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The "US can't compete because athletes choose other sports" Argument
Posted on 12/14/14 at 6:46 pm
Posted on 12/14/14 at 6:46 pm
@BrittMcHenry: Odell Beckham Jr. turned down playing for the US national soccer team for football. Example of why we'll never have European caliber soccer
Mike Magee didn't take kindly to this.
@magee9: @BrittMcHenry I've stumbled on some ridiculous tweets in my day but this one stood out. Thanks for the laugh Britt
And finally her reply.
@BrittMcHenry: @magee9 well at least you "stumbled" upon me. Can't say the same for you.
I'm getting really tired of hearing this now.
Mike Magee didn't take kindly to this.
@magee9: @BrittMcHenry I've stumbled on some ridiculous tweets in my day but this one stood out. Thanks for the laugh Britt
And finally her reply.
@BrittMcHenry: @magee9 well at least you "stumbled" upon me. Can't say the same for you.
I'm getting really tired of hearing this now.
10
Posted on 12/14/14 at 6:51 pm to jackwoods4
Fact: Britt lives in a trailer park and failed the third grade.
Posted on 12/14/14 at 7:13 pm to jackwoods4
He quit soccer when he was like 13, right? I agree, this "story" is fricking dumb.
I'm sure he was good but no need to overstate it
I'm sure he was good but no need to overstate it
Posted on 12/14/14 at 7:25 pm to cwil177
quote:
Fact: Britt lives in a trailer park and failed the third grade.
She's a sportscenter anchor, she isn't living in a trailer park.
ETA: She also played D1 soccer at Stetson.
This post was edited on 12/14/14 at 7:27 pm
Posted on 12/14/14 at 7:29 pm to Broski
Well Micheal Jordan was a great basketball player but a pretty mediocre baseball player. I also don't think that Messi would be great at other sports.
Posted on 12/14/14 at 7:41 pm to itawambadog
quote:
. I also don't think that Messi would be great at other sports.
He could have been a great high school running back in an all white Mississippi Academy League.
His career would have ended there.Posted on 12/14/14 at 7:45 pm to jackwoods4
quote:
Odell Beckham Jr. turned down playing for the US national soccer team for football. Example of why we'll never have European caliber soccer
OBJ was a really good player at youth levels. Never played select though. He could have quite easily. My son who is 17 now went to the same tiny little elementary school and OBJ won the flag football championship by himself when he was in 7th grade.
ISAS, against Newman, CD, Trinity, Christian Brothers and Stuart Hall.Posted on 12/14/14 at 7:46 pm to glassman
quote:
OBJ was a really good player at youth levels. Never played select though. He could have quite easily. My son who is 17 now went to the same tiny little elementary school and OBJ won the flag football championship by himself when he was in 7th grade. ISAS, against Newman, CD, Trinity, Christian Brothers and Stuart Hall.
Did he play at Newman?
Posted on 12/14/14 at 7:50 pm to jackwoods4
You may be tired of hearing about this, which is understandable, but it's definitely true that the US underperforms in soccer in part because of this phenomenon.
The argument isn't that LeBron or Odell or whoever would be a sick EPL player specifically. Rather, something like this is indicative of a structural disasvantage we as a country impose on ourselves.
The argument isn't that LeBron or Odell or whoever would be a sick EPL player specifically. Rather, something like this is indicative of a structural disasvantage we as a country impose on ourselves.
This post was edited on 12/14/14 at 7:56 pm
Posted on 12/14/14 at 7:58 pm to Broski
quote:
Did he play at Newman?
Nope. He probably could have just based on athletic ability, but all of Newman's kids play almost exclusively soccer only now. Last football player I remember being really good was Jeffrey Hampton. He was great at both sports and a State Champion at soccer.
Posted on 12/14/14 at 7:59 pm to Lou Pai
quote:
but it's definitely true that the US underperforms in soccer in part because of this phenomenon.
The argument isn't that LeBron or Odell or whoever would be a sick EPL player specifically. Rather, something like this is indicative of a structural disasvantage we as a country impose on ourselves.
Yep.
On top of that, the youth systems are arse backwards so we are kind of going in with both hands tied behind our back.
The tide is changing though. Soccer will never be #1 sport of choice in America, but there are enough people in the country that it doesn't have to be to compete.
