Author Topic: Major League Soccer (Read 10249 times)

jrlibrarian · « **on:** October 06, 2010, 12:17:06 AM »

While I love football and baseball like everyone else, I wonder if anyone else here enjoys watching MLS as much as I do. About 30 minutes ago, my Seattle Sounders FC just became the first team to win two Open Cups back to back since the 1980's.

SCARVES UP!

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2010, 12:53:35 AM »

Hell yes, I'm a Sounders fan too! I just got into soccer during the World Cup, and once it ended I started following MLS. I plan on buying the Match Day Live online viewing package next year so I can watch the games without dealing with unreliable internet streams.

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2010, 10:07:04 AM »

I follow my local team, the Rochester Rhinos (who play in USL Division I) and that's pretty much it. Soccer is just boring to watch on TV (it's a little better in person). I do hope for the US to do better though.

Stogi · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2010, 11:21:56 AM »

Until they stop playing on old American Football fields, I will have no respect for them.

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #4 on:** October 06, 2010, 11:25:07 AM »

More and more on playing on dedicated soccer fields. For example, my local team used to play at Frontier Field (the local baseball stadium). A few years ago they built a new stadium built for soccer called Marina Auto Stadium. Part of the reason was that MLS won't allow expansion teams that don't play on fields designed for soccer.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #5 on:** October 06, 2010, 12:40:49 PM »

Logically is there some reason why playing soccer on a football field is no good? Big rectanglular field, lots of seats for spectators. It seems like I could describe a field for either sport the same way. Are the field dimensions too different?

Vancouver's new MLS team is going to play at the same stadium as our football team and that always seemed like a logical thing to do. But Canadian Football uses a bigger field than American Football so we lots of room to work with.

I have had difficulty getting into soccer anyway but one thing that makes me not that interested in MLS is that it isn't the top league for the sport in the world. The best players are playing in European leagues. I'm very used to how the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA have the absolute best players in the world for their respective sports. If I was to follow soccer I think the UEFA Champions League would be more up my alley because that's more comparable to the big four North American sports leagues. I've never really had anything more than a casual interest in the CFL for the same reason. Odds are when the Whitecaps start playing they will be very similar to the BC Lions where I don't really follow the team but like to go to a live game every once in a while. I will undoubtable go to at least one MLS game when the Vancouver team starts play to see what it's like.

Stogi · « **Reply #6 on:** October 06, 2010, 01:02:53 PM »

Soccer fields are much wider than NFL fields, by about 20 or so yards (so 70-80 yards wide). The length is negligible (usually they are 114-116 yards in length). World Cup fields are even bigger however.

But I just find it offensive to the respect of the sport. If you can't make dedicated fields for your national league, don't play at all.

And UEFA Champions League is actually a tournament. Each country has their own league. For example, the EPL is the English Premier League, Serie A is the Italian league, and La Liga is the Spanish league. They all play each other in a tournament that spans Europe in what's called the Champions league.

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2010, 01:14:21 PM »

Unagi, it has nothing to do with respect of the sport. The Oakland Raiders (NFL) play in a baseball stadium as well: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Sometimes when the Raiders play they even have the infield still visible. It's a matter of financing, often it is cheaper to rent an existing location than build a brand new stadium.

Stogi · « **Reply #8 on:** October 06, 2010, 01:36:09 PM »

I understand that but almost every single game I've seen had them playing on some jank field. It's just sad.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #9 on:** October 06, 2010, 01:39:45 PM »

Qwest Field, where the Sounders play, is a current NFL stadium, and thus way bigger and nicer than a dedicated soccer field could hope to be in this country.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #10 on:** October 06, 2010, 03:02:10 PM »

Quote

But I just find it offensive to the respect of the sport. If you can't make dedicated fields for your national league, don't play at all.

You must hate all those arenas that house both an NBA and NHL team. Detroit is the only city I can think of that has seperate arenas dedicated to only one sport.

I've been to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum to watch some A's games. It's actually a pretty weak atmosphere for watching baseball. But baseball and football have very different field dimensions so I think that's an exception. The big concern with the "concrete donut" design of the baseball/football combo stadium is that the sight lines are crap because to can't prioritize the seats to one sport. Your seat has to provide an okayish view for football and baseball instead of an ideal view for one of them.

But football, soccer and rugby all use the big rectangle field so if your stadium has enough space to fit all three specific configurations the seats will provide good visibility for all three. A good seat for a Seahawks game is a good seat for a Sounders game. I've been to NHL and NBA games in the same arena here in Vancouver and there is no issue. It financially makes sense to share a venue and the two sports have similar enough configurations that it works.

