tOfficial Champions League 2008 Final thread: Manchester United vs. Chelsea

[Roewned]

Originally Posted by arfabe16

I grew up in Mexico, and I don't know of a single school that didn't have a basketball team.

Also, there are plenty of baseball leagues for kids.

Football would be the only "American" sport with lower exposure, as only kids in private clubs join the teams, usually.

But all the others... they're there. You're nuts if you think Latin Americans aren't exposed to basketball and especially baseball. Please, most of the best baseball players are Latin Americans.

Soccer is still more popular. A LOT more popular.

Valid points.

My argument, though, was that we have every sport available at every competitive level for youths. My neighbors kid plays Rush () travel soccer, another neighbor kid plays travel hockey, etc.

Youth baseball is popular in Asia and Mexico, soccer and cricket are popular in Europe and Africa and Aussie kids are exposed to rugby.

Other countries simply don't have the youth sports diversity that the United States does, and that will stunt the development of professional sports in those countries.

[Roewned]

Originally Posted by Heat Miser

It's really quite simple if you actually think about it. Soccer bored you because you had no constant exposure to professional examples of what was possible if you really excelled. You saw a half dozen hacks kicking at a ball but mostly kicking each other. Also, your dad likely had no interest in soccer & we all know how much a son wants to please his father.

Slightly different story with Football, BBall, Baseball.

You really think sports preferences are developed in a vacuum? C'mon...I suppose you also believe commissioners determine game days & times?

So if you give 10 Euro 10 yr olds equal exposure to soccer, football, baseball, basketball and hockey the majority will tell you soccer is the most enjoyable?

[Heat Miser]

Originally Posted by Roewned

So if you give 10 Euro 10 yr olds equal exposure to soccer, football, baseball, basketball and hockey the majority will tell you soccer is the most enjoyable?

If everything is TRULY equal (impossible), they will gravitate toward whatever they excel at the most.

[Roewned]

Originally Posted by Heat Miser

If everything is TRULY equal (impossible), they will gravitate toward whatever they excel at the most.

Agreed.

[Heat Miser]

Originally Posted by Roewned

Agreed.

[Roewned]

Originally Posted by Heat Miser

Soccer still sucks, though.

[Heat Miser]

[Roewned]

Originally Posted by Heat Miser

I think you missed part of the post, look again.

[Heat Miser]

Originally Posted by Roewned

I think you missed part of the post, look again.

I didn't miss it. You know there's an NBA game on right now? Check TNT...there's at least a 60/40 chance for a commercial though.

[Roewned]

Originally Posted by Heat Miser

I didn't miss it. You know there's an NBA game on right now? Check TNT...there's at least a 60/40 chance for a commercial though.

**** LA.

[arfabe16]

Originally Posted by Roewned

**** LA.

I thought it was a great game. **** the Spurs.

[SitWhenYouGraduate]

There is one point in a soccer match where there are commercials. That alone makes it beautiful.

I've begun to think that hockey is the North American equivalent of soccer, only less popular than it is in the rest of the world.

By the way, I can't stop seeing Terry fall on the ground. Someone help me.

[Heat Miser]

Originally Posted by SitWhenYouGraduate

There is one point in a soccer match where there are commercials. That alone makes it beautiful.

I've begun to think that hockey is the North American equivalent of soccer, only less popular than it is in the rest of the world.

By the way, I can't stop seeing Terry fall on the ground. Someone help me.

Very similar games. Offsides, goalies, etc.

I hope the Chelsea faithful go easy on their team, and specifically, Terry. It's probably open season on Drogma, however.

[Servo]

[MiamiSpartan]

Originally Posted by Roewned

I played soccer for 3 summers as a kid. I was OK, nothing more, but it bored me so I stuck with football, baseball, basketball and hockey.

Tell me what European, Mexican, African or Asian kid has those options as a youth.

Your TV argument is garbage.

I think his cultural ignorance is evident right there. He lists 3 continents, but lumps all of South America in as Mexico. It reminds me of someone on here once talking about great "Latin" restaurants (by which he meant Mexican). And how so many people in Michigan call every Hispanic "Mexican".