Posted on 12/14/14 at 8:09 pm to Broski
quote:
The argument isn't that LeBron or Odell or whoever would be a sick EPL player specifically. Rather, something like this is indicative of a structural disadvantage we as a country impose on ourselves.
It is true but that
quote:
the youth systems are arse backwards
is why people get tired of hearing the "great athletes that don't play soccer" thing.
13 years old is already past the age that any elite talent will be developed which will actually bridge the gap between the USA and the truly elite nations.
Posted on 12/14/14 at 8:19 pm to Broski
quote:
She's a sportscenter anchor, she isn't living in a trailer park.
Still failed the third grade.
Posted on 12/14/14 at 8:27 pm to wm72
quote:
13 years old is already past the age that any elite talent will be developed which will actually bridge the gap between the USA and the truly elite nations.
Yep. European elite talent are in academies being coached by elite coaches and living away from their families at that age. Most don't make it, but the level of coaching is so much higher. Same with South America.
Posted on 12/14/14 at 8:41 pm to glassman
Anyone else bothered by the fact that ESPN hires people who are so fricking dumb?
Obviously not hired for her brain. And the US doesn't even have a true national team at 13.
Would still smash, obvi, despite being an r-tard turncoat.
Obviously not hired for her brain. And the US doesn't even have a true national team at 13.
Would still smash, obvi, despite being an r-tard turncoat.
Posted on 12/14/14 at 8:53 pm to Lou Pai
quote:
You may be tired of hearing about this, which is understandable, but it's definitely true that the US underperforms in soccer in part because of this phenomenon.
The argument isn't that LeBron or Odell or whoever would be a sick EPL player specifically. Rather, something like this is indicative of a structural disasvantage we as a country impose on ourselves.
Exactly. There are a million little reasons why it hasn't happened yet here in the states, and they are argued ad nauseam on here. The simple answer is that our best athletes and smartest athletic minds (coaches/general managers etc) are involved at the top levels of football and to an extent basketball and baseball. The majority of our sporting resources are devoted to other sports.
It's changing though. And a lot quicker than I thought it would. The last 5 years or so it's exploded. The kids are really into it. It's no longer uncool to watch or play soccer anymore. This young generation and the next are key to the growth of soccer here. It's inevitable.
This post was edited on 12/14/14 at 8:55 pm
Posted on 12/14/14 at 8:54 pm to wm72
The US produces more elite athletes than probably the entire rest of the world combined. There are plenty of them to go around. The problem is that many of them are guys you've never heard of that are sitting on a bench somewhere for college football/basketball and NFL/NBA teams. When our domestic league gets big enough so that it can close the pay scale gap that currently exists between MLS and our other major sports, more of those guys will have chosen soccer at an early age and the sport will continue to grow and grow.
Posted on 12/14/14 at 8:55 pm to jackwoods4
quote:
We'll never have European caliber soccer
See... I think this is false. We finished ahead of Portugal in our group at the World Cup. In friendlies over the last few years we've beaten Germany, Czech Republic, Scotland, Turkey, Italy, Bosnia, etc. Beat Spain at the Confederations Cup in 2009. Drew with England in 2010 and drew with Slovenia (beat them in a friendly soon after).
In the last 5 years, we've done decent against European competition. Obviously Germany, Spain, France, Italy, etc are better, but it's not like the entire continent of Europe is miles ahead of us. Even the big guys know we aren't a pushover any more.
Posted on 12/14/14 at 9:04 pm to jackwoods4
Actually we beat Slovenia in the WC, too, but FIFA beat us back.
The money isn't there yet, but it's growing. Slowly.
But there is no evidence to suggest that we will never be on par with European soccer. People who say that, I suspect, have a complex about soccer in this country and pull "facts" out their arse to make themselves sound smart.
The money isn't there yet, but it's growing. Slowly.
But there is no evidence to suggest that we will never be on par with European soccer. People who say that, I suspect, have a complex about soccer in this country and pull "facts" out their arse to make themselves sound smart.
Posted on 12/14/14 at 9:11 pm to jackwoods4
It's a silly argument. The US players are as fast and agile as any other soccer player in the world. It's the touch and vision that sets them apart.
This post was edited on 12/14/14 at 9:12 pm
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