What would it take for an NFL fan to appreciate international soccer?
What would it take for the average NFL fan to watch and appreciate a World Cup or Premier League football/soccer match?
Is it even possible?
Wounded Duck:
Apples and oranges. The 2 games are so different that trying to compare them is not possible.
matthammer:
Nothing! I hate a american football and I contantly go on at my mates to watch a proper sport but nothing ever works
Fozzy:
Not liking a particular sport is, in my humble opinion, more a matter of education about it. I am not by any means a soccer fan, not because I think it's silly or anything like that, but because I don't know the game very well. I can appreciate the athleticism of soccer players, and realize it takes a lot of skill and stamina to play the game, but i can't enjoy a 90 minute game where, if you're lucky, 3 goals will score. On the other hand, I could watch a 1-0, 15 inning baseball game or a 7-3 football game and think they were both great games. Why? Because I have an understanding of those sports, and would be able to see beyond just the appeal of a run being scored. I can appreciate both offense and defense. but, if i watch a soccer game, I can't tell how a play is developing, I can't think ahead as to what I would do (hit away or bunt in baseball, pass or run, or maybe blitz or play back in a prevent defense for football) and I can't look at a soccer field and tell you which players are great, which are good and which are bad.
Chances are if you are an NFL fan, you didn't grow up seeing a lot of soccer. (Me either) The only way to learn to appreciate it would probably be to watch more of it, maybe read up on it some, and give it a little time.
PeachPie:
This is not possible. That would be like getting a cat and a dog to make sweet love...aint gonna happen.
Mr. Right:
Many appreciate it, but most don't get into it. I don't think it will catch on in the States. It's been attempted before, it's just viewed as completely boring compared to American football.
PAUL P:
HAVE A SOCCER PLAYER KICK A SUPERBOWL WINNING FIELD GOAL.
Ω†♡Kim with Issy and Jade♡†Ω:
Scoring More than every Fifth vernal eclipse?
Zigs:
an NFL fan is a real man! trying to change a guy (or girl) to soccer? Thats against he laws of nature. you cant go from watching people colliding and killin one another, to watching god damn grass fairies prance around and kick a ball around!
DARKNIGHT-SILVERLIGHT:
Not Possible.
J.D.:
lots of beer
Brew City:
Its being played by girls in bikinis. Other then that, I couldn't care any less about soccer.
bigredfred:
I can't appreciate sitting there watching a bunch of guys running around all afternoon and then the score is 1-0 or worse, 0-0. Soccer needs more scoring first. I just don't see it happening.
masybab02:
As about as much as any top soccer player to appreciate any other sport other than the one they're playing. lol :)
Ruthinia:
Why would we want to?
warequalspeace:
To answer you second question...YES it is Possible!!!
I for one am a die-hard lifelong NFL fan!!! I am 39 years of age and have been an NFL fan since I was old enough to remember.
However, around 1996 I started to watch a bit of soccer and became a huge fan of France. So in 1998 when they won the World Cup, I was sold and remain an avid International Soccer fan!!!
As for how to get NFL fans to get involved in International Soccer...I don't know the answer.
As for me, my sons started playing soccer and thus I became interested as a result of wanting to be a good father. Unlike Tiger Woods who wont let his kids play soccer...I find myself not liking Tiger Woods and actually refusing to watch any Golf tournament he plays in. But that is yet another story for another board.
I started watching and I volunteered to coach back when my boys where 5 and 6 years old...I signed up for coaching classes, watched videos and read books on coaching...in addition to learning about the game. I then worked my way into officiating so that I could understand the rules all that much more.
I truly enjoy watching Eurpean Soccer over any of the other leagues and as much as I enjoy the EPL, I am partial to France soccer.
Imagine that a Conservative Texan who lives and dies by his Dallas Cowboys and avid supporter of French Soccer.
I am enjoying watching the current Euro Cup!!! I don't believe my France team will get very far, but I am enjoying the high quality of play that is taking place.
Saddly, many NFL fans will not bat an eye at Soccer, simply because they do not understand the game.
The worst part, is that in America the all mighty Dollar rules everything and as a result the Media is run by Dollars. ESPN pays more attention to MLB, NFL and NBA than any other sport...not to mention NASCAR and Golf...there is a ton of advertising dollars promoting merchandise through these sports and thus ESPN is not a Sports News Channel, but rather a Marketing arm of these major U.S. Sports.
In order to get the casual U.S. fan interested in Soccer, one must find the Advertising clout to promote mercandise through this sport. You have to PAY ESPN and other Sports Channels to promote and report on the game of soccer...you also have to get them to stop ridiculing soccer, but rather speak of the greatness of the game. Perhaps finding journalists who grew up around Soccer and who have the skill to be a T.V. journalist.
The other option is to develop a true program that builds great soccer players in America, leading to a truly competitive US National Mens team.
All due respect to the womens team, and they have done a great job...it is up to the Men's team to rise up to Championship level in order to get US fans interested in this great sport.
Again, I will continue to be a fan...I support France and I hope someday to see the USA on par with France as it relates to Soccer!!!
rambo59:
i love watching the nfl and i barely watch soccer. the only time i watch soccer is when the world cup or UEFA is on and germany is playing.
RAIDERS FAN my account iz banned:
soccer suCKs
Tanya M:
I only watch soccer when it's the world cup,I cheer for team USA,but other than that I don't really watch it.
sgoldperson:
I'd probably have to take the time to actually learn and understand the game. I mean to me it is boring to watch. Just doesn't seem to be much action in the game to me.
Spekle D:
I'd watch but not appreciate it for $1,000,000,000 and a 100in plasma tv. Heck gimme another ps3- 1 aint ever enough! actually thats a lie 1 is plenty...
mpthatch:
IMHO, soccer is a sissy sport.
Jonathan S:
If they shortend the field, which would allow more scoring at a higher rate, i could deffiently see american football fans trying to hook on to it. but, in the end, it just will never stack to american football
roadkill ☠:
ummmm I'm drawing a blank, maybe throw some naked women on the field at random?
kaitlyn:
Any true athlete appreciates every single sport on earth, even if it's just cricket (no offense). It's not so much that you have to love every sport, but you have to respect it. Respect other athlete's time they spend dedicating to a sport, respect their effort, and respect the fact that they probably feel the same way about you. Not every one understands every game, but once you think about it, we (athletes) are all the same basically. We all practice hard, want to win, celebrate when we do win, and practice harder when we lose. Some sports may take more work than other sports but that does not mean it's a better sport. As for the NFL fans that don't appreciate soccer, I assume most of them aren't athletes, so they wouldn't understand.
Zelda Hunter:
I am a hockey fan, but I also enjoy watching both American style football and soccer when they are played at the very highest level. What kind of true sports fan would not?
Sometimes all it takes is a new HD tv set.
