Soccer!

[CrespoBlows]

Good job by Clark setting up the PK. Donovan ends his scoreless streak, but the goalie should have saved that.

[yeszir]

I can't believe this is even being discussed. Only someone who plays soccer and has an inferiority complex would make such a statement. In terms of physical training required and contact allowed, here's the tough list, IMO...

 

1. Aussie rules Football - those guys are batshit insane

2. American Football

3. Rugby

4. Hockey

5. Lacrosse

6. Soccer/Basketball - both tolerate about the same amount of contact (at least college basketball does).

I've gotten into huge arguments with some people over it, but I think rugby is far more hardcore than American football.

[Gom]

I've played both. You can rest on the field in soccer' date=' but you can't in B-Ball. The fitness levels are the same, and so is the contact. [/quote']

 

You know, City of Champions said it good. Here is his response, so you know it's not just me.

 

No' date=' it isn't. Basketball you can substitue in and out multiple times when you need a breather. Also there are breaks for timeouts, free-throws, or any otehr fould. Ins occer, everyone ahs to move up for positioning at one time or anotehr (unless your a keeper). Time is non-stop and when tehre is a foul, you just get the ball and kick it again to start up again.[/quote']

Now back to idiocy....

I'm clueless? Start it again if you want, but you won't be able to keep up.

 

Oh, and it's not surprising to hear you were an all-cover/no-hit DB. You act like someone with little-man complex.

Exactly. How about trying to have on opinion on a sport you actually played for once? Did you ever play any of the sports you mentioned? Put it to you this way. You can have people like Manute Bol play basketball, whose only athletic quality was height, or nearly half of the NBA is considered overweight using body mass index. Get a clue.

 

P.S. I never said I didn't hit. I was just better at cover. I listed that because cornerbacks are some of the most fit athletes on football teams. At 5-11 and 185 pounds [back then] I wouldn't exactly call myself small for high school.

 

At least I played football. Who's the person with the Napoleonic complex now?

[ORS]

No' date=' it isn't. Basketball you can substitue in and out multiple times when you need a breather. Also there are breaks for timeouts, free-throws, or any otehr fould. Ins occer, everyone ahs to move up for positioning at one time or anotehr (unless your a keeper). Time is non-stop and when tehre is a foul, you just get the ball and kick it again to start up again.[/quote']

Both sports allow some contact while having rules against contact. Both sports are constant motion. The size of the field and need to maintain position allows for some rest on the field in soccer. The smallness of the court and need to be around the ball in B-Ball create a faster paced game where there is a need to make substitutions for rest. Like I said, I've played both, and both required the same amount of conditioning and allowed the same amount of contact.

 

In the end though, these are merely opinions, and everyone's opinion is based on experience. You can tell me you don't agree until you are blue in the face, but you aren't going to change my experiences that influenced my opinion. And there is no proving right or wrong here. In terms of "toughness", the difference in these sports is negligible.

[ORS]

I've gotten into huge arguments with some people over it' date=' but I think rugby is far more hardcore than American football.[/quote']

Played both of those too. Football organized, rugby for fun. Rugby would get my vote if it weren't for the fact that there seemed to be less head to head, full speed contact. What I mean is, in American Football, every play has full speed contact with people moving in opposite directions. Rugby starts together with the scrum. Don't get me wrong, rugby is a tough sport, but this was the deciding point for me.

[ORS]

Exactly. How about trying to have on opinion on a sport you actually played for once? Did you ever play any of the sports you mentioned? Put it to you this way. You can have people like Manute Bol play basketball, whose only athletic quality was height, or nearly half of the NBA is considered overweight using body mass index. Get a clue.

 

P.S. I never said I didn't hit. I was just better at cover. I listed that because cornerbacks are some of the most fit athletes on football teams. At 5-11 and 185 pounds [back then] I wouldn't exactly call myself small for high school.

 

At least I played football. Who's the person with the Napoleonic complex now?

