Full Court Press

It's soccer, my friend! Come over to the dark side, Luke.

"Sports!!...when ya need a nap!!"

Soccer was invented by moms who didn't want their little boys to play football, Roman...so, when ya ask soccer fans what you've been missing....be glad it's not the two things they're missing..

and don't give me the hooligan speech...30 on 1 doesn't make you tough...quite the opposite

baseball is lucky it's America's past time....just as boring

Virginia Tech and Boston College was a whale of a game....IT'S FOOTBALL SEASON....

I think Yelp.com should cater to the "soccer enthusiasts" ...Yeah, that's about as gay as a picky eater who crys on a website

Just say defunct

You know what...I just figured out what soccer is great for....rounding up illegals!!!

So, now you know what you, me, and the INS are all "missing"

Ahhhh, Good Morning

Roman responds: You did more to convert me into a soccer fan with that ugly diatribe than any soccer fan could have accomplished. And it looks like a pretty tough sport to me.

Youll hear all you can take at either or both:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=21

http://www.section8chicago.com/jm2/

Over the last 5 months average attendance at Toyota Park has been over 17,000. Why do the Blackhawks still receive more mainstream media attention?

DF

Roman responds: Good question.

What you saw last night was game 1 of a 2 game playoff round vs. hated rival D.C. United.

You can liken the Fire to the Rockies. The Fire were pretty much out of the playoff hunt for much of the year, and then had a great streak to make the playoffs, thanks in part to a new coach, and a huge international signing in the form of 'Temo Blanco who has reenergized the team with passion and vision.

Despite DC being one of the best teams in league history, Chicago has owned them in the playoffs. Game 2 will be in DC next week, on ESPN2.

By the way, in this 2 game series, it's total goals for both games that determines the winner. You should watch, it'll be a great game!

Roman responds: Ok, here's my lack of knowledge showing. Has DC United been as good since Freddy Adu left? I know he wasn't that good in the MLS.

You've only been missing the winningest team in Chicago. They've won more national titles than the Cubs, Sox, Bears and Hawks combined these past 20 years.

A roucous stadium atmosphere with great views from every seat. Fan-friendly players. Not too expensive tickets. In short, the best sports entertainment around.

Roman responds: C'mon, that sounds like going to a Cubs game or Bears. LOL!

Roman -
DC has arguably been better since they shipped Adu to Salt Lake - They've used the salary cap space for a couple of really good brazilian attacking players who are actually big enough to take a hit in this league.

The Fire was in last place at the all-star break. Their play was the stereotype of bad, boring soccer. They fired their coach - it was all falling apart. But the brought in a new coach, their superstar signing (Cuauhtemoc Blanco) came in from Mexico, and the whole team started turning on. They've now gone 9 games unbeaten.

Keep watching - it's the playoffs, so every game might be the last.

What you saw was a typical soccer game. Score 1-0. Much aimless milling about in the middle of the field. Fans singing to themselves to keep themselves awake. They need to open up the game. Eliminate the offside rule and maybe expand the goal to ecourage at least attempts to score.

Fuggeddabouditt!!!
___________________________________________
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Roman, its not just what you been missing... its who you been missing.Since its inception in 98 the Fire has had two of the most exciting players to play in MLS.First you had Peter Nowak-one of the most underrated midfielders to play the game-not just in the US but Europe as well.Now, after he retired there was some lean years, and when the front office announced the signing of Blanco there was apprehension from the fan base.But 'Temo has squashed any of that, he has come to play and play damn well at that.
Blanco just may be the most exciting athlete in town right now.Though to give the bulls and hawks some justice their seasons havent really started yet.. so we shall see.

It was an okay game, I wish Temo finish a couple of shots he had. For those who don't like soccer you either love it or you don't. Seeing the Fire win the MLS cup in 98 was my best sport moment in history, well now seeing the Sox win the WS is the best moment. You have to understand the game to love it.

You are missing the most exciting team and best fans in Chicago

FIRE TILL I DIE

I heard is dying down. Govenor Schwarzenegger should be commended for taking care of those victims.