[Topopo]

Wow I leave this thread to go see Indiana Jones and come back to see that Roewned has spewed a lot of vomit all over it. This was once a good thread and now it is barely readable. Credit to arfabe for starting this but it has gotten to very irrelevant to the CL final. Same because I was expecting to open up a thread and read 13 pages of CL talk but ended up just being really pissed at Roewned for being such a tool.

[MiamiSpartan]

Had to first make a brief comment about Rowned's cultural brilliance, but it's too bad he hijacked this thread.

Well, I'm thrilled United won, but hate how it had to go to PKs. It really tempered my excitement. Normally after a goal or a win, I'm running around my living room going absolute nuts. When Anelka's shot was blocked, I raised my hands, but that was about it. I hate to have had to win like that. I'm happy and content, but that's not a real win. Neither team is better than the other.

- BleedinGreen, major props to you and Chelsea. It's almost too bad about that Bolton goal at the end of the last game. It would be fitting if the Premier League also came down to the tie breaker (though I know that probably wouldn't matter much to you). You always behave with total class on here, so major props.

- It's too bad of the incident where Drogba got sent off. The game was hard and physical but I wouldn't say that it was cheap. The fouls and hard play was almost completely done within the context of the game. Two teams going balls out with everything they have. I thought the ref was horrible, but at least he was equally horrible. I kind of got the feeling that he did not want to have a penalty or short free kick end up deciding the game. He swallowed the whistle inside of 25 yards from goal quite a bit, so I give him credit for that.

- Also major kudos to the Chelsea fans with the "No Scouse Zone" sign. Top stuff.

- To those who commented on them playing John Denver in Moscow, that song has become a bit of an anthem at Old Trafford in recent years. It is "Take me home, United Road" (as opposed to Country Road). United Road is the name of the road that runs underneath the North stand at Old Trafford (the side opposite the TV cameras--so the one that you see--when you're watching games on TV from there). I'm sure they had some Chelsea songs playing, too.

- Sir Bobby Charlton getting the medal first (he's on the United board, FWIW) was class. 50 years ago in February he survived the plane crash in Munich that killed 8 incredible young players for United after they had just advanced to the Semi-Finals in Europe. And 40 years ago, he lifted the European Cup for Manchester United.

- Manchester United in HD = First time I've had that pleasure. Awesome. And kudos to ESPN for NOT putting Tommy Smyth in HD. He is just not an attractive man. The less definition the better.

[MiamiSpartan]

I felt the need to comment in a separate post about Paul Scholes. - I can't say enough about him. Giggs will always be my favorite player, as he won me over first back in the 93-94 season, but Scholes has always been a close second. He confirmed an all time special place with me today. As if his brilliant goal to send them to the Final wasn't enough, he plays with a busted up nose for most of the game. And they say soccer is a non-contact sport.

But mostly his reaction after the game. I don't know if you guys heard the announcer say this, but immediately after the game ended, he didn't go to celebrate with his team mates, but instead went over to console the Chelsea players. Total class.

[Fletch]

I wish every soccer hater was forced to sit down and watch yesterday's match. I'm certainly no diehard fan - I don't know 99% of the players and I only watch the major tournaments and biggest games. That being said, the excitement in the stands and the obvious tension on the field (er, "pitch" ) yesterday was incredible. Some of the near misses were breath taking - shots off of posts, defenders heading away sure goals, etc. And the physical play was awesome. Only watching a few matches per year, the difference between that game yesterday and the embarrassing flopping of the World Cup was refreshing. Bloody noses, elbows, tackle after tackle.

And finally, while I know that purists don't like games being decided by penalties, it was truly gripping TV to have it all come down to that. Seeing the best player in the world choke and then get bailed out was soap opera level stuff.

Any sports fan who actually sat down and watched that yesterday would have been glued to their TV - it had every element of a classic from any other sport.

Just my two cents as an infrequent observer.

[sarcyspice]

Originally Posted by jreid19

Thank you very much. I don't ever want to go thru that 2 months of hell ever again. Now back to the Chelski/JT bashing......

For the first time in my life I actually felt sorry for a chelsea player..... I felt so unclean!!!!

but then I remebered how much money he is on..... and it made me laugh....

