Explain the allure of soccer to me.

[enfield303t]

OK, a little perspective on US played soccer.

Before Title IX, you couldn't find a soccer ball around an American high school. When the women were offered soccer as their alternative sport to men's football, there was a bunch of guys who didn't like the jock aspect of American-style football but still wanted to play something more manly than tennis. Hence, we have soccer today and, unfortunately, soccer moms and their over-protective attitudes towards their little darlings.

I was teaching high school then and that's the way we got into soccer in the US. At my school, soccer didn't have enough ticket sales to buy a jock strap let along pay for refs, uniforms, construct fields, cover bus transport to away games or even provide Gatorade for the team at practice. Guess where all that cash comes from!? Men's football and basketball. These two sports carry all the others. If American football didn't pay for the other sports in high school, there wouldn't be any other sports.

As some have said, anyone can play it and that's usually what you get....anyone who can't play other sports. Sorry to be tough on soccer players. There are some really good ones, but, unfortunately, many, many poor ones.

As for the Manchester U or some of the other silly names that these teams call themselves when they aren't in a brawl, we can sort out the newcomers to town by those who have a flag plastered across their mini-van's rear window declaring themselves supporters of their child's "team." As though anyone except themselves care.

Mack....don't hold back, tell us what you really think. Fortunately billions think your view is wrong and I must agree. There are varying degrees of talent in all sports including college football and basketball. Thanks for commenting on "silly names", like "Cornhuskers" is a logical name. It is a great game in virtually the entire world due to the fact anyone with talent and a great desire can succeed at participating in it.
I have a idea, print your post, laminate it, post it on the back of your favourite college football jacket, wear it in Manchester or any other soccer (football) city in the UK and join in the fun you are about to experience.