I understand the game and don't particularly love it. I grew up in Poland kicking a sock around the house that served as "soccer ball" when I was a tot. That was my first sport activity.

When I came to the US, the US sports attracted my interest more, perhaps because I wanted to fit in, but even now as an adult, when this isn't an issue, I still prefer US sports.

What I don't like about soccer is it lacks away the mano a mano physicality of sports like football and basketball. And the infamous soccer "flops" are really embarrassing to watch.

saw a game in Rio that was amazing, as a spectacle, but the game itself wasn't all that amazing, even with the best soccer players in the world, the Brazilians, playing it.

the TRUTH, is that 90% of the time, soccer is intensely and amazingly boring, though some goals are fantastic to watch.

Chadwick,

I'll take Devon Hester over a washed up Blanco any day!!!
______________________________________________________
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Funny thing about Freddy: There is a lot of talk about how MLS is "inferior" to other leagues. Well, not only does EVERY foreign star that comes here claim other wise, but Adu has bean tearing it up in Portugal. Something he never did in America.

You know Mich, I respect your view. You seem like you enjoy more than just soccer unlike most of the nuts replying to this blog from bigsoccer.com.

I like to watch most sports. Some I think are better than others but they don't take away from my favorites. Most soccer nuts love soccer and hate all other sports and see them as threats to their 'beautiful game'. I imagine soccer is great to play and if you were brought up with it, I understand loving it and watching it. But since it's not indigenous to the US, I think it should be changed to appeal to American tastes. Just like all the other sports. If defense gets too tough and scores stagnate, they change the rules - MLB lowered the pitcher's mound, the NFL protected the QB and WR's, basketball took away the hand check, the NHL took away the red line and made room behind the goal. Soccer in this country should do the same to open up the game. Once you get some more scoring - games like 3-2 vs. 1-0 I think soccer would be a better game to watch and enjoy.
_________________________________________________________
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Roman, I was a lifelong Sox fan - almost exclusively - until deciding on a whim to attend a game as the stadium was built about 3 minutes down Harlem from me.

The first one was unremarkable - i went home pretty disappointed that first time - but the atmosphere and the connection the team has to the fans got to me the more I remembered the evening and how unique that was, like the Sox WS run but for a normal regular season game.

I've since been back to 4 games this season including Thursday and it just gets better the more important the games get. It's soccer and it's still not my favorite sport but it is very exciting in its best moments and you seriously would be hard-pressed to find a better atmosphere with 20 thousand people in Chicago or the Midwest with what was there thursday. Last game I brought an older fried who is a Hawks fan and he said it reminded him of the best days of the old stadium.

While I may not ever be a soccer fan, I am a Fire fan. I hope more people open up to this too. It's really something.

Hitman, all I can say is it's going to be a very difficult 21st Century for ya. You must be an old man.

Oakparkbob,
As much as you don't like all things Fire, you sure spend A LOT of time on Big Soccer - and now here - complaining about it. So you must enjoy it enough to watch and complain about it.

Roman responds: Aha! Busted.

I only get it when that guy screams GGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!

Dan, I am really proud of what you wrote. You understood the most critical thing about the special bond between Fire players and their fans--we are not soccer fans we are FIRE FANS. It is a great honor to be a Fire player but an even greater priviledge is to be a Fire fan.

Glad I could help...enjoy

Since July the Fire have drawn:

7/12 Houston 20,034
8/4 Columbus 20,358
8/25 Kansas City 18,453
9/15 RBNY 20,586
9/23 DC United 20,079
10/6 New England 20,014
10/21 LA Galaxy 21,374

So the Fire have averaged 20,128 fans per game in a stadium that has an official capacity of 20,000 since July. Consider that the Blackhawks have only had 1 game so far this year that has been close to these numbers (the opener had 18,786), and are now averaging 12,527 (6 game sample). The White Sox drew an average of 16k a game as recently as 1999. So I don't understand why the Fire still gets ignored, but what do I know, I'm just a fan.

Anonymous....13 million illegals and we can't find 20 to win the world cup?....bad batch? tough sport?...or not enough of our real athletes settling to be soccer players?

