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I've been thinking lately, given the World Cup going on right now.

Pretty much everyone outside of the U.S. calls soccer "football". But then we have the American sport of football, or pigskin or gridiron or "kill the other dude with a shoulder tackle".

So, if soccer is supposed to be called football, what do you call football (the NFL kind)?

ThatNickGuy said:

I've been thinking lately, given the World Cup going on right now.

Pretty much everyone outside of the U.S. calls soccer "football". But then we have the American sport of football, or pigskin or gridiron or "kill the other dude with a shoulder tackle".

So, if soccer is supposed to be called football, what do you call football (the NFL kind)?

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American Football ("fútbol americano" in spanish and "futbol americà" in catalan.)

Hey, don't forget Canadian Football!

We call it soccer too!

It's not too much of a point of confusion, since they're not played during the same time of year at all

I just meant that it wasn't just the Americans that call it soccer, we do too. I'm fully aware TNG is aware of it, cause he's a card carrying Canuck as well. But I thought it was worth mentioning that we also have our own crazy rules to football and we also call it soccer.

Also, as a side note: outside of here in Oakville, I've never seen anyone give a rat's ass about soccer. This place is crazy. Every 4 years, there are more Italy flags on Canada Day than there are Canadian ones here. Just yesterday I saw cars waving South Korea, Italy, and Greece flags all over the place. And yet when we won Olympic gold in hockey, the one sport on earth that matters, nobody seemed to care. Makes me miss my small town.

The Lovely Boner said:

It's not too much of a point of confusion, since they're not played during the same time of year at all

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Since when? MLS is one of the only leagues that plays mostly during the summer. Most everyone in the rest of the world does the start in fall/end in spring season.

DarkAudit;398762][QUOTE=The Lovely Boner said:

It's not too much of a point of confusion, since they're not played during the same time of year at all

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Since when? MLS is one of the only leagues that plays mostly during the summer. Most everyone in the rest of the world does the start in fall/end in spring season.[/QUOTE]

I think that is his point exactly. Canadian Football is played Spring/ Summer with the championship in late fall.

Ah HA! Mystery solved!

haha so true!! tweeted!

It's soccer everyone else is wrong.

I call it football, like 90% of the rest of the world does. I call the other less important shit, American football.

The world has to be wrong right? God bless America.

Throwball.

Damn right the World is wrong. Kiss the brownest part of my white American ass, World.

Association Football: 1848 The Association formed in 1863.

American Football: 1868

It is only 20 years younger and an ocean apart. So by time that soccer came to America we were already playing Football.

So other than kicking and punting, when do you football? Better name would be Handball? Or ballcarriage? Tossingball? throwingball?

Venezuela Fan :



---------- Post added at 12:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:48 PM ----------

Rugby Football looks to be a bit older than Association Football. So using your feet exclusively seems to be invented later for Football.

Kinda funny. I type in "Football" in google and the first search back is NFL.

Honestly, who gives a crap?

I will occasionally watch American Football. I avoid hearing anything about soccer, because quite honestly, I'm not interested. It's a bunch of dudes running and kicking and sometimes, but only sometimes, something happens. Of the 37 hours the average soccer game seems to last, there's maybe 90-120 seconds of something that isn't guys in shorts chasing a ball like a bunch of border collies. Zidane's headbutt was literally the best moment in soccer of that year.

Chazwozel said:

Kinda funny. I type in "Football" in google and the first search back is NFL.

Honestly, who gives a crap?

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You know google is region-sensitive, right?

Null said:

I will occasionally watch American Football. I avoid hearing anything about soccer, because quite honestly, I'm not interested. It's a bunch of dudes running and kicking and sometimes, but only sometimes, something happens. Of the 37 hours the average soccer game seems to last, there's maybe 90-120 seconds of something that isn't guys in shorts chasing a ball like a bunch of border collies. Zidane's headbutt was literally the best moment in soccer of that year.

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Soccer is a lot like baseball. Both are kickass fun to play, but boring as hell to watch.

Chazwozel;399227][QUOTE=Null said:

I will occasionally watch American Football. I avoid hearing anything about soccer, because quite honestly, I'm not interested. It's a bunch of dudes running and kicking and sometimes, but only sometimes, something happens. Of the 37 hours the average soccer game seems to last, there's maybe 90-120 seconds of something that isn't guys in shorts chasing a ball like a bunch of border collies. Zidane's headbutt was literally the best moment in soccer of that year.

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Soccer is a lot like baseball. Both are kickass fun to play, but boring as hell to watch.[/QUOTE]

Except in a 1-0 baseball game there's still great plays being made.

What? There's also AWESOME plays in 0-0 football matches.

Calleja said:

What? There's also AWESOME plays in 0-0 football matches.

