soccer is really being pimped hard right now

While I agree with him in spirit and on many of his points, I wish he would not come down so hard on American sports. Celebrate the idea that soccer is gaining so much momentum and popularity, but don't lose sight of the fact that sports are something America far and away does better than anyone.

I literally could not agree more with that article

I agree with the article, but also with earlier posts that pull down American sport. I am as big a football (American) and baseball fan there is. I grew up playing a lot of basketball and love the game (though the NBA isn't my cup of tea).

I also find myself able to enjoy cricket, rugby, Aussie football, Gaelic sports and even F1 to an extend (not NASCAR, though...rednecks and whatnot).

You can be a fan of soccer and still enjoy other sports quite a bit.

Maybe he did bash them a bit much, but I do agree with his sentiment.

I love the sport of football and basketball. But the actual viewing experience has completely lost its luster to me. I still watch because I have invested so much in those sports since I was a kid, but I do spend so much time complaining about a timeout call, or an instant replay break, or a commercial break, etc.

I don't mind soccer getting more popular here but to say the crowds activity is completely organic seems a bit much to me only because I feel like some American crowds deliberately try to imitate and be like European crowds.

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I wish he would not come down so hard on American sports.

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Yeah, no need to stoop to the level of the soccer haters.

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so much time complaining about a timeout call

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With college football, luckily there is usually many games going at once and I make use of my two TVs and free streaming sites to avoid timeout pitfalls. On Sundays, when the Saints aren't on, I'm usually watch the Red Zone channel so that helps. On Mondays, when there is only one game, I'm usually watching WWE instead.

Most Sunday nights, I'm probably watching an MLS Sunday night game instead of the NFL Sunday night game (unless it's the Saints).

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but I do spend so much time complaining about a timeout call

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Went to the Saints game on Friday.

Had the punt (TV timeout), end of quarter (TV timeout), turnover (TV timeout), score (TV timeout), kickoff (TV timeout) quintfecta at the beginning of the second quarter.

FIVE TV timeouts from 1:00 left in the first quarter until 13:00 left in the second quarter.

I don't disagree with the fact that American sports take way too many breaks. However, as I've grown as a soccer fan, I've enjoyed the viewing experience more. For instance, I would rather watch West Brom play Swansea than the Seahawks play Arizona. But I don't think it's the proper way to get fans by bashing their joys. Introduce them to soccer, let them see, they will learn on their own.

I'm not saying bashing another sport is the way to go but I think the other sports can learn from soccer. I was reading about people in Dirk Nowitzkis hometown watching the Mavs in the finals a few years ago and they kept getting pissed at the commercial breaks. . I also think all the breaks do take away from the atmosphere at the game.