The Ladies have a cup....

old man?...lol...

I've seen the Cubs at Wrigley...I've seen the Sox at both parks...I've been to Bears Games and Blackhawks Games...but nothing comes close to a Fire game...I'm not sure why Fire Fans are the best fans in Chicago, but it might have something to do with being hidden by the media (not here of coarse) and the haters that repeat thier ignorance over and over might help bring about the unity we feel at home...MLS is one of the most physical leagues in the world...and Soccer (Futball)(Football)(Fusball)requires more skill and guts than any other sport.

The real difference between the #1 team in town Bears...and the #4 team in town Fire...is the Bears coverage, and the two and a half hours of commercials that the NFL enjoys...the commercials have gotten so numerous and long ***I forgot what I was writing about***and while writing this I may have also dicovered the lure of hate...life is for living, and I'm on Fire.

Go Fire! :-)

americans invented their own sports because they would fail miserable at playing a sport everybody else was good at it.

I'm like dan, though i came around before the new stadium. don't really follow soccer other than watchign the occasional champions league match or when the USA comes to town. but i love the fire and make it to about five games a year at least since 2003.

the atmosphere and the team's connection to it's base is what makes it so special. like college basketball in north carolina, or college football in wisconsin, the fans love their team and the team loves them back. win or lose.

Dan - I was exactly like you. Not a soccer fan but a Fire fan - and for the exact reasons you mentioned.
But then one day our boy DaMarcus Beasley left the Fire for PSV Eindhoven, and Carlos Bocanegra went off to Fulham, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up early weekend mornings to follow Dutch and English league games, and all of a sudden, I had a year-round obsession on my hands.

I still love American (and Canadian) sports. But, there's only one game of football a week. There's always a soccer game to watch somewhere.

Oh and Hitman? We also have 275 million American Citizens in this country, and still can't QUALIFY for the Olympics in baseball. Not enough of our "real athletes" not settling for that sport, either?

While I loved the reference to soccer moms above inventing the game (when I graduated HS in 78', that was definitely the case as far as who played the game), it is interesting to compare soccer to the former NHL team here in the city. I actually think the Fire is very analogous to the hey-day of the hawks. Pretty much a novelty professional sport with 100,000 fans in the city and 20,000 show up to every game cuz they're die hards.
Having travelled to every continent but 1, you really can't compare soccer fandom here in the US to that of soccer fans in other countries. Many of those countries are so poor (at least 99% of the population) that there is little else to play. They don't have the multitude of resources and sports like this country does. While some of these countries are now playing national sports like baseball and baseketball for 15 years, soccer goes back before the world wars.

oakparkbob - excellent point. one "problem" with soccer from a certain stanpoint, the purists are sure to disagree is that soccer is like college basketball before the shotclock.

What I mean by this is that many teams, knowing they are inferior in athleticism and skill to others basically will play a purely defensive game, and play merely not to lose, hoping for either a tie, a lucky free kick, or some other manna from heaven.

basically some teams will play the soccer version of the 4 corners offense (from college basketball made famous by Dean Smith) all game long. How "exciting" and "interesting" do you think that game is going to be?

that is one reason people love Brazilian soccer, the "beautiful game", is beautiful as played by the Brazilians who play a free flowing and largely attacking style. Yet even such a style can often be stymied by a very defensive and tactical approach as often employed by the Germans, for e.g.

Unless the rules can be changed to eliminate this play not to lose soccer approach (some purists will call this is a valid strategy when "undermanned"), it will always be boring as hell, those games anyways.

The other problem with soccer, for me anyways, is that it decidedly lacks the "mano a mano" moments provided in other sports... meaning times in the game where one guy just destroys his opponent and we can be there to enjoy the moment. Like Jordan dunking over Ewing in the playoffs and standing over him for a moment to savor it. Even in baseball, the mere act of a guy saying, I'm going to throw this ball down the plate at 100 mph, you hit it. You do not get such moments in soccer that often.

