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ESPN: Soccer's big Takeover
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:15 pm
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:15 pm
LINK
quote:
Rich Luker, a 59-year-old baseball-loving social scientist based in North Carolina, is the brains behind the ESPN Sports Poll, the complex database that recently pronounced soccer as America's second-most popular sport for those age 12-24, outstripping the NBA, MLB and college football. Luker is also the man who discovered that three soccer players -- Lionel Messi (16th), iconic veteran David Beckham (20th), and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (24th) -- rank among the 50 most popular athletes in America. "Unbelievably, [Lionel] Messi ranks ahead of Dwyane Wade," Luker marveled. "Only two baseball players, Albert Pujols and Derek Jeter, are ahead of him."
quote:
But the sporting tectonic plates have shifted. America's cultural diversification, increasingly globalized outlook, and widespread access to the Internet all have benefitted soccer more than the other more traditional American sports. "In the last two years, Americans have been exposed to elite soccer on a very regular basis, which has allowed us to appreciate the sport and develop a savvy about it in a way we could not before," Luker said.
quote:
For those who do not believe, Luker is keen to underline that change can happen fast. "In 1994, MLB was as popular as the NFL. This stuff can shift quickly and right now, soccer is like a rocket ship on the launchpad."
"If baseball and basketball don't adapt to this new reality they are going to have issues," Luker continued
This post was edited on 8/1/13 at 1:17 pm
11
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:16 pm to Tennessee Jed
You can thank a lot of this to FIFA video games.
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:17 pm to barry
quote:
You can thank a lot of this to FIFA video games
I actually believe that to be a very fair point.
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:17 pm to Tennessee Jed
Soccer's rise is paralleling the gay community's acceptance?
Coincidence? You be the judge.
Coincidence? You be the judge.
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:18 pm to Tennessee Jed
quote:
"If baseball and basketball don't adapt to this new reality they are going to have issues
the NBA has done a fine job of marketing it's product... it seems to be more popular now than ever.
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:18 pm to Tennessee Jed
I agree with the cultural shift helping soccer. But, hasn't soccer always been one of the most popular sports for teenagers? Seems that most outgrow soccer as adults in the form of TV viewership.
This post was edited on 8/1/13 at 1:19 pm
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:19 pm to ShoeBang
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:20 pm to Tennessee Jed
FIFA definitely has had a major influence in growing the sport in the States, wouldn't be the first time pop culture has influenced a nation one way or the other.
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:20 pm to ShoeBang
quote:
Soccer's rise is paralleling the gay community's acceptance?
I hope you die in your sleep
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:21 pm to GeauxColonels
As long as college football is available for me to watch, I really don't care who or how many watch soccer.
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:21 pm to LSUSOBEAST1
quote:
I hope you die in your sleep
Lighten up Francis.
it was a joke. I like soccer once every 4 years.
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:22 pm to ShoeBang
quote:That's more than me.
it was a joke. I like soccer once every 4 years
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:22 pm to ehidal1
quote:
But, hasn't soccer always been one of the most popular sports for teenagers
I don't believe so... soccer is strange in that most kids (white suburban anyway) grew up playing soccer, but by high school they've moved on to other sports/activities... that all may be changing, though.
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:23 pm to ShoeBang
quote:
it was a joke.
Mine wasn't
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:24 pm to LSUSOBEAST1
I think one big problem with baseball is that the games take too long. You pretty much know what time a soccer game is going to end unless it's an elimination game and it goes into OT.
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:25 pm to ehidal1
quote:
Seems that most outgrow soccer as adults in the form of TV viewership.
B/c it wasn't on tv. It wasn't on TV both b/c it wasn't popular and b/c of a lack of a good American league. There was no good American league b/c it wasn't popular.
Its all interconnected. Now that the popularity is growing, the TV availability is greater, the domestic league is better, etc etc.
There was only one way for soccer to go in this country, and it is really going there.
It won't be a fad, b/c it is an objectively great sport that you only grow to appreciate more the more you watch it. Plus, its format makes it unruinable by TV.
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:25 pm to Tennessee Jed
quote:
Rich Luker, a 59-year-old baseball-loving social scientist based in North Carolina, is the brains behind the ESPN Sports Poll, the complex database that recently pronounced soccer as America's second-most popular sport for those age 12-24, outstripping the NBA, MLB and college football.
Calling BS. ESPN trying to promote a sport it has investment in.
Soccer has a "cult" following, but you will not sustain a growth until the US team can have a good showing in a World Cup, or actually qualify regularly. Soccer people have been trying since the Cup was here in '94.
Oh, and the flopping will always be a big obstacle to US fans.
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:27 pm to LSUSOBEAST1
quote:
Mine wasn't
must suck to be such a miserable shite-stain of a bastard like you obviously are. I feel sorry your long suffering friends and family for having to put up with someone like you, internet tough guy
ETA: And I bet you bore the frick out of them talking their heads off about a sport they don't give a shite about.
This post was edited on 8/1/13 at 1:30 pm
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:28 pm to mikedatyger
quote:
Calling BS. ESPN trying to promote a sport it has investment in. Soccer has a "cult" following, but you will not sustain a growth until the US team can have a good showing in a World Cup, or actually qualify regularly. Soccer people have been trying since the Cup was here in '94. Oh, and the flopping will always be a big obstacle to US fans.
ESPN is promoting it, but they are not making something of nothing. They wouldn't promote it if they didn't see a future in it, certainly not to the point of falsifying polls.
We've already had good showings in the WC. We qualify every time.
There's a difference b/t "flopping" (diving), and going down on contact. Going down on contact happens b/c you have a humongous field with one field ref. If the players stay up despite being fouled, the fouls won't be called, and the fouls will get worse and worse. Going down on contact is part of the game.
Diving is universally looked down on by officials, leagues, players, etc. You get yellow-carded for obvious dives.
I wouldn't expect a non-soccer fan to understand that, but you should expect yourself to attempt to understand things before you write them off.
This post was edited on 8/1/13 at 1:35 pm
Posted on 8/1/13 at 1:29 pm to mikedatyger
quote:When is the last time the US did not qualify for the World Cup?
or actually qualify regularly.
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