I go to my first professional game tonight. Euros and PNW hippies, what should I watch for? How will I know when actual sport is occurring on the field?
I know all about football -- I played offensive line in high school. I'm looking for a cram session on Soccer. You know, the one with the World Cup?
Besides, there are very few noteworthy players in the MLS anyhow. Do you actually know the teams who are playing?
DC United according to their website. Actually saw DC United play in a friendly at White Hart Lane many years ago against my side. Both teams, however, are full of nobodies who can't hack it in the big leagues in Europe or South America. I suspect the quality of the match will be average at best. Games are usually good when they are end to end and the crowd is up for it. If the crowd is shit, expect to be bored for 90 minutes if you don't know how the sport is played.
I already expect to be bored for 90 minutes. Soccer is inherently boring, which is why the fans resort to drunken rowdiness. Any hooligan tips for me? One of the guys I'm with is Irish and seems wise to these things. He assures me I'll have a good time, because I know how to drink.
Horseshit. I mean, seriously, you lot can sit in a stadium for hours on end watching a bunch of cunts running around a diamond endlessly and you're calling football boring? Pah.
It's the American way! What we do is better because we're the ones who do it. And if foreigners don't understand it? Better still. 'Merika, fuck yeah! #benghazzi
Go to the North End of Gillette Stadium, the GA area known as The Fort. It's where the Rev Army and Midnight Riders stand. Both the Rev and DCU suck this year, so try and maximize the fan experience aspect.
Thanks Anc! I should have known an American would be able to provide some good tips. We did invent the game afterall.
The Fort, at the north end of Gillette Stadium, is where the Revolution's most ardent supporters stand and cheer through out the match. The location has its own "Rules of Engagement". I suggest that you take your seat on the east or west side, and take in the action on the field. The Revolution have won four matches in a row. Their fortunes have changed since they brought Diego Fagundez, #14, into the starting line-up; and moved Kelyn Rowe, #11, into central midfield. Fagundez, from Uruguay, is eighteen years-old. Playing on either wing, he is the Revolution's leading goal scorer, and most dynamic player. The Revolution signed him when he was 15, so he counts as a home grown player. Rowe, a 21 year-old American, is the team's field general, and leading assist maker. The Revolution are currently 6th place in the Eastern Conference, with five teams making the play-offs. Have a good time, and enjoy the match.
Um, no. The current version of the game was invented at Cambridge University in the 19th Century, with it's predecessors dating back to the medieval times - you know the period before your little colony existed, back when real Americans populated North America.
Soccer is indeed a bit boring. Watch some Gaelic Football, gul. It's like American Football, but without all the body armour or teabreaks every 30 seconds.
You limeys may have codified a set of rules, but the game was played in North America long before the English invasion. Versions were also played in ancient Greece, China, and pre-invasion Australia, among other places.
Soccer is the most vanilla sport ever. I don't understand why everyone else loves it. I'll assume it's because we in the US haven't imperialized hard enough with American Football.
No, it's because American handegg reminds us why you are a nation of poofs. The rest of us play rugby.
My personal barometer for whether it's a good soccer game is how much it looks like volleyball. If neither team can pass more than twice before turning the ball over or punting it downfield, it's bad soccer and I may as well stare at the wall, because nothing interesting is going to happen. Sustained drives and passes that hit their marks are as important in soccer as in hockey or American football or any similar sport. Feats of athleticism, such as outrunning an opponent or deft dribbling, are also things to watch for. As are shots on goal that actually are on-target, rather than skidding by two feet from the goalpost or six feet over the crossbar. As a non-fan in the stands, however, the important thing is to keep an eye on the officials. They occasionally initiate audience participation stunts to keep the fans busy. If you see one raise a card colored yellow, that's the ancient signal to stand up and do the Duck Dance. Red cards are a recent addition and offer the chance to stand up and sing your team's national anthem. Traditionally, in either case, the first one to do so in each section gets half off his next beer, so staying alert is worth your while.
So gul, how was it? Where did you end up standing? Yesterday's Cascadia Cup match against Vancouver was awesome. What a great comeback. At 70 minutes down 2-1 then two quick goals and we're up 3-2. The Brougham End during that last goal: [yt=Click Me!]3Ypylp24PYI[/yt]
Was okay, but seemed mostly like an excuse to drink. The score was 0-0 which excited some DCU fans sitting near us. A guy in my group explained that goals are just something that get in the way of the natural flow of the game. I guess I can appreciate that, but my level of understanding that natural flow isn't strong. Also, the volley ball analogy -- yeah, that was happening big time. Some fucker posted on my facebook wall that it was shit teams in a shit league playing shit soccer. I honestly wouldn't know. Also, the guys in the North end were a bunch of pansies. If I ever had to mix it up with them, they'd be in for some hurt.
That's bullshit. Some of the best games I've seen have been high scoring ones, even when my side has ultimately lost.
I would think high scoring would make for a better game, but soccer fans often explain to me that it's not about the score. Maybe they're just rationalizing the boredom.
I think it would be more accurate to say that it's not always about the score. There are some good games with few or no goals - but it's usually when despite the lack of goals there are still plenty of attacks and near misses, rather than tediously passing the ball around in midfield.
Yeah watching soccer just isn't that popular in the US, which is kinda odd because it's a very popular sport for children. Not even importing David Beckham seemed to help. That said, there is an audience, soccer is very popular in Mexico and there are many Mexican-Americans.
Watching a baseball game at the stadium is a good time, mainly because it's a social event, you go with a group of friends, eat crap food, drink overpriced beer, and have a laugh or two. Plus watching a game live gives you a better appreciation of just how far those guys are throwing the ball, and just how far a home-run ball has to fly. But watching it on television? Yeah that blows.