Rather, is it is more like hockey, a coordinated "ballet", (but with hockey being played on a much smaller "field", and at higher speeds, there is more "action"). Yes you get some individual moments, but far fewer than in American sports, which cater to the tastes of the American public (and this happens to be my taste now, as well)

Pedro, no nos diga esta paja. Americans are the best athletes in the world (I consider athleticism to be a combination of speed and power). The power component is missing and not needed in soccer, but our national obesity problems aside, more people and kids here play organized sports than in any country in the world, not to mention lift weight, et

hIT MAN...you are off your chain here.

I coaches soccer sports camp for a few summers, and it really helped my footwork for basketball. Who knew that you could actually choose where to put your feet, instead of just having them trip behind you. It was a major breakthrough moment.

I love world cup time.

Also, it is so popular because you dont need much to play it. Just something to kick and something to kick it at. Not unlike Hoops...also...popular for shorter people. Not that its exclusive, thats just been my experience.

Taller kids seemed to gravitate towards Hoops..and shorter quicker kids seem to be better at soccer.

Im sure I just opened up a can of worms here...and im sure someone will tell me how tall Alexi Lawless is...but still...it is what it is...

Anyone watch last man standing?

They have a sport in the Mexican mt. tribal region that is like Soccer/Cross Country Running/Mt.Hiking/Lacross & Golf all rolled into one. Very Badass!

Pedro...America is everyone else!!!

13 million illegals and we can't find 20 to win the world cup?

Charming. Actually, one of the things I like best about soccer is that it has this capacity to bring nations together. The World Cup isn't played by individual clubs. Each country brings together its best players from all over the world. They train hard and play in their national colors and the whole country comes together to cheer them on. Fans put aside incredibly intense club rivalries. Real Madrid and Barcelona hearkens back to the Spanish Civil War. Celtic and Rangers goes back to the Protestant Reformation! But they all get this chance to put that aside and really take pride in their nation without stupid politicians getting in the way.

It's like having the Olympics going on all the time. It's like having the Miracle on Ice happen a couple of times every year. Scotland has been terrible for 20 years, but this year they beat France, the runner up in the last World Cup, twice. They are going nuts. The rivalry between the US and Mexico has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 12 years or so, but while Mexicans are painfully aware (they ALL know who Landon Donovan is for the same reason we could all name the Detroit Pistons who kept beating us year after year in the playoffs in the late 80's), we're pretty much oblivious.

Sorry to run on like this, but the national soccer teams bring a whole other dimension to sports that we miss here in America. It's too bad. I hope that it changes, and I think it is, slowly but surely.

Most soccer nuts love soccer and hate all other sports and see them as threats to their 'beautiful game'.

That's... an odd statement. I live and die (mostly die) with the Fighting Illini. I love the Bears. March Madness is the best three weeks of the year. I'm not hugely into baseball, but I follow the Cubs (I grew up downstate; Sox fans south of I-80 are just born contrarians). It's not an either/or thing, and I don't think there's much evidence to back you up.

more excellent points from other posters:

to wit:

the global popularity of soccer and the fanaticism behind it has two major reasons

a) there is no sport easier to play than soccer, it can be enjoyed and played by the poorest economic strata. All one needs is a ball, or something that rolls like a ball and you can mark goalposts with debris on the street. There are no automatic disqualifiers, like height and even weight, though obviously speed, endurance and agility are needed. But the chunkier guys can play defense and the better ones will be the strikers, etc. Even a chunky kid might make a decent goalie.

b) soccer has replaced war making as the best way for international competition (much to the world's relief). International matches, especially for something like the World Cup have all the intensity of the 9th inning in a tied up 7th game of the World Series. It is completely insane. I remember being a little kid in Poland in 1974 when they made the World Cup Quarterfinals and every single TV set in the city was turned on for the game that got them in. I think they won 1-0 in that game, and when the goal was scored, I was in my bed (as my parents made me go to sleep, the game was late) and literally heard the entire window shake with everyone in the neighborhood screaming out "goal"!.

anyways, since it's the one sport everyone in the world can claim to play, that's how they compete. Soccer wouldn't be anywhere as big as it is if it wasn't for the World Cup and the International matches.

oh.. and the claims by Fire fans that soccer isn't as popular because it doesn't receive the "media coverage" is as the Brits might say "bollocks". The media covers what there is demand for and is ratings driven. That's why we get daily Britney Spears reports.