I am aware that the UEFA Champions League is a tournament but it seems like the closest thing to me to the Superbowl or the Stanley Cup. The best players play in Europe but not all in the same league. But this combines the best teams of all the leagues into one competition. You could say quite confidently that winning that tournament is like winning the World Series. You're the best team, you're the champions of soccer (club champions anyway, national teams are a different beast of course). When winning the MLS championship carries the prestige of being the best soccer team in the world then that's when MLS will be a really big deal in America.

jrlibrarian · « **Reply #11 on:** October 06, 2010, 04:24:39 PM »

Quote from: insanolord on October 06, 2010, 01:39:45 PM

Qwest Field, where the Sounders play, is a current NFL stadium, and thus way bigger and nicer than a dedicated soccer field could hope to be in this country.

Yes, and we destroyed the attendance record last night. It doesn't take very long to repaint the entire field for Hawks games. And since it's a great stadium, my view from the press box is fantastic.

Caliban · « **Reply #12 on:** October 06, 2010, 10:27:15 PM »

Toronto FC has its own field.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #13 on:** October 31, 2010, 10:01:15 PM »

Is soccer officiating just always terrible? These refs are totally favoring LA. Also, Landon Donovan is a little bitch.

EDIT: As soon as I posted that, the ref gave a Galaxy player a yellow card. I stand by my comment regarding Landon Donovan, though.

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #14 on:** November 01, 2010, 11:47:31 AM »

Every sport has teams or players that the refs favor or give more leeway to. That is why I hated the Super Bowl a few years ago when it became obvious that the referees and NFL wanted the Steelers to beat the Seahawks since they made a lot of bad calls that helped the Steelers.

Manthony Chopkins · « **Reply #15 on:** November 02, 2010, 10:59:03 PM »

Big Chicago Fire fan here. With the roster that they had they should have done much better. They were tough to watch this season.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #16 on:** March 15, 2011, 09:22:02 PM »

The season's just 10 minutes away; is anyone else as excited as I am? I was wearing my Sounders jersey around campus today, and have been anxiously waiting for them to kick the crap out of those arrogant, overrated bastards on the LA Galaxy.

jrlibrarian · « **Reply #17 on:** March 15, 2011, 09:31:51 PM »

Quote from: insanolord on March 15, 2011, 09:22:02 PM

The season's just 10 minutes away; is anyone else as excited as I am? I was wearing my Sounders jersey around campus today, and have been anxiously waiting for them to kick the crap out of those arrogant, overrated bastards on the LA Galaxy.

Damn straight. Scarves up!

Too bad that we let Nkufo go today though.

Stogi · « **Reply #18 on:** March 16, 2011, 01:58:54 PM »

UEFA Champions League yesterday was OFF THE FUCKING HOOK. Bayern vs. Inter was one of the best games I've seen in a long time. No one controlled the middle, so it was "I attack, you attack" soccer, which is the most entertaining to watch.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #19 on:** April 22, 2011, 10:51:32 PM »

Damn, that hit on Zakuani is painful to watch. You don't need to be told that he broke his leg, you can just see it. He'll be out most of the season, if not all of it, which sucks, as he's one of the best players on the team.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #20 on:** May 14, 2011, 08:25:31 PM »

Tonight's match between Seattle and Portland is shaping up to be epic. This is the first time the two teams will play as part of MLS, but the rivalry goes back to the 1970s, through several different leagues. Having only become a fan recently, this is my first taste of the rivalry, but I've read up on it, and there is some serious bad blood between the teams.

Just remember, Timbers: you're only in MLS because of how great the Sounders have done in the league. Even without Zakuani, Seattle will take down Portland in what is sure to be a new record for attendance at Qwest Field.

Tonight, 11 Eastern/8 Pacific, ESPN 2. Even if you're not a soccer fan, this match may change your mind about the sport.

jrlibrarian · « **Reply #21 on:** May 14, 2011, 08:42:33 PM »

Quote from: NWR_insanolord on May 14, 2011, 08:25:31 PM

Tonight's match between Seattle and Portland is shaping up to be epic. This is the first time the two teams will play as part of MLS, but the rivalry goes back to the 1970s, through several different leagues. Having only become a fan recently, this is my first taste of the rivalry, but I've read up on it, and there is some serious bad blood between the teams.

Just remember, Timbers: you're only in MLS because of how great the Sounders have done in the league. Even without Zakuani, Seattle will take down Portland in what is sure to be a new record for attendance at Qwest Field.

Tonight, 11 Eastern/8 Pacific, ESPN 2. Even if you're not a soccer fan, this match may change your mind about the sport.

This match is going to be epic. I'm up in the press box already, preparing for the long haul tonight.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #22 on:** May 28, 2011, 03:09:40 PM »

Anyone else watching the UEFA Champions League final? I'm really pulling for Barcelona, just because I really hate Manchester United.

Caliban · « **Reply #23 on:** May 28, 2011, 03:55:12 PM »

I am watching it right now. GO MANCHESTER UNITED!

Stogi · « **Reply #24 on:** May 30, 2011, 07:26:38 PM »

Watched it while I was nursing a hang over with brews. Great game. Much better than last years.

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Author Topic: Major League Soccer (Read 10249 times)