Olympic Soccer

[Hector]

They are only going to focus on the home country. I really doubt that they are paying much attention to the U.S. Women's team in Mexico. I did come across Telemundo showing the Mexico win and the players going crazy. I'm sure they have been covering it on the Fox Soccer Channel and I'm pretty sure the games are being telivised live on MSNBC or the NBC Sports Channel.

You make good points.

Shockingly though...Mexican television Networks like Televisa and TV Azteca...do cover women's soccer...they admit that thanks to the American women...Mexican girls have been inspired...and started taking soccer seriously as well.

Remember, Telemundo (owned by NBC, that's why they are able to show the Olympics here in the States) is an American Network...not Mexican.

[Hector]

You know I love ya, Mike, but I disagree.

Just because it's not nearly as popular as some other sports doesn't mean it will not see the fan base of some other sports. (I'm looking at you, hockey) I can remember the only place I could watch soccer as a kid was on PBS's "Soccer Made in Germany." Now I have an entire channel devoted to it with more clearance (availability) in American than the NFL and MLB channels combined.

Now I do not claim that soccer "has finally arrived" in the U.S. like some commentators do very four years when the World Cup rolls around, but it is a loooong way from the days of the NASL in the 70's. It was a rare occasion for me to see another person with a jersey from a famous team. Now I see people wearing the jerseys from all over the place. I went to a bar in Philly to watch the U.S. team play England last year and the city had shut down an entire block and put up huge screens. That would have never happened 10 years ago. When I watched the Cup in '94, NO ONE in my office thought it was more than a novelty. Last year their groups of fans in my office watching.

Again, soccer is nowhere near football or baseball in America, but its ratings on television are beginning to challenge hockey. I meet regularly with the folks over at ESPN and the discussion is always about getting more soccer coverage into their programming. They wouldn't spend the money if they didn't think the fan base didn't exist.

The mistake many make is that they only look at soccer's popularity every four years when the World Cup happens. They think it's exponentiallyt more popular now. The truth is it's been gaining popularity every year, but few look until World Cup. Will it ever be as popular as football or basketball, I don't think we'll see that, but sold out stadiums, huge TV contracts and the continued success of American teams will only help grow the fan base.

Great post....agree 100%...

[MegoMark71]

Ok that hockey comment cuts me deep..........real deep. I'm already suffering cause it's the off season. Don't worry though, i know it is what it is.

[Hector]

Ok that hockey comment cuts me deep..........real deep. I'm already suffering cause it's the off season. Don't worry though, i know it is what it is.

That's cool though...it doesn't have to be the most popular sport amongst the majority...look at me...I love boxing...but unlike its heyday in the 20s (which believe it or not, it was the number one sport in America)...today its a minor sport...and I don't care...I love watching boxing.

If hockey is not that big...you shouldn't care either...as long as you keep loving the game, and have fun...that's all it matters...damn the opinion of the majority...lol.

[Hector]

I shouldn't have said the women's USA team is by far and away the best soccer team...Japan is pretty even with them...they won last year's World Cup...and they also have dominated the Olympics.

USA and Japan are all tied up in the series for the year...1-1-1.

I think USA vs Japan is going to be a barn burner...I think it's a pick 'em matchup.

[MegoMark71]

Oh yeah my friend. I was just kidding. I know what the deal is with hockey. I think it is very much like american soccer fans. In other sports like football and baseball and basketball, you have a ton of just casual fans. With hockey, you have very passionate fans. Fans that will drop $200 bucks for an authentic jersey and $100 for a reproduction jersey. We have a few very very passionate hockey fans. I live, eat, and breath hockey 365 days a year. Even in the off season i'm checking nhl.com for anything that is happening. I saw my first live game at 6 and started playing that same winter. It was an instant love affair for me.

That game is tomorrow right hector? USA vs Japan that is.

[Hector]

Yeah, Thursday...the women's soccer final...

Women’s Gold Medal Match

USA vs. Japan

When: Thursday, Aug. 9, 2:45 p.m. ET

TV: NBC Sports Network: NBCSP

Live Stream: NBC Olympics


The men's final, Brazil vs Mexico...that's on Saturday morning.

[Hector]

Yeah, over here in the Bay Area...the San Jose Sharks fans are a rabid bunch...I've gone to a couple of games (a former co-worker of mine has season tickets)...and it was a blast...hockey is so much better in person than on TV.

[toys2cool]

yea I'm one of those once in every 4 years kind of fan..I'll get a little into it when the world cup starts but that's about it...I'll take the NFL,NBA and MLB over soccer any day and even Hockey

[Wee67]

Ok that hockey comment cuts me deep..........real deep. I'm already suffering cause it's the off season. Don't worry though, i know it is what it is.

I'm actually a pretty big hockey fan as well. Being a Flyers fan, however, has been rough. They sucked me in as a kid beating the Russians and winning the cup twice, but since then... nothing! Strategically, soccer and hockey actually have more in common than some people realize- the offsides line, cycling through, the importance of movement to space away from the ball/puck.

Of course, no hockey player worth his salt falls on the ice from the slightest nudge and acts like he's been shot a few times