Broadway is a joke!

[GenericKen]

The many American wonders is logical: everything in America is focused on America, the rest of the world is not that important. Not adding any judgement to this, just stating it the way it is (in my experience).

To be fair, they re-named Hoover dam the Three Gorges Dam.


There was a point in time when Broadway overtook Picadilly Square as the cultural center of the world and remained so for some time, though that day was long ago. Gameplay wise, it doesn't make much sense to obsolete Broadway with Mass Media, so they just leave it in and pretend that theatre still has significance.


As to the USA's dislike for soccer, I think it has namely to do with the tactical nature of the game, rather than more strategic sports like gridiron football, basketball, and baseball. Soccer is more similar to hockey than either of these sports, and hockey's popularity has been waning in the states for years. The interest in both sports would likely be pirked by the addition of something like a shot-clock, but I can't imagine any purists allowing that to happen (particularly the atheletes).
I still don't find either personally appealing. Has there ever been a come-from-behind/underdog victory in soccer?

 

[Reignking]

ps not US bashing, but the FIFA rankings are way off, since some contential regions are far tougher than others. Look at the FIFA seedings for the next world-cup for a more realistic apprasial.

The US was just outside of the 8 seeded teams -- I think by 1 point. So, still in the same ballpark. Most soccer writers think the FIFA rankings are useless.

 

[Reignking]

If the US ever hosts the world cup, they might start to enjoy the game!

Try 1994. Which led to a creation of Major League Soccer, which just ended its 10th season.

 

[chinesefireball]

So going back 7 pages or so...

Could anyone tell me what Ellis Island is (well other then a island of course - what is the point). And while you are at it - what is West Point?

 

[Sahkuhnder]

So going back 7 pages or so...

Could anyone tell me what Ellis Island is (well other then a island of course - what is the point). And while you are at it - what is West Point?

Ellis Island is an island by New York City where many europeans first set foot in America in the late 1800s. The area was used to process the paperwork and check the health of new immigrants.

West Point is the U.S. Military Academy where the army's future leaders receive a college education and in-depth military training.

 

[Jesus Civs]

America has a total of 9 wonders in the game (not including the space elevator).

 

[gunkulator]

Baseball is a TBS game while soccer is a RTS game. I know which type I prefer.

 

[Tavenier]

blahblahblah... sorry, bad post.

 

[Tavenier]

The US was just outside of the 8 seeded teams -- I think by 1 point. So, still in the same ballpark. Most soccer writers think the FIFA rankings are useless.

Nope, the Netherlands were 'ninth'. But it was just based on the results of the last two WC's and Holland wasn't in the last one. Became 4th the WC before that.

 

[Tavenier]

I still don't find either personally appealing. Has there ever been a come-from-behind/underdog victory in soccer?

1992: European Cup. Yugoslavia was placed for the event, but then war broke out. It was replaced by a nice little football-country, Denmark. The Danish players returned from their holidays and started the EC not trained to the max. In the semi-finals they defeated the reigning European Champion, the Netherlands. In the finals they defeated Germany, with 3 world titles considered one of the best European football nations.

 

[Reignking]

Nope, the Netherlands were 'ninth'. But it was just based on the results of the last two WC's and Holland wasn't in the last one. Became 4th the WC before that.

Nope.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-wcupdraw-seedings&prov=ap&type=lgns

"The United States, a quarterfinalist at the 2002 World Cup, was ninth with 43 points, followed by the Netherlands (38). "

 

[Reignking]

I still don't find either personally appealing. Has there ever been a come-from-behind/underdog victory in soccer?

The Chelsea-Barcelona Champions League match last year was incredible. Greece won the Euro. Unheralded South Korea made the semis in 2002. An amateur team got to the finals of of France's domestic cup before losing (to Bordeaux, I believe, 5 or so years ago), which is as if you office's softball team played the Yankess in the World Series DC United won the first MLS championship by scoring w/ 17 and 3 minutes left to tie it, then won in overtime. Just some off of the top of my head...

See, Americans know soccer

 

[Nilrim]

Baseball is a TBS game while soccer is a RTS game. I know which type I prefer.

Hummmmm an interesting way of looking at it, even American football could be viewed as TBS as each play is set up before the snap of the ball. You might be on to something here. Of course Basketball would be RTS and of the 3 major US sports it ranks 3rd. Yea that must be it Eruos are RTS types and Americans are TBS, I like the concept, I wonder what Sociologist think about this entire topic?

 

[jar2574]

Baseball is a TBS game while soccer is a RTS game. I know which type I prefer.

Interesting analogy. I prefer baseball and football over basketball and soccer. Maybe you're on to something here...

 

[Thalassicus]

Hockey, too, would fit in the RTS field, which isn't as popular as the others in the US. You're right though, Baseball and American Football are both simultaneous-turn-based, while hockey, soccer/football, and basketball are all continuous play (for most of the game).

 

[Syntherio]

If thats the clue, what do you think about chess? Also a TBS-Sport

 

[Jimbo30]

I can't help but to respond to this clarification with more clarification.

The word Soccer originates from England. In the early 1800's there were many variations of the game played by differant English Universities. In 1882 a general rule set was finally agreed upon and the modern game of Associated Football was born. The slang name for the game was Assoc. That didn't exactly roll off the tongue. And since Rugby Football was called Rugger.. it was natural that Associated Football be called Soccer.

American Football traces it's roots to Princeton University in the early 1800's. It was first called Ballown and it had some similarities to Rugby. At Harvard a similar but differant game was also developed. After the American Civil War various colleges started their own versions of the game. And in 1867 Princeton developed some rudimentary rules and the football itself was first patented. In 1869 the first intercollegiate game was played between Princeton University and Rutgers College. And in 1873 the Intercollegiate Football Association was formed and a formal set of rules was established. The game evolved from there.

So in all actuallity American Football was established nearly a decade before English Associated Football.

Dunno about the 'soccer' part but I do know that I support Kilmarnock FC (est 1869) who are the 2nd oldest football team in the world. Notts County are the oldest (est 1867 I believe). The first ever International football match was played in 1872 in Partick, Glasgow (Scotland 0 - England 0).

I think it's a bit much to say American Football was 'established' nearly a decade before this time because of a set of rules and a couple of college games. Chances are football was being played here 30 years before any clubs were established.

 

[Thalassicus]

More than that...soccer/football rules might have only been standardized in the 1800's, but the basic idea of two teams hitting a ball around with your feet has been around much longer. None of the sports can really be traced to a definite date.

 

[Tavenier]

Nope.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-wcupdraw-seedings&prov=ap&type=lgns

"The United States, a quarterfinalist at the 2002 World Cup, was ninth with 43 points, followed by the Netherlands (38). "

Yep, you're right. I heard it on a sports-show, obviously they were wrong.
It's amazing though that the USA scores so high. As a country that hasn't got football in their top 3 favourite sports. On the FIFA-world rankings the USA is even higher, 7th place. That is with all games ever played. Netherlands are third there, by the way
With the American 7th place on world rankings they score higher then football-nations like Italy or England. But that obviously has something to do with the average opponents they meet. Italy often has to play countries like Romania, Russia or Ireland and then say it will be an easy match, while the USA would name an opponent as the Bahamas as an easy match.

 

[Reignking]

The US has one gigantic advantage -- we have a @!#$@# of people We're bound to find a few people can play soccer...