Monday, November 14, 2005

How to fix soccer

Most Americans don't care about soccer. The MLS Final just ended with a 1-0 game in overtime, with over 2 hours of scoreless "action" and lackluster ratings. But since soccer is so popular is throughout the world, it begs the question "Why hasn't the MLS caught on?" Here's 5 ways to fix soccer in America.

1. No offsides. How frustrating is it to see a great goal called back because the player was 2 feet ahead of the defender. If a team wants to put 6 people in front of the goal, fine with me. The only thing it will create is more offense, and then more fast breaks the other way, for more offense.

2. Goalies can't use their hands. More goals, more exciting saves as the goalie heads it over the crossbar. If he has to use his hands to save it, penalty kick. Which is more excitement. (If too many goals end up going in, they could shrink the goal itself, but I have a hard time imagining Americans complaining about too many goals in a soccer game. )

3. 4 20-minute periods. Nobody likes to look at a clock and see 42:37 counting down. People like buzzers and buzzer beaters. Plus you can go get nachos without missing one of the 18 goals in the game.

4. Make the field slightly smaller. It takes way to long to get from one end to the other. What were they thinking?

5. Goals from across midfield are worth 3. This might seem strange. But try imagining basketball without a 3-point line. When your team is down 2 with a minute remaining, you can still win. Plus, it might happen at all those buzzer beaters.

Now that's a game I would watch.

6 comments:

  1. Hey Buddy,

    you know the soccer you are talking about... its called indoor soccer.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ...and it wouldn't be soccer anymore.

    It's easy really, you don't like soccer? Don't watch it.

    I don't like baseball, but I don't go about wanting to change it. I just understand that it is an appealing sport for the fans.

    And why would anyone sane change the most popular game in the world just becuase you guys in the states (might) watch it?

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  3. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, so most people do care about it. Points 2 and 5 are absolutely stupid.

    1. Offside rule can be debated. Though I won't like to have it removed totally but may be they cud start offsides just in the D area.

    2. There won't be any need for goalies if they can't use hands. And noone wud like to see a match having a score of 20-21 or so, it would be too booooooring to see that many goals scored.

    3. 4 20-min periods and time-outs will interrupt the flow of the game. Soccer is a free flowing game. A better suggestion wud be to have the clock stopped for all kind of stoppages.

    4. May be they can try it out.

    5. This is not basketball and a goal shud remain a goal.

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  4. You are an Idiot. Go Play your dumb American sports. If Futbol was boring it wouldn't be the most popular sport in the world. I suggest you focus on Golf, Baseball, and American Football because those sports are pure crap.

    Thank You and Please do not speak of the Holy Game again you clueless idiot.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I also advocated switching to a 9-day week, so maybe everyone should take my suggestions with a grain of salt.

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  6. Looking at some of the comments here you'd think you had suggested they remove the ball from the game everywhere it is played.

    Lesson: Don't mess with real fĂștbol fans. Or at least don't let them find your SportsCorner.

    ReplyDelete