[o4k13k]

i dunno if this has been posted already but this is a link to the players wives/girlfriends and compares them.

which team do you wins? they are all hot regardless

Sports Crackle Pop » Champions League Final: WAG style

[JMSparty08]

Originally Posted by Fletch

I wish every soccer hater was forced to sit down and watch yesterday's match. I'm certainly no diehard fan - I don't know 99% of the players and I only watch the major tournaments and biggest games. That being said, the excitement in the stands and the obvious tension on the field (er, "pitch" ) yesterday was incredible. Some of the near misses were breath taking - shots off of posts, defenders heading away sure goals, etc. And the physical play was awesome. Only watching a few matches per year, the difference between that game yesterday and the embarrassing flopping of the World Cup was refreshing. Bloody noses, elbows, tackle after tackle.

And finally, while I know that purists don't like games being decided by penalties, it was truly gripping TV to have it all come down to that. Seeing the best player in the world choke and then get bailed out was soap opera level stuff.

Any sports fan who actually sat down and watched that yesterday would have been glued to their TV - it had every element of a classic from any other sport.

Just my two cents as an infrequent observer.

That wasn't even that great a game from an action standpoint since the pitch was wet and had a reputation for being in bad shape. It was still an exciting game, no doubt about that, but had the pitch been in better condition, you would've seen a lot more action back and forth. Because of it, guys (especially defensemen) were worried about losing their footing and played it safe. Still a great game though and you can't say those guys aren't athletes. Joe Cole ran about 10 miles yesterday at an average of 9 minutes a mile.

[MiamiSpartan]

Originally Posted by Fletch

I wish every soccer hater was forced to sit down and watch yesterday's match. I'm certainly no diehard fan - I don't know 99% of the players and I only watch the major tournaments and biggest games. That being said, the excitement in the stands and the obvious tension on the field (er, "pitch" ) yesterday was incredible. Some of the near misses were breath taking - shots off of posts, defenders heading away sure goals, etc. And the physical play was awesome. Only watching a few matches per year, the difference between that game yesterday and the embarrassing flopping of the World Cup was refreshing. Bloody noses, elbows, tackle after tackle.

And finally, while I know that purists don't like games being decided by penalties, it was truly gripping TV to have it all come down to that. Seeing the best player in the world choke and then get bailed out was soap opera level stuff.

Any sports fan who actually sat down and watched that yesterday would have been glued to their TV - it had every element of a classic from any other sport.

Just my two cents as an infrequent observer.

Good post, Fletch! Because I had so much personal emotion invested in the game, I couldn't tell you if an impartial observer (even a soccer fan) would have thought it was an exciting game. I guess the intensity came through well.

The comment you made comparing it to the World Cup is interesting. It's why international soccer sucks compared to club soccer. Club soccer is like the NCAA tournament and international soccer is like the NBA. It's so much more exciting and intense. There is also usually a better quality of play because they play together all the time. This game was just an amazing example of sports at it's highest level. Two teams going absolutely 120% balls out fighting with every thing they got for their goal. So often it is a cliche to say that it is a shame that either team had to lose, but I've rarely seen that be so true as it was yesterday.

[sarcyspice]

Originally Posted by MiamiSpartan

Good post, Fletch! Because I had so much personal emotion invested in the game, I couldn't tell you if an impartial observer (even a soccer fan) would have thought it was an exciting game. I guess the intensity came through well.

The comment you made comparing it to the World Cup is interesting. It's why international soccer sucks compared to club soccer. Club soccer is like the NCAA tournament and international soccer is like the NBA. It's so much more exciting and intense. There is also usually a better quality of play because they play together all the time. This game was just an amazing example of sports at it's highest level. Two teams going absolutely 120% balls out fighting with every thing they got for their goal. So often it is a cliche to say that it is a shame that either team had to lose, but I've rarely seen that be so true as it was yesterday.

it is an interesting comparison you make there... with club football i think it is because we feel invested in it week in week out that we get so passionate about it, where as international are played once every couple of months, and you get passionate about it one summer in 2 or 4......

[Cyclone_MI]

Originally Posted by jreid19