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  • November 04, 2009 12:24 PM ET

Soccer is ready to take it's [place with top 4

socceristherealfootball (3-6-0) vs Argos: Lets Go Packers! (46-7-4)
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When was hockey ever considered as a top 4 sport?

Soccer is, and still remains the most popular sport in the world. Not in the US but worldwide.
I am going to argue that hockey is not and has not been a top 4 sport.
hockey is only played in canada and the us. it doesn't deserve to be considered.
despite soccer's falling popularity in america, it doesn't mean that it should be overlooked.
most of hockey's fanbase comes from canada so no saying just because soccer isn't popular in UNITED STATES doesn't mean it is not ppopular at all.
likewise nfl is popular in london, despite beign based in US.


Well, when we talk about the "top 4" we mean in the United States.
Soccer will not be a top 4 sport in the United States any time soon, for a few reasons.

First, the talent level in the United States is weak. The MLS is the major league in Canada and the US, but it is a weak league, with weak talent. People want to see the best of the best, not minor league players. The top players are all in the top leagues over the pond in England, Spain, Italy and even France, Germany and Russia have better leagues. The MLS probably isn't a top 5 league based on talent level.

Next, Soccer has had the talent, and some hype, but has failed. First came Pele to New York, but he wasn't able to create a big buzz around soccer, and failed to make it popular. Next came Beckham and all his hype, but no one cared about his soccer, he was treated as a movie star, and no one cared for his soccer skills.

Hockey has a large fan base in the United States, and many NHL games get sold out every game, like in Washington, Pittsburgh, and Minnesota. Not many MLS teams sell out.

If hockey does ever fall out of the top 4, I think it will be to MMA, not soccer.


Who said i'm talking about the US?

I clearly stated world wide.
I know the struggles of the MLS and how it's not popular here mainly because of the lack of mindless violence. Sayign the top players are from europe is basically common sense, especially in soccer.

As far as pele and beckham go it's like bringing in a Michael Jordan to play WNBA, it won't create any buzz, would more people watch the WNBA? yes they would BUT would it make the overall sport of womens basketball more exciting, fun and popular? no it would not.
World wide i beleive it ranks like this
1. Soccer
2. Baseball
3. Basketball
4. Football

So clearly you have had a misunderstanding about what this TD is about and i will keep this argument short so that you can write a relevant argument.


Well, when you say the top 4, you assume the US, because most people would agree that it is one of the most popular sports across the world.
I will now I guess argue that Hockey is in the top 4, ahead of Football.

Football is only popular in America, and some what in Canada. It is not popular in England or Europe to many people's belief. Yes, they can sell out one game a year in London, but I'm sure that you can sell out a single game any where. Europe had NFL Europe, and it failed, no one went to the games, and none of the last 4 teams were in England. Football is not played in any other large nation outside of the US.

While Hockey is vastly popular across northern nations. Russia's favourite past time is hockey, that is a population of 142,008,838. The Scandinavian nations favourite past time is hockey, that is around 20,000,000 people. The breakaway USSR nations favourite past time is hockey, that is a population of about 25,000,000 people. Hockey has a large popularity. Not to mention that they have several professional leagues around the world, unlike football. Just in Europe, 30 different nations have their own pro hockey league.

Hockey is a top 4 sport.


Just because NFL europe failed doesn't translate into football is not popular in england.
People wanted to see superstars not rejects from teams trying to make the practice team.

I did not know that much about hockey, I admit i was wrong about it. i now know it is an underrated sport much like soccer. my apologies.

I guess the real world rankings go like this

1. Soccer
2. Baseball
3. Hockey
4. NBA

for fun though what do germans play?

I know they like beerfest and stuff like hairy underarms and large women.


So what do I argue now? You agree that Hockey is in the top 4.


Well, Germans actually play Soccer. Soccer is by far their most popular sport. They are currently the 5th ranked team in the world, and have had success for many years. In fact, the lowest they have ever been ranked by Fifa was 23rd. They have appeared in 16 World Cups and have won 3, (in '90, '74, and '54), they have also won 3 Euro championships in 10 appearances.

Germans also play Hockey. They have 3 professional Ice Hockey leagues, including the most popular DEL. They also have had many NHL players, like Danny Heatley (German born), Christian Ehrhoff, Marcel Goc, and most famous Olaf Kolzig.