This is funny. From where can you infer that I've never played any of these sports? That's right, you can't. I never mentioned my experience until you started talking s***, and I only mentioned the ones that you took issue with. If you must know, I've played every one but Aussie Rules Football and Hockey. Good job doing what everyone here knows you excel at, making assumptions and making a fool of yourself. B-E-A-U-tiful. Well done.

 

Oh, and BMI is joke. When I was overseas in Okinawa with the Marines, I ran 5 miles every morning, swam 2000 m during lunch, and worked out in the gym for an hour and a half every day after work. I ran a 1st class PFT and was over my BMI. By the way, you were overweight in high school according to BMI. Don't believe it, click here and enter 5' 11" & 185 lbs.

 

I've got a clue, here's the mystery: Why do you keep exposing yourself as the great fool that you clearly are?

[Cityofchampions33]

Both sports allow some contact while having rules against contact. Both sports are constant motion. The size of the field and need to maintain position allows for some rest on the field in soccer. The smallness of the court and need to be around the ball in B-Ball create a faster paced game where there is a need to make substitutions for rest. Like I said' date=' I've played both, and both required the same amount of conditioning and allowed the same amount of contact. [/quote']

 

I thought I put it clearly in my last post that there are many times in bball where you can catch your breath. In soccer, especially for midfielders, you have to be able to run all 90 minutes flat out with just halftime to break it up. Midfielders have to be in top shape as even when the don't have the ball they have to cover a good 40+ yards. If your'e a defender or striker, then yes maybe it is a bit more like bball but still, when you attack and you have to run a good distance 5 times, you start to get tired, in basketball, you can sit on the bench. I mean what posiions were you playing at what level was it at? If it's like pee-wee soccer than yeah you probably think it's the same as bball.

[ORS]

I thought I put it clearly in my last post that there are many times in bball where you can catch your breath. In soccer' date=' especially for midfielders, you have to be able to run all 90 minutes flat out with just halftime to break it up. Midfielders have to be in top shape as even when the don't have the ball they have to cover a good 40+ yards. If your'e a defender or striker, then yes maybe it is a bit more like bball but still, when you attack and you have to run a good distance 5 times, you start to get tired, in basketball, you can sit on the bench. I mean what posiions were you playing at what level was it at? If it's like pee-wee soccer than yeah you probably think it's the same as bball.[/quote']

And I didn't disagree with the material of your post, and I don't need the game explained to me. Again, I'VE PLAYED BOTH, and I watch both. If you must know, I played soccer organized until I was 14, but couldn't find time for it with other sports (the big 3: baseball, basketball, football). I played defender. And, for further reference, I played the 3 in basketball, was the leading scorer on the team - meaning my breaks were very brief, and the team philosophy was to full court press most of the time. Perhaps that is a mitigating factor to my opinion, but that was how I experienced it.

[CrespoBlows]

So, the USA won 3-1. :dunno:

[Cityofchampions33]

So' date=' the USA won 3-1. :dunno:[/quote']

 

i wish i knew it was on, but i guess iw as out, who were they playin?

[CrespoBlows]

i wish i knew it was on' date=' but i guess iw as out, who were they playin?[/quote']

 

Denmark.

 

They play the Mexicans on February 7th, at 9:00 PM. Should be a good one.

[Gom]

This is funny. From where can you infer that I've never played any of these sports? That's right, you can't. I never mentioned my experience until you started talking s***, and I only mentioned the ones that you took issue with. If you must know, I've played every one but Aussie Rules Football and Hockey. Good job doing what everyone here knows you excel at, making assumptions and making a fool of yourself. B-E-A-U-tiful. Well done.

 

Oh, and BMI is joke. When I was overseas in Okinawa with the Marines, I ran 5 miles every morning, swam 2000 m during lunch, and worked out in the gym for an hour and a half every day after work. I ran a 1st class PFT and was over my BMI. By the way, you were overweight in high school according to BMI. Don't believe it, click here and enter 5' 11" & 185 lbs.

 

I've got a clue, here's the mystery: Why do you keep exposing yourself as the great fool that you clearly are?