I made the "Ghetto spot" comment...thats why hoops is so popular too...same thing...it doesnt cost anything to play...and you can play by yourself and anywhere.

Its not like Hockey..Tennis or Golf...where you need hundreds of dollars of equipment...before you can even hit the court...and thats...if you can afford court time....or a tee time.

Now this is coming from someone who charged 70/hr in private basketball lessons....but...the facts are...

Hoops and soccer are popular because they are simple and easy and non expensive to learn to play. But like most great things....

they both take a minute to learn and a lifetime to master!

I like all sports at this point....NASCAR....WORLD CUP...GYMNASTICS...TRACKnFIELD...GoLF...

everything except....

WNBA....

just cant watch it...

although Parker is amazing...and wait till Brittany Murphy hits the scene...then...maybe Ill watch it.

Roman,

Stop by The Globe on Irving Park to watch the next leg of the playoff series with DC. I'll buy you a beer. The place will be packed with Fire fans, it'll give you an idea of what you are missing.

Roman responds: Very possible.

It's crazy how non-soccer fans are so jealous and feel threatened by the popularity of the game world-wide. Soccer will always be the number one game in the world, so deal with it and stop making fools out of yourselves. It's the best game in the world although there are nice other sports to watch. Just face the fact that you are ignorant about the game or you are just a hater.

Ron, I've heard that comment a lot from American soccer fans, and I just can't agree with it. A lot of Americans (and yes, this is going to be a sweeping generalization that I probably shouldn't make) are very USA-oriented and don't care about what's going on elsewhere unless the US is heavily involved. While it's true that a lot of Americans are NOT like that, but I really think that when Americans look at professional sports, soccer/rugby/Aussi-rules football/cricket/etc even enter into their minds. When they hear "soccer", they automatically think of a low-scoring "wimpy" sport that for some reason the rest of the world likes . . . but they really don't care.

Personally, I've loved soccer since the start of MLS in 1996 at age 12. I was a big fan of the Bulls and White Sox before then, and I occasionally watched college football, but as my fascination with soccer grew, my interest in baseball and football waned. Then the Bulls dismantled their championship-winning team in 1998 and the basketball team that I had loved was gone. I watched only soccer from 1999 until 2005 and became one of those stereotypical soccer fans who hates all "American sports". Thankfully, at that point my brother finally convinced me to start watching the Bulls again (he had followed them through their miserable years since '98), and I'm ready for the opening of the Bulls' season tonight.

Why don't more Americans like soccer? I really think you have to understand the game to be a fan (much more so than with football, basketball, and baseball because it's a low-scoring game) and to gain a true understanding of the game, you have to watch a LOT of games.

And the answer to the original question is simply: a lot of fun.

Oak Park Bob claims to hate soccer but he spends as much time, if not more, on soccer message boards as fans who actually admit to liking the game - and he's been at it for at least 4 years now. The Buffoon used to troll at the ESPN message boards and has been kicked out of Big Soccer a couple of times. If you go to the Tribune you'll find him over there and now he pops up on at the Sun-Times.

If someone dislikes something as much as OPB dislikes soccer, why would he spend so much time trolling soccer message boards? Does he not have any activities or hobbies or friends/family that he could spend his free time with?

1. Any true fan would not "admit" to being a fan. Soccer fans are PROUD to be fans.

2. If you don't like the sport, good for you. Those of us who do could care less that you don't. I don't like baseball. I'm sure the millions of you who do like it are losing sleep over that little tidbit.

3. IMO, it wasn't JUST Blanco and Osorio. It was Rolfe coming back. It was Conde. It was Pause getting coached to play a role and then playing it. It was Matt Freaking Pickens being huge in goal. It was a bunch of other things too numerous and too minute by themselves to mention.

Roman, here is why soccer won't ever get mainstream respect in the US. it's a rece