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yep the mid-fielder passes the ball backwards to the fullback, who will then pass it to the left midfielder who will then bomb it down the field to the other team, only to have them repeat 5 passes before it gets booted to the other team....

Covar;399231][QUOTE=Chazwozel;399227][QUOTE=Null said:

I will occasionally watch American Football. I avoid hearing anything about soccer, because quite honestly, I'm not interested. It's a bunch of dudes running and kicking and sometimes, but only sometimes, something happens. Of the 37 hours the average soccer game seems to last, there's maybe 90-120 seconds of something that isn't guys in shorts chasing a ball like a bunch of border collies. Zidane's headbutt was literally the best moment in soccer of that year.

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Soccer is a lot like baseball. Both are kickass fun to play, but boring as hell to watch.[/QUOTE]

Except in a 1-0 baseball game there's still great plays being made.[/QUOTE]

Eh, both are great physical and strategic games in my opinion. Football (real football) takes the cake in terms of strategy and physical play, and that's why I think it's so much more entertaining.

What soccer needs is another prodigy player like Pele' to make it interesting for the U.S. Pele would do crazy shit like scissor kicks, ball juggling, and amazing dribbling during matches. You just don't see much of that anymore.

No, instead you have Wayne Rooney, a thug who makes Shrek look refined, trudge upfield until the other team literally runs into him, so someone else can pass the ball, and they'll move it upfield, then pass back, and then zzzzz.....

If they wanted to make soccer interesting, they'd rule out fouls entirely and put Ramon Dekkers on the field. That, I'd watch.

Wow... it's like... cliches are there for a reason. You damned americans proving them right.

indeed.

A new Pele? How about Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Ronaldinho (a few years ago).

Calleja said:

Wow... it's like... cliches are there for a reason. You damned americans proving them right.

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Go take a siesta and have a bean burrito.

Messi is a fucking android from the future designed to kick ass at football, I swear.

*Graph created for simpleton Americans using familiar terms.

Football > American Football

there are only 6 billion people alive

Wait, that's.... no, how did they get nearly five times the population of earth to watch? :shocked:

---------- Post added at 05:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:24 PM ----------

Ok, maybe they're adding all the games' viewers?

Well, since the Superbowl's JUST ONE GAME, yeah, it would have less viewers than the entirety of the World Cup. That's comparing apples and combine/harvesters.

The World Cup was first televised in 1954 and is now the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the world, exceeding even the Olympic Games. The cumulative audience of all matches of the 2006 World Cup is estimated to be 26.29 billion.[1] 715.1 million individuals watched the final match of this tournament (a ninth of the entire population of the planet). The 2006 World Cup draw, which decided the distribution of teams into groups, was watched by 300 million viewers

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LMAO, the DRAW for the world cup.. that is the boring group selection process that's basically an old guy taking papers out of a hat (not really but you get the idea) had more viewers than the super bowl!! Wow... more viewers than the Olympics. This is even bigger than I thought.

Olympics are multiple games that have no 'end all championship' game, so for # of people for one game i wouldn't be surprised to see that. Being bigger than the super bowl is silly, that is between two American teams, it's not really international at all.

Jay said:

*Graph created for simpleton Americans using familiar terms.

Football > American Football

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I'm guessing the get the Eurotrash living in Alpha Centari to watch too?

I was reading the online sports headlines and saw that "New Zealand earns stunning draw" and that got me to thinking, is part of the reason for the low popularity of soccer in the states because American sports viewers cannot abide a draw? Do they love a winner so much that they would shun a stalemate decision? I think this may have been why the NHL suffered so long in the USA, it was the only major sport that permitted ties until recently.

Calleja said:

Messi is a fucking android from the future designed to kick ass at football, I swear.

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Must have glitched in the last game.

dude Messi was brilliant in the last game, every attack that was even a bit dangerous he had his foot in, he just needs to have a better team behind him and a bit more luck and he will be the best player in this world cup

HCGLNS said:

I was reading the online sports headlines and saw that "New Zealand earns stunning draw" and that got me to thinking, is part of the reason for the low popularity of soccer in the states because American sports viewers cannot abide a draw? Do they love a winner so much that they would shun a stalemate decision? I think this may have been why the NHL suffered so long in the USA, it was the only major sport that permitted ties until recently.

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No I mean a football game can end in a draw. They happen so infrequently that everytime it happens people start talking about how they didn't even know a football game could end in a draw.

I think the reason soccer and hockey can't get a big fan base is because they don't already have a built in fanbase. I mean I didn't get into football until my friend got to be a fan of football and he only really started paying attention to the games when joined his office's fantasy football league. I'm sure that this is pretty much true for every sportsfan that he became a sports fan not on his own but because his friend, his father or somebody else brought him into the game.