 

How you can compare basketball player's fitness to soccer player's fitness is beyond me, but falls within the same lack of understanding I am used to from you. There is much more contact in soccer, it moves at much faster pace on the field [basketball may look faster, but the court is miniscule compared to soccer]. When you can start slide tackling in basketball and wear metal cleats in which you can spike the opposition, then basketball may be included in the same conversation.

 

Now BMI isn't the most accurate statistic, since it only takes weight and height into effect, and athletes traditionally have more muscle mass, and then a greater weight, than their "civilian" counterparts. However, you could never get a player with Shaq's build or Jerome James to excel in soccer.

 

If you really played any of these sports, you would stop with your American centrism and not bash the sport. I was best at soccer than any of the other sports, but baseball was my favorite to play. I was rarely tired after a baseball game [i didn't pitch], hurting after a football game, and exhausted after a soccer game. Anyone who says anything that deviates much from what I'm saying didn't play.

 

Try again.

[See Red]

If you think there's more contact in soccer then you never have actually played basketball or never spent any time inside fighting for position or rebounds outside of YMCA ball.

[ORS]

How you can compare basketball player's fitness to soccer player's fitness is beyond me' date=' but falls within the same lack of understanding I am used to from you. There is much more contact in soccer, it moves at much faster pace on the field [basketball may look faster, but the court is miniscule compared to soccer']. When you can start slide tackling in basketball and wear metal cleats in which you can spike the opposition, then basketball may be included in the same conversation.

 

Now BMI isn't the most accurate statistic, since it only takes weight and height into effect, and athletes traditionally have more muscle mass, and then a greater weight, than their "civilian" counterparts. However, you could never get a player with Shaq's build or Jerome James to excel in soccer.

 

If you really played any of these sports, you would stop with your American centrism and not bash the sport. I was best at soccer than any of the other sports, but baseball was my favorite to play. I was rarely tired after a baseball game [i didn't pitch], hurting after a football game, and exhausted after a soccer game.

I'm not bashing it you nimrod, tool. That's the problem with people like you, they can't f***ing read and you constantly have to explain yourself because they infer their own prejudices into your words. I just put it on equal footing. That isn't Amero-centric, it's based on my own experiences. Again, good job taking something simple and creating a flame war because you fail to comprehend basic English.

 

Anyone who says anything that deviates much from what I'm saying didn't play.

This something that completely cannot be substantiated. I played both soccer and basketball and was equally exhausted after both. It is interesting to note that basketball wasn't on your list of sports played. Maybe you should heed your own assertions before chiming in there, sport?

[ORS]

If you think there's more contact in soccer then you never have actually played basketball or never spent any time inside fighting for position or rebounds outside of YMCA ball.

Bingo. I think you hit the nail right on the head.

 

Sucks to be Gom. First his big evidence of BMI blew up in his face, and now his "you couldn't have played it" line is coming back to haunt him too. Never had someone who puts his foot in his mouth so often try so hard to sound like he had a clue. Gotta admire the effort, though. He's like the Little Engine that Could.

[Gom]

I'm not bashing it you nimrod, tool. That's the problem with people like you, they can't f***ing read and you constantly have to explain yourself because they infer their own prejudices into your words. I just put it on equal footing. That isn't Amero-centric, it's based on my own experiences. Again, good job taking something simple and creating a flame war because you fail to comprehend basic English.

 

 

This something that completely cannot be substantiated. I played both soccer and basketball and was equally exhausted after both. It is interesting to note that basketball wasn't on your list of sports played. Maybe you should heed your own assertions before chiming in there, sport?

 

I played basketball, but quit after freshman season. Didn't have the time or the love for it. I grew up in a family that stressed sports, with both of my parents being athletes, father professionally.

 

I'm just taking your words, where you listed soccer as equally stressful physically as basketball. As usual, you're wrong. Soccer is more stressful both in conditioning and contact. Like I said, try again. In fact, outside of Aussie football, soccer should be second on the list. I'm not sure where to put hockey [my disclaimer], since I never played.

