World Cup/Soccer for Dummies and soccer silliness

[thrill]

Thrill has surely started his World Cup drunkgasm already.

so here's his prior primer on how this soccer stuff is organized

Yeah well no I'm not going to read that because there are too many words. Simplify. Or is this another one of these overly thought out and complicated deals from the Europeans? I swear to god those people just do [expletive] to do it, the hotel I stay at in Switzerland gives you these mints in your room and I'll be god damned if I have yet to figure out how to open the [expletive] things. I think the idea is that one and only one mint will come out, but [expletive] if I know how it works. I just take the whole lid off and pour them in my mouth by the dozen.

Light switches, door handles, elevators, vending machines ... god only knows how many Swiss Francs I lost in the vending machine where I work because it wasn't until my second visit that I realized you had to hit a button to get change. Missed my god damn bus stop because of that same crazy ass principal as well ... if you are going to stop the autobus then Ouvrez la god damn porte. You have to press a button to open the door, and yelling "Madame, Arretez s'il vous plait" goes in one ear and out the next.

[expletive] complicated [expletive].

Well the World Cup was founded by the Uruguayans, but it has long since been convoluted by the second most convoluted organization in the world, FIFA (the International Olympic Committee still edges them out) which is based in, you guessed it, Geneva.

[jim]

Thrill has surely started his World Cup drunkgasm already.

so here's his prior primer on how this soccer stuff is organized

Yeah well no I'm not going to read that because there are too many words. Simplify. Or is this another one of these overly thought out and complicated deals from the Europeans? I swear to god those people just do [expletive] to do it, the hotel I stay at in Switzerland gives you these mints in your room and I'll be god damned if I have yet to figure out how to open the [expletive] things. I think the idea is that one and only one mint will come out, but [expletive] if I know how it works. I just take the whole lid off and pour them in my mouth by the dozen.

Light switches, door handles, elevators, vending machines ... god only knows how many Swiss Francs I lost in the vending machine where I work because it wasn't until my second visit that I realized you had to hit a button to get change. Missed my god damn bus stop because of that same crazy ass principal as well ... if you are going to stop the autobus then Ouvrez la god damn porte. You have to press a button to open the door, and yelling "Madame, Arretez s'il vous plait" goes in one ear and out the next.

[expletive] complicated [expletive].

Well the World Cup was founded by the Uruguayans, but it has long since been convoluted by the second most convoluted organization in the world, FIFA (the International Olympic Committee still edges them out) which is based in, you guessed it, Geneva.

Well that explains absolutely everything.

[thrill]

Really all of the really deep soccery stuff that I've posted doesn't matter to someone who just wants to watch and enjoy the spectacle for three weeks.

The simplest way of putting it is this. In terms of randomness, excitement and all the craziness that can happen, the closest apples-to-apples comparison there is would be March Madness. From the colors to the crowds to the cinderella stories, it's March Madness on the scale of x100. Instead of alumni bases and local townies loving it, there are whole nations all across the world.

Butler almost won the title last year. Does that mean Butler is a better team than Kentucky was? Absolutely not, but in a tournament like this, getting hot can cover a gulf of talent. Playing as a team, being organized, not making mistakes and converting your chances when they present themselves means everything. Just like Butler's run, it's not inconceivable for a country like the US or Mexico to make a similar run. Just like Duke v Butler though, the traditional powers will win in the end. Last year at the Confederation's Cup tournament in South Africa was the perfect example. We made it to the final like Butler. We were up against Brazil, a legendary team in the sport like Duke. We held out own and even looked like we could win it, but in the end, they overcame.

If you look at the World Cup through the lens of the NCAA tournament, you'll be much closer to understanding it.

[jim]

Appreciate the education. That's me thrill, I just kind of want to have some idea as to what is going on. It's alot bigger deal there then here, it's non-stop in the news there.

[go birds]

Basically our best players would be bench players for other teams around the world.

That's not meant to be offensive, it's just the truth.

For the record, i love soccer and played it for 18 years. The World Cup is an exciting time and i certainly hope to us do well. If i'm not mistaken, this is the best team we've fielded in years, possibly ever.

I wish Alexi Lalas would grow out all his hair again for the broadcasts. It would make what he is saying much more entertaining.

Anyone know whatever happened to Coby Jones? He was one of my favorite players at the time.

Here's to an upset on saturday!

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Basically our best players would be bench players for other teams around the world.

That's not meant to be offensive, it's just the truth.

No.

[go birds]

Basically our best players would be bench players for other teams around the world.

That's not meant to be offensive, it's just the truth.

No.

Yea, pretty much.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Basically our best players would be bench players for other teams around the world.

That's not meant to be offensive, it's just the truth.

No.

Yea, pretty much.

Go ahead and list all these teams that wouldn't have a spot for Dempsey, Donovan, a healthy Onyewu, and Howard. Unless by "other teams" you meant a small handful.

[thrill]

Basically our best players would be bench players for other teams around the world.

That's not meant to be offensive, it's just the truth.

No.

Yea, pretty much.

No, he's right. You have no idea what you're talking about.

But hey, you know a couple dudes that played like 12 years ago and want to know what happened to them, so you're obviously more of an expert than TT and I.

[go birds]

Basically our best players would be bench players for other teams around the world.

That's not meant to be offensive, it's just the truth.

No.

Yea, pretty much.

Go ahead and list all these teams that wouldn't have a spot for Dempsey, Donovan, a healthy Onyewu, and Howard. Unless by "other teams" you meant a small handful.

Tim Howard is considered one of the best keepers in the world, yes, but as far as the other your mentioned, one plays for the MLS, one rides the bench for Fulham, and one rides the bench for Milan.

Howard is the really the only stand-out player out of the four you mentioned. On the world stage at least.