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Uncle J-Money won the Throwdown.

Ombudsman Cooz

Throwndowns: 12
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Littleton , CO
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Throwndowns: 67
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St. Paul, MN
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Soccer is by far and large the most popular sport in world, both culturally and athletically.

Uncle J-Money said 03/22, 03:35 PM
Football, or soccer to to many Americans, has been and continued to be the most popular sport on earth. Combining both skill and art, it is played in many forms from the tactical attacks of France to the beautiful footwork of Brazil. The forms that it takes represent not only the skill level of the teams that play, but the culture and lifestyles of the country it represents. Football has survived cultural revolutions and has also ended some as we saw in the Ivory Coast when the team qualified for its first world cup. This qualification ended tribal wars that had been ravaging the country for years.

Although America is relatively new to the sport, it still represents cultural factions that exist in our society, that being the rising tensions between U.S and Mexico. With amnesty and outsourcing becoming two increasingly important topics, the rivalry between the two countries also gains importance as well.

Cultural implications involving soccer have also occurred in Iraq as woman forced themselves into the stadium to watch a game that was once considered to be strictly for the eyes of men.

One thing is for certain though, football will always be #1 on a global scale.

Ombudsman Cooz said 03/22, 05:24 PM
I???m not arguing so much that soccer isn???t popular around the world, and I???m not going to get into the tired debate of why the U.S. doesn???t appreciate it as much as everyone else, I???m taking exception to a few rather large generalities used here.

First off, your suggestion that the style and skill of teams in other countries reflects that country???s culture. Are you suggesting, then, that the best soccer countries in the world are also simply the best countries in the world? I???m not sure how you???re going to defend the stance that the quality of a country is a direct correlation to its soccer team.

Also, saying the sport will always maintain its level of popularity around the world is as silly a notion as it is for Iraqi women needing to force their way into a stadium. You speak of those women standing up for their rights through the game itself, which is fine. But then you suggest, ???One thing is for certain though, football will always be #1 on a global scale.???

Didn???t those women show you how cultures and accepted social rules get broken down? Knowing that, isn???t it only fair to suggest that the world???s sport could change as well? Times, can, do, and always will change.

Uncle J-Money said 03/22, 06:53 PM
First off, your taking my argument and putting into a different context. I said that the style of play represents their culture and lifestyle, not how well of their country is or how it compares to others around the world. Spain and Brazil for example have a very artistic and free style of play. This is similiar to the way they LIVE their LIFE not how they compare to others in the world. I was not referring to the quality of play or lifestyle but the STYLE.

And how is the notion of football sustaining if not increasing its global popularity a silly suggestion, that is not a well thought out and well explained point. And yes I did say it will be #1 on a global scale, a statement that has nothing to do in itself with Iraqui women being able to break down cultural barriers through soccer.

In addition to the Iraqui's yes it does and that is precisely what I was arguin, that soccer reflects the norms and struggles that various cultures endure. i.e my other reference to the political underones of the Mexico USA rivalry. Another example would be the Glasgow Rangers and how they were persecuted during the Protestant reformation, because of their involvement with that FC.

Ombudsman Cooz said 03/22, 07:13 PM
Your words: "The forms that it takes represent not only the skill level of the teams that play, but the culture and lifestyles of the country it represents."

I asked for clarification. You said the team's skill level represents the culture and the lifestyle.

The Reformation? Are you saying that the Rangers Football Club was persecuted during the 1500s? Cuz I believe that's the reformation you're talking about.

My point is saying, absolutely, that soccer will always be the world's number one sport is not consistent with the same promotion of change you're discussing.

In case you were busy commenting on how the U.S. doesn't watch soccer, the Super Bowl was viewed by over 300 million people. That on par with the World Cup, and the Super Bowl doesn't have four years of build-up between events.

Considering the NFL is watched exclusively by only one country. The rest of the world watches the World Cup once every four years. The Super Bowl is watched by many other countries once every four years. That doesn't strike me as one sport having a massive advantage in terms of popularity.

Uncle J-Money said 03/22, 10:50 PM
Yes those were my words and last time I checked, lifestyle does not exactly refer to how much money or wealth one has. In addition to that I did not say ones skill, I said ones form represents BOTH skill and lifestyle. If you want to refute me, make sure you put me in context.

Also, yes I am talking about the 1500's, I am glad you know your history because the Glasgow Rangers were persecuted for their connections with the Protestants, glad you can figure things out for yourself.

I am also confused with you agreeing to the original argument I offered, soccer is the number one sport because of cultural and athletic implications. And you comparing the popularity of the NFL to soccer based on one event is ridiculous, the fact that you think only 300 million people watch the World Cup is also incredibly wrong. (SHOW ME THE STATS ON THAT) Soccer in GENERAL, not just the world cup, I am talking on a FC and international level takes any other sport in terms of popularity by a land slide. One point being the MLS has lasted far longer than the NFL in Europe did as it folded and disappeared. You have yet to refute my orig agmt that soccer is the MOST POPULAR SPORT ON EARTH.

Ombudsman Cooz said 03/22, 11:46 PM
No, you see, I never once said anything about "athletic" implications. I have no idea what that means. What is an "athletic" implication? Does the poetic swing of Albert Pujols not stand in comparison to a guy kicking a ball? Does Johan Santana's other-wordly change-up or Adrian Peterson's impossible ability to cut at the same speed he runs straight not have something of an "athletic" implication?

What is it about soccer fans that makes you think that because the rest of the world watches soccer, therefore, it must be better? Wasn't it the "rest of the world" who assumed the earth was flat?

You want me to show you the stats on the SB vs. the WC? Check the end-of-the-year ratings, that top spot, where it says "Super Bowl," that's where the 300 million viewers comes from.

You have failed entirely to bring anything to this conversation more than current soccer players were oppressed during the 14th century, more people in the world watch soccer because there is only one option available to them and an incorrect statement about how MLS has lasted longer in the U.S. than American Football did in Europe.

MLS started in 1996, American FB in Europe started in 1990.

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Challenge me to this on monday and ill take it because Golf is the most popular sport in the world next to soccer and its not that big of a gap

Frostie | 03/22/08, 04:42 PM

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Soccer is by far and large the most popular sport in world, both culturally and athletically.

Ombudsman Cooz beat Uncle J-Money 19 to 16

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