valuable time just to show them the error of their ways.  It would be like arguing over which flavor of ice cream is the best.  What would be the point?

We all make our choices.  It is pretty great that we are free to do that and from so many options.

 

[Juan]

As many here know, I worked as a cameraman in sports for nearly twenty five years. ....

Your real initials are not VH are they?

I had a good friend back in the day in Austin who was a cameraman.  I lost touch over the years.

 

[streettopeschel]

Matt, you remind me of a friend of mine who was born in the UK. he'd always tell me i didn't understand the subtle nuances of the game. my answer was 'the object of the game is to kick the ball in the net and it rarely happens'.

i don't mind soccer and like some olympic sports, i enjoy the spectacle every 4 years.

what i DON'T need is soccer-guy telling me i need to get on board because it's the world's most popular sport. i don't care, nor should the rest of the world care.  American football is insanely popular here, but a non-factor everywhere else.  

and 'all those kids playing soccer' will help make it a big-time sport in the US. I've been hearing that since kyle rote jr was a 'name' in the 70s. hasn't happened. won't ever happen.

i'll watch a good amount the next 3 weeks and then hibernate until 2018. unapologetically.

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

Best of the best athletes in countries other than USA play soccer. Imagine freak NFL athletes playing soccer. A USA freak squad versus Brazil's best, I would pay to see that.

 

[Shevis Irons]

Your real initials are not VH are they?

I had a good friend back in the day in Austin who was a cameraman. I lost touch over the years.

Nope, DL. I worked with a cameraman named Vinnie. He was from Chicago but moved to Austin to flee Wife and kid. He was booted from one network and not allowed to work on the PGA Tour after kicking the CEO of Shell ( way before UT's own Marvin Odem took over.) He claimed he was claustrophobic and as the crowd got to close to him he just reacted poorly. I knew better. He was not claustrophobic and picked the wrong person to kick.

Hope that's not who you are referring to.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

To enjoy and appreciate futbol, you have to get into the passing and footwork.  Obsessing over goals scored does, indeed, make it boring.  Having said that, I don't watch it regularly.  I'll watch EPL instead of baseball occasionally and will definitely tune into the bigger World Cup matches.

Go, USA!

 

[Matt Cotcher]

It would be like arguing over which flavor of ice cream is the best.

If you need a suggestion, I'm also a professional ice cream eater.

 

[Juan]

Nope, DL. I worked with a cameraman named Vinnie. 

Nope, it was Vance.

Oh well, worth a try.

 

[Juan]

If you need a suggestion, I'm also a professional ice cream eater.

There is a new frozen yogurt spot near me.  And they allow dogs. So I can just waddle down there and back with a best friend, or two.  It's self serve, pay by weight.  They have alot of choices to pick among and add (including fresh out of the oven, cubed brownies).  All of which is both good and bad.

 

[strick]

It's boring and we suck. What's to like?

 

[BudreauReye]

It's boring and we suck. What's to like?

I do not give a flying ... well, in the spirit of openness and inclusion of all of Ahura Mazda's children here on this Earth ... Naw!  I still don't give a flying ... Uh! Burrito?

 

[drgilbert]

Don't watch and really don't care. I will be watching Longhorn baseball when I can and dreaming of football season. I would also rather watch UFC.

 

[Chris Flanagan]

Soccer is a fantastic sport. Like Matt said, if you can learn to like NASCAR, you can like soccer.

 

[streettopeschel]

Soccer is a fantastic sport. Like Matt said, if you can learn to like NASCAR, you can like soccer.

NASCAR is stupid.

 

[Kylie Hopkins]

I'm not going to lie, I'm one of the bandwagon soccer fans during the World Cup. It's kind of like the Olympics for me; I don't watch ice skating nationals or track and field nationals, but when the Olympics roll around, I'm the world's biggest fan.