Now how soccer, Rugby and Cricket mimic the success of MMA I don't know but it isn't the game that brings in the fans. It really is the fans that breed more fans.

The Soccer fan base in America likely won't grow (outside of immigration) because home-grown Soccer Fans (real Fanatics) are on the cool scale right below D&D Players that talk about their characters in public places.

sixpackshaker said:

The Soccer fan base in America likely won't grow (outside of immigration) because home-grown Soccer Fans (real Fanatics) are on the cool scale right below D&D Players that talk about their characters in public places.

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Really? All the soccer players I knew in high school and college got lots of ass.

But I guess on a professional sports follower level you might be right. No one talks about MLS soccer matches. We even got a new team in Philly (the Union). Once August hits, football is the talk of the water cooler. Hockey isn't that popular either, but I suppose there's that lingering fear that the hockey fanatic will pull your shirt over your head and punch away if you mock his sport. (Throws down gloves and begins to circle around sixpack).

There is a big disconnect between the guy who runs 7 miles a day, and the accountant at the sports-bar that wants to talk about Manchester United's last match against Arsenal.

Chazwozel said:

But I guess on a professional sports follower level you might be right. No one talks about MLS soccer matches. We even got a new team in Philly (the Union). Once August hits, football is the talk of the water cooler. Hockey isn't that popular either, but I suppose there's that lingering fear that the hockey fanatic will pull your shirt over your head and punch away if you mock his sport. (Throws down gloves and begins to circle around sixpack).

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Or his country.

Biardo said:

dude Messi was brilliant in the last game, every attack that was even a bit dangerous he had his foot in, he just needs to have a better team behind him and a bit more luck and he will be the best player in this world cup

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dude no way ohmigod

One key difference is American football announcers aren't nearly as fun to listen to.




See?

This has to be one of the stupidest fucking things to fight over. Who gives a shit what each sport is called? If you don't like a sport, don't watch it.

What if you like both, einstein? Then the name is a real point of conflict.

Not particularly on topic, but a good article.
U.S. allows other countries to win the World Cup - CBSSports.com

Calleja said:

What if you like both, einstein? Then the name is a real point of conflict.

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I do like both. I don't care what they're called. When talking to Americans it's soccer and football, when talking to non-Americans it's football and American football. It's not hard to switch, it doesn't cost me anything, and nothing is lost in the translation. What's so hard about that?

That's bullshit, being good in other sports doesn't mean you'd be better at football.

---------- Post added at 07:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:28 PM ----------

This was regarding the article blotsfan posted.

Calleja said:

That's bullshit, being good in other sports doesn't mean you'd be better at football.

---------- Post added at 07:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:28 PM ----------

This was regarding the article blotsfan posted.

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I agree. That was a stupid article. The only thing he got right was when he predicted how much of dickhead he would seem to other people.

Calleja said:

That's bullshit, being good in other sports doesn't mean you'd be better at football.

---------- Post added at 07:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:28 PM ----------

This was regarding the article blotsfan posted.

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You really don't think that any of the top athletes in the US could be great soccer players if thats what they were focused on?

no, you have to be able to run more then 5 min strait in order to play soccer

It's an ENTIRELY different skill set to play american football, basketball or baseball than that needed for real football. Seriously. It's apples and oranges.

So you're saying that if the great athletes of the US learned soccer from their youth, and wanted to play soccer, none of them would become great at it? You can pick up skill sets by practicing them.

no probably not, I'm not saying that if there was a better youth system the US wouldn't be able to find there talents better and be much better in football but you can't just trade sports. Football is as much about individual technique as teamwork and with some of the 'American' sports it's more about teamwork and tactics and the focus lays less with the individual.

note: I'm saying that one is a better sport then the other based on this criteria because I like to watch both, just that athletes can't be used for every sport and still be great at it.

Answer
This is idiotic, and I will explain why - CBSSports.com Message Boards

The name Soccer comes from shortening asSOCiation football. And Association Football came about to not confuse AF with Rugby Football, which Rugby Football is older (and uses hands.) Football came from Rugby Football, we dropped the Rugby when the sport changed from the original.


On American TV they keep calling the major stadium, Soccer City Stadium. What are they calling it in different nations?

Rugby is older and is called... Rugby. Football/soccer is still older than American football. Also, if the naming followed some logic you football would have some other adjective to differentiate it from rugby, just like AF had!

It's the Soccer City Stadium. That's the name, as far as I know. If anyone changes the name they're a bit stupid...

---------- Post added at 03:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:02 PM ----------

(Also, even if Rugby is played with the hands, isn't kicking more important than in yours?)

Rugby is a school, Rugby Football is a sport. The name is just shortened to Rugby in most conversations.

Like this one? Everywhere I wrote rugby, add 'football', I don't think it changes much.