[Gom]

If you think there's more contact in soccer then you never have actually played basketball or never spent any time inside fighting for position or rebounds outside of YMCA ball.

 

Without a shadow of a doubt. That is no different than a scrum for the ball in the corner. When was the last time you saw a player's feet taken out in basketball while the player with the ball is running full tilt? Or getting spiked?

 

I've played both, there is absolutely no comparison between the two. In basketball, you can get away with being tall. Can't do that in soccer. You guys think Shawn Bradley can play organized soccer? They'd kill him.

[Mr Crunchy]

Without a shadow of a doubt. That is no different than a scrum for the ball in the corner. When was the last time you saw a player's feet taken out in basketball while the player with the ball is running full tilt? Or getting spiked

 

you may have missed the carmello anthony brawl earlier in the season when the denver guy got clotheslined going for a dunk after being up 20 with a couple minutes to play

 

soccer is a nice game

moms can get together and sip lattes while watching trevor and tristan run up and down the field without worrying about their precious little ones getting a booboo

 

a very nice game for the little ones

[rician blast]

Soccer is more stressful both in conditioning and contact. Like I said' date=' try again. In fact, outside of Aussie football, soccer should be second on the list. [/quote']

 

Soccer more demanding than basketball?

 

Soccer...wide open field, generally nice and plush, so you get an occasional bump or the dreaded kick in the shins that leaves a guy writhing in pain, as if he'd been shot, until he decides to get up and join his teammates in the 0-0 contest.

 

Basketball...up and down the court, on a hard floor, running, cutting, jumping, twisting. Just the effort to AVOID contact and still attack or defend requires incredible athleticism and dexterity, but the sport is certainly not without contact. Try telling Rudy T that it's not a contact sport.

 

You're right...no comparison.

 

I'm not sure where to put hockey [my disclaimer], since I never played.

 

My suggestion would be to watch a college hockey game...try a Beanpot game for instance. You'll see kids going full out, 100%, crashing each other into the boards, bone-jarring open ice hits, etc. There is a reason hockey players skate in minute or less shifts...its grueling if you're playing the game right.

 

This topic has been debated publicly before...check out the results in this poll from ESPN:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sportSkills

[Mr Crunchy]

speaking of college hockey

vermont beat bc over the weekend??

really??

 

it maybe a long long winter for bc

 

did kermit washington get the memo that hoop is a non contact sport before he ended rudy t's career with that elbow??

did robert parrish get the memo when he dropped lambier game 4 east conf finals 87

how about when dr j and larry went at it....in a preseason game

and the 75 year old general manager attacked the dr ON THE COURT??

 

ask vangundy how it was being at the bottom of that scrum when he had his arms holding alonzo mournings legs as 24 men who are over 6'6 250 are swinging at each other with bad intentions

 

i always thought i could make a living selling jenny craig products to the soccer moms at the local kids soccer games

 

they are after all so very image conscious

most have asses bigger than my chair and wear old navy sweat shirts so they dont reveal their bellies

[schillingouttheks]

Yeah, my cousins are on the team and have no idea what the hell's going wrong. I don't think Jerry has any idea, either.

[rician blast]

Vermont is pretty good this year, currently ranked 6 in the country. BC is at 17, one spot ahead of my alma mater, the mighty Quinnipiac University Bobcats. Seems to be somewhat of a resurgence in some of the Northeast teams...UNH is ranked 2...Maine, always good, is 5. Clarkson is up to 8 now.

 

Over time things have changed in the hockey world. Many of the best North American players used to play Juniors in Canada, bypassing college, and then go pro from there. With the influx of European players in the NHL, making it more difficult to make the NHL, I think many North American players are looking at hockey more as a way to (1) pay for their educations, and (2) MAYBE play at a higher level someday. Its no wonder some of the best academic schools have excellent hockey programs (Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth, BC, BU, Clarkson, ND, Colgate, RPI, etc.)

