Originally Posted by Xanathol (Post 10729259)

There are ~40-50 million illegals here right now... coincidence? I think not...

Originally Posted by notorious (Post 10729298)

It doesn't matter, but Zach said that "Mexicans suddenly become US fans", when in fact they don't have to be to tune in and boost ratings.

Last time I looked soccer is far and away more popular than Baseball and football for Hispanics.

I could be wrong, but probably not. I count hundreds of hispanics on the soccer fields around here compared to few on a baseball diamond or football field.

Dodge City and Garden City have a huge hispanic population that are from the heart of Mexico.

Originally Posted by SNR (Post 10729291)

The point I'm trying to make is that this doesn't mean very much. It doesn't mean NBA basketball is in decline or that soccer in the US is on the rise. You can point to other data if you want to make arguments for either or both of those points, but this article that Cochise posted isn't the way to do it.

Originally Posted by mr. tegu (Post 10729295)

If there is one thing I have learned watching the World Cup, its that the vast majority of the players are not that good at scoring the ball. They can manipulate it, pass it, run with it, but when it comes time to shoot the ball they are not very good.

Sure a few get lucky here and there, but I would expect more consistency from the players. I cannot believe how horrible and off target some of their "shots" are. I used to think scoring would go up if some rules were changed, but now I realize the problem is not the rules, its the players.

Originally Posted by KC_Connection (Post 10729287)

You really don't think a ton of people will stop watching now?

Originally Posted by Bacon Cheeseburger (Post 10729300)

You might have a valid point if this board was called SoccerPlanet.

Originally Posted by |Zach| (Post 10729301)

Well the bell curve and sample size is.... "the world" so maybe finishing is harder than you are giving credit for? You're watching the best in the world in a sport the world plays.

Originally Posted by Swanman (Post 10729310)

US viewership will drop with the US being out, but I think the viewership in the remaining games will be much higher than previous World Cups after the US got knocked out. However, you also have to factor in that Brazil is basically in the same time zone as the US so that muddies the waters with ratings.

Originally Posted by mr. tegu (Post 10729312)

I am sure finishing can be difficult at times, but when I watch a match and consistently see shots 20 feet wide and 20 feet too high I have to question how good they are at scoring.

Originally Posted by Baby Lee (Post 10729308)

Go ahead and post up some video of your amazing skills, maybe Klinnsman will happen across it.

Originally Posted by SNR (Post 10729291)

The point I'm trying to make is that this doesn't mean very much. It doesn't mean NBA basketball is in decline or that soccer in the US is on the rise. You can point to other data if you want to make arguments for either or both of those points, but this article that Cochise posted isn't the way to do it.

Originally Posted by notorious (Post 10729298)

It doesn't matter, but Zach said that "Mexicans suddenly become US fans", when in fact they don't have to be to tune in and boost ratings.

Last time I looked soccer is far and away more popular than Baseball and football for Hispanics.

I could be wrong, but probably not. I count hundreds of hispanics on the soccer fields around here compared to few on a baseball diamond or football field.

Dodge City and Garden City have a huge hispanic population that are from the heart of Mexico.

Originally Posted by mr. tegu (Post 10729312)

I am sure finishing can be difficult at times, but when I watch a match and consistently see shots 20 feet wide and 20 feet too high I have to question how good they are at scoring.

Originally Posted by |Zach| (Post 10729317)

So ehh...who is better? I mean. You are watching the World Cup.

My only point is that...if you sit back and watch NFL QBs and come away unimpressed with the passing skills of QBs then...it probably says more about the nature of passing than it does a deficiency in QBs unless you can point to a higher level. Ya know?

Unless you can then point to people who do it better than NFL QBs. The bell curve currently includes...soccer players in the world. This feels like a criticism more fitting for MLS than World Cup soccer.

Originally Posted by Jimmya (Post 10728846)

Soccer will only be popular in the US every 4 years.