Germans also play Basketball. The most famous basketball player is of course Dirk Nowitizki.

In Germany, some other popular sports are rugby, bobsleigh, luge, cycling, skeleton, and motorsports such as F1.

Comments (38) Add A Comment

November 4, 2009  12:28 PM ET
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its anti bconn

November 4, 2009  12:33 PM ET
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Argos - tear this guy up....

November 4, 2009  12:33 PM ET
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I hate MMA, but I think it is more popular than Soccer in the US, I wouldn't put Soccer in the top 5, and I am a Soccer fan.

November 4, 2009  12:39 PM ET
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whats a bcon?bacon? i like bacon

November 4, 2009  12:41 PM ET
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QUOTE(#4):
Originally posted 12:39 PM ET  11.04 by socceristherealfootball

whats a bcon?bacon? i like bacon

Don't we all...

November 4, 2009  12:46 PM ET
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i found the bacon guy, she sucks. soccer is awesome

November 4, 2009  12:50 PM ET
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I agree, when saying "top four" one naturally assumes you mean in the US, and further one assumes that when you say "is ready to take its place with top 4". Soccer has been the world's top sport for a long, long time, so stating soccer is ready to take its place in the top 4 leans you heavily towards arguing it's place in the hierarchy of American sports.

November 4, 2009  12:51 PM ET
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Depends where you live I guess. Southern US and some other areas such as the North West will probably plump for soccer, but pretty much anywhere else is probably leaning more to hockey..RIGHT? The World Cup coming up will also give soccer a boost, especially if USA do well.

November 4, 2009  12:52 PM ET
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i made the title based on the other td that was made saying hockey is ready to take it's place in the top 4.
i wanted to be clever

November 4, 2009  12:52 PM ET
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Who the hell is this Jackass on the left? Hockey is only played in Canada and the US!?!? Thats the most idiotic statement I've read in awhile. Are there not Countries across the Pond that love and play Hockey? Must be a boring Winter Olympics with only the US and Canada playing Hockey.

November 4, 2009  12:54 PM ET
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i wouldnt doubt that this is beacon

November 4, 2009  12:57 PM ET
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QUOTE(#10):
Originally posted 12:52 PM ET  11.04 by BostonDynasty12

Who the hell is this Jackass on the left? Hockey is only played in Canada and the US!?!? Thats the most idiotic statement I've read in awhile. Are there not Countries across the Pond that love and play Hockey? Must be a boring Winter Olympics with only the US and Canada playing Hockey.

Exactly, could have sworn those cold weather countries in Europe love Hockey, the Russians, Norwegians, Swedes, etc...

November 4, 2009  12:59 PM ET
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Swedish Elite league, KHL, et al...

November 4, 2009  01:00 PM ET
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"I know the struggles of the MLS and how it's not popular here mainly because of the lack of mindless violence."

Actually I don't think it has anything to do with that. It has to do more with the lack of offense, the slow movement of the game, the fact that they spend just as much time if not more bringing the ball back changing fields etc. as they do attacking the goal. It could also have something to do with every time a player falls over, they act like they were shot. Some of the best academy award performances have been on the soccer field by players and they been screwed out of their Oscar!

Its sad but women's soccer in America is probably more exciting than men's. Because the game is more up and down. Not across and back.

November 4, 2009  01:04 PM ET
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I'd love to see bconn argue with this guy.

November 4, 2009  01:09 PM ET
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isn't hockey played in canada and us? i don't see any europe teams

November 4, 2009  01:23 PM ET
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Left almost got me to vote their way... almost.

November 4, 2009  02:09 PM ET
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Willing to bet left is Bconn.

November 4, 2009  02:11 PM ET
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hockey is only played in the us and canada? pretty sure that its played in sweden, finland, czech, russia.....along with a lot of other countries as well......

 
November 4, 2009  02:11 PM ET
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QUOTE(#16):
Originally posted 01:09 PM ET  11.04 by socceristherealfootball

isn't hockey played in canada and us? i don't see any europe teams

They have several professional leagues in Europe. The KHL rivals the NHL to get Russian players, and pays more. The Swedish Elite league is another top pro hockey league. Also, Switzerland has some top leagues.

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