06-30-2006, 02:24 PM
After further viewing, I've developed some firm opinions.
First, soccer players should have to wear competition fencing outfits or something similar. You know, so contact (and its degree) can be accurately assessed in realtime.
As it stands, HK is right. There is so much fakery wrapped up in the game, and the refs get fooled a lot. I'm not blaming the refs. It's like in martial arts movies where some guy swings and the other guy goes flying, and it looks legit from the right angle. The soccer players seem more aware of where referees are standing than where other players are. The instant replays show an awful lot of laughable (but very effective) fakery.
They could introduce instant replay like football -- but soccer shouldn't be slowed down. It's one long run from the get-go for 45 minutes, followed by another for 45 minutes. That's part of why soccer never caught on in the US. Sponsors want lots of breaks to shove products up our wazoos, and the game doesn't permit it. Also, Americans want instant gratification, and 2 or 3 scores in two hours just won't do it.
Oh, and I learned that in the World Cup, only the early rounds permit ties. Later on, there's an overtime session (no sudden death), and if that doesn't do it, teams take turns with penalty kicks -- 5 each, I believe -- and the best total wins.
First, soccer players should have to wear competition fencing outfits or something similar. You know, so contact (and its degree) can be accurately assessed in realtime.
As it stands, HK is right. There is so much fakery wrapped up in the game, and the refs get fooled a lot. I'm not blaming the refs. It's like in martial arts movies where some guy swings and the other guy goes flying, and it looks legit from the right angle. The soccer players seem more aware of where referees are standing than where other players are. The instant replays show an awful lot of laughable (but very effective) fakery.
They could introduce instant replay like football -- but soccer shouldn't be slowed down. It's one long run from the get-go for 45 minutes, followed by another for 45 minutes. That's part of why soccer never caught on in the US. Sponsors want lots of breaks to shove products up our wazoos, and the game doesn't permit it. Also, Americans want instant gratification, and 2 or 3 scores in two hours just won't do it.
Oh, and I learned that in the World Cup, only the early rounds permit ties. Later on, there's an overtime session (no sudden death), and if that doesn't do it, teams take turns with penalty kicks -- 5 each, I believe -- and the best total wins.
I'm nobody's pony.