 

As I recall when I went to Quinny the team had many former CT high schoolers, and not usually the best ones either. The ones I knew were fkn blockheads. Now?

 

The roster shows 27 kids, 16 or so Americans (8 from the Great Lakes region) the rest from all over Canada (BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario). And I'm willing to bet these kids aren't morons.

[Mr Crunchy]

our area is now 1 of the hottest recruiting beds of talent in the world

40 years ago no one had skates

30 years ago after the 76 olympics there may have been 10 in the entire league

this kid jensen remembers getting picked on and called an ""american faggot""

25 years ago robbie carpenter from st johns via peabody came into the league and was the 1st american to score 50 goals

 

we've come a long way baby

 

i love live hockey

the devils ruined the game for me with the trap and then the f***ing bruins playing cheese dick with all their talent leaving i hated the pro game

so we'd go to ahl games in providence or ecac--hockey east games

 

the game is making a modest comeback

in milford we didnt have a hockey team till maybe 10 yrs ago??

we played youth hockey then we had clubh leagues but ice was expensive

the better kids would skate at st johns shrewsbury or mt st chas or the school over in cumberland or even marion

 

hockeys back people

the bruins arent but the game looks pretty good to me

[Gom]

You guys know nothing about game, it is obvious. Soccer is much more demanding physically than basketball. You think brawls don't happen in soccer? You have one referee and two linesman as all the eyes covering a 100 yard field. I can't tell you how many elbows, jabs, punches, and spikes I got playing the game. There's no break in soccer. You are constantly moving. You don't have unlimited subs, or three timeouts a half, etc.

 

I dare anyone to go and play 90 minutes of soccer with a 10 minute break between halves, and then go play basketball for48 minutes. If you come back and tell me basketball was more tiring and demanding, I'll concede. You'll also be an idiot, but I'll concede.

[TheKilo]

Ask Kermit Washington if there's violence in basketball.

[rician blast]

You think brawls don't happen in soccer? You have one referee and two linesman as all the eyes covering a 100 yard field.

 

bitch-slappin' or kicking a guy on the ground and running away doesn't count as a "brawl".

 

In soccer the true brawls are in the stands and it ain't cuz the fans are getting overexcited over the 0-0 contest or because tremendous physical battles on the field are inspiring them.

 

Soccer is a decent sport, the players are well conditioned and I actually like watching now and then, but there is a reason its viewed as a pu$$y sport by many (not I, but I understand the perception) in our country.

[Mr Crunchy]

thge only fighting i see in soccer is when the english travel

manchester u and birmingham usually have the opposing fans behind chicken wire

in belfast wearing the wrong team jacket WILL get you popped in the wrong neighborhood

and by popped i dont mean getting kicked in the shins

 

we here in the states dont have that kind of enthusiasm over soccer and never ever will

[ORS]

You guys know nothing about game, it is obvious. Soccer is much more demanding physically than basketball. You think brawls don't happen in soccer? You have one referee and two linesman as all the eyes covering a 100 yard field. I can't tell you how many elbows, jabs, punches, and spikes I got playing the game. There's no break in soccer. You are constantly moving. You don't have unlimited subs, or three timeouts a half, etc.

 

I dare anyone to go and play 90 minutes of soccer with a 10 minute break between halves, and then go play basketball for48 minutes. If you come back and tell me basketball was more tiring and demanding, I'll concede. You'll also be an idiot, but I'll concede.

Click on the link Rician provided and find out what real "experts" think about it. I'll take the credibility of doctors in the field over a salesperson (I seem to recall you refering to your job in sales). Let me ask a question, do your numbers really jump when you can kick in some free snow-tires with the '89 Bonneville you are trying to deal?

[rician blast]

Let me ask a question' date=' do your numbers really jump when you can kick in some free snow-tires with the '89 Bonneville you are trying to deal?[/quote']

 

[CrespoBlows]

USA vs Mexico, tonight at 9:15.

 

It should be relatively interesting. Any predictions? Anyone actually going to watch?