For any country to succeed on an international sports level it needs four things;

1. Population large enough to create sufficient high level athletes
2. Wealth to be invested into training those athletes
3. Expert level knowledge base that is available to those athletes
4. Support from the general population for the sport

That article really boils down to point 4, if the people of the USA made soccer a passionate priority, then the USA could easily field the best players in the world.

SOME of the best players in the world, sure, I agree. But they would not be the same people as those who turned out to be the best at american football or basketball or baseball or bowling or whatever.

HCGLNS said:

For any country to succeed on an international sports level it needs four things;

1. Population large enough to create sufficient high level athletes
2. Wealth to be invested into training those athletes
3. Expert level knowledge base that is available to those athletes
4. Support from the general population for the sport

That article really boils down to point 4, if the people of the USA made soccer a passionate priority, then the USA could easily field the best players in the world.

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True, but it also needs competition. It is just not there. Which ties into #4.

the largeness of the population doesn't mean everything, look at Uruguay with it's 3 million population

Calleja said:

SOME of the best players in the world, sure, I agree. But they would not be the same people as those who turned out to be the best at american football or basketball or baseball or bowling or whatever.

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I don't think that the assertion that the athletes would be different is valid unless they have a unique body type suited to the sport. Athletes all have drive in them, they just choose how to direct that drive based upon social conditions at a young age. If you took any great American athlete and raised them in a soccer mad country, I don't doubt that they would find success as soccer players there.

I wasn't much of a soccer fan until this world cup. Made a bracket and everything. I don't know if I'll start following it regularly or not. I have enjoyed a bunch of the matches. I definitely like it better than the NFL, but not nearly as much as college football.

Nobody here says futbol for soccer, except for the international students.

I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait until the Fall.

Chazwozel said:

I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait until the Fall.

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Agreed.

Chazwozel said:

I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait until the Fall.

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you mean you can't wait till the big European football compitions start back up?

so... they were showing aussie rules football on espn tonight. best type of football in the world? i think so.

Biardo;412877][QUOTE=Chazwozel said:

I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait until the Fall.

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you mean you can't wait till the big European football compitions start back up?[/QUOTE]



Uh...yeeeaaaahhhh.....

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!

AND LET'S GO PENS!

Chazwozel;413290][QUOTE=Biardo;412877][QUOTE=Chazwozel said:

I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait until the Fall.

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you mean you can't wait till the big European football compitions start back up?[/QUOTE]



Uh...yeeeaaaahhhh.....

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!

AND LET'S GO PENS![/QUOTE]

If you root for the Steelers this year I think you will be in for a disappointment. I don't see them doing well with so many roster issues.

Plus: they suck

As we approach the All Star break in baseball and the world cup now being finished, lets all watch the Canadian Football League. Which has in the first two weeks of this years season provided some of the greatest moments in sports.

As a reminder to our friends in the states you can view these exciting match ups on the NFL network each week!

wana10 said:

so... they were showing aussie rules football on espn tonight. best type of football in the world? i think so.

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Really? Cool, Who was playing and was it specific game ( E.J Whittens Legend game, Grand Final) or just a random match from the season?

I miss when ESPN played Australian Rules Football. Now late night ESPN is 3 repeats of that night's Sports Center.

gargoyle_eva;413963][QUOTE=wana10 said:

so... they were showing aussie rules football on espn tonight. best type of football in the world? i think so.

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Really? Cool, Who was playing and was it specific game ( E.J Whittens Legend game, Grand Final) or just a random match from the season?[/QUOTE]

it was geelong v hawthorn. unfortunately it was also the only match to be broadcast in the us this season so it was a bit of luck that i got to see it. however, they will be showing a lot more matches on espn3, which is their free to stream online channel(for americans at least). And despite the fact that the matches are horribly early in the morning they allow watching of them for up to 48 hours after they first show so i can watch them at a civilized hour.

edit* attached my text file of when the matches will be shown by espn on espn3 this season for anyone who might be interested.

What are the aussie rules, anyway? Do they dodge tazmanian devils and kangaroos and great whites and shit?



Man, that sounds awesome.

Calleja said:

What are the aussie rules, anyway? Do they dodge tazmanian devils and kangaroos and great whites and shit?



Man, that sounds awesome.

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If someone trips you and you roll around on the pitch like you're been shot, your own team will shoot you just to save face.

Hello.......
I better go for Football!!!!!!!!!!!

HCGLNS said:

If someone trips you and you roll around on the pitch like you're been shot, your own team will shoot you just to save face.

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Man this should be a rule in all games.

Seraphyn;417675][QUOTE=HCGLNS said:

If someone trips you and you roll around on the pitch like you're been shot, your own team will shoot you just to save face.

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Man this should be a rule in all games.[/QUOTE]

That needs to be instituted in Basketball, for the floppers.