Colombia 0 - Mexico 0 in Snoozeball

[DallasSteve2]

The big deal last night on Spanish television was Colombia versus Mexico in soccer, I mean futbol.  They played to an exciting 0-0 tie.  Thankfully, I watched all of about 30 seconds.  In that time I realized several important things:

1 - The announcers get excited when anything happens, because normally nothing happens.  If someone actually shoots at the goal (nevermind they missed) they scream like they discovered oil.

2 - They should rename the sport BinaryBall because they almost never need to count higher than 1.  They could post all the scores in binary numbers and at least we would improve our computer skills, even if we were not entertained.

3 - At least futbol hasn't grown into a 4 hour marathon like US football.  It still finishes in about 2 hours (but you never know exactly when it will end because there's no clock; at least that's a little bit of excitement).  I'm old enough to remember when NFL games finished in 3 hours.  Now they have almost 2 hours of commercials.

4 - Speaking of commercials, they don't have any during the soccer match.  They run small ads on the screen while the game continues.  They wouldn't want you to miss any of the exciting action.

5 - Finally, to make it more entertaining, change the rules.  Don't let the goalie use his hands.  There'd be some action.  Hey, it's futbol.  Why does HE get to use his hands?

6 - Which brings me back to pragmatism vs. tradition.  Soccer never changes its rules, because they love the tradition.  US football changes its rules every year.  It also happens to be the most exciting, popular sport in the US.  Baseball clings to its traditions and it's loosing it's audience.  Football says "Bah" to tradition and it grows and grows.  Pragmatism beats tradition again.

OK, so it's not about women, and it's not about politics, but at least it's about Latin America.

Steve

[colman]

... in response to Colombia 0 - Mexico 0 in Snoozeball, posted by DallasSteve2 on Feb 13, 2003

Its a friendly match-which almost always are used by both teams to "try" out thier differnt players. Now the Copa America sponsered by Colombia in 2002--now that was excitement Colombia won every single game (8 or 9) and no one scored on them. (Argentina did miss out citing safety concerns)but Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay did go (very good teams) so Colombia legitimately did play good unfortunately they dont have consistency like Brazil or Argentina. Mexico for the 6th or 7th time got invited or match up with Venezuela and winner had the "priviledge" of going. My Mexican co-workers always say that the reason Mexico does not win is because they are biased against them. I highly doubt this, they are an average team with good improvements but I tell them they are not in the same "level" as the South Americans--they get mad but eventually admit I am right. Colombia beat Mexico 1-0 in the final--it was a great game to say the least, I do admit Mexico do have great boxers but as for balompie--forget it--North America (which I was taught at a Roman Catholic grammar shcool) includes Canada, U.S. , Mexico and the seven countries in Central America (thats ten total)technically even also the Carribean nations--anyway South America with the ten countries that participate in soccer seriously and respected by the world have earned 9 world cups compared to "ZERO" in North America and "8" in the old world--but the icing on the cake is that South America have won in Europe but Europe has not won in South America (World Cup titles. I also understand how people may see soccer as boring but my father always told me that "anybody" who has had a little practice can "score" a goal--its the sweet assissts, individual plays and the "build-up" of the goals that people enjoy--kinda like baseball---I am sooooo bored watching the same Mexican games televised on all three channels in Spanish--My Mexican friends and co-workers think Mexican soccer is so good but I tell them the only reason they televised Mexican games so much is that for every Argentine or Brazilian living in the states thier are about 60-70 Mexicans--its all about the numbers--then humbly they admit I am right--I tell them--hey Mexico has great boxers thier only competition are the Puerto Ricans and a little Colombia--I guess the leader in sports in Latin America would be Brazil, then probably Argentina, Cuba then most likely Mexico followed by Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Guatemala and Ecuador--something like that anyway I hope I have put a differet "spin" to your thread---God Bless--Colman

[Yalg]

... in response to yeah definitely boring match but...., posted by colman on Feb 13, 2003

Yeah, boring becasuse both teams are not very good.  The USA would beat both of them on the same day.  Been there, done that.....

[Yalg]

... in response to yeah definitely boring match but...., posted by colman on Feb 13, 2003

Yeah, boring becasuse both teams are not very good.  The USA would beat both of them on the same day.  Been there, dont that.....

[Edge]

... in response to Colombia 0 - Mexico 0 in Snoozeball, posted by DallasSteve2 on Feb 13, 2003

A few nights ago my wife told me she wanted to "invite me" to watch something on television with her.  She told me about the game.  It was apparently an exhibition match between Colombia and Mexico that was going to place in Phoenix here in the states.  It think it was about a year and a half ago that Colombia won the America Cup and Mexico came in second.  The Colombians were very happy and rightfully so when they won as I believe they were also hosting it.

Anyway, she said it so sweetly to me that she wanted to invite me to watch it with her that I could hardly refuse.  She has put up with me watching football for months and was so glad when the season ended.  She could never see what why we like it so much.

I watched half of the game and started dozing off.  I think you need an "acquired taste" type of thing to start to get into soccer.  

El Gordito.

[Pete E]

... in response to Colombia 0 - Mexico 0 in Snoozeball, posted by DallasSteve2 on Feb 13, 2003

Yeah a no scoring game seems boring to me.But not as boring as a US example,the no hit baseball game.At least in soccer there is alot of movement and action.Not just some guy staring for along time,chewing his tobacco or gum and then finally throwing the ball.Talk sbout snooze.You have to be a real fan to enjoy that.I'm surprised it has survived from the days of liitle intertainment options to today.Boring ,boring,boring.I will usually tune in and watch the possible winning games of the world series and its still boring.
American football,thats different.Alot more action.Hitting,stratagy,action.My wife says"is rude game",yeah,you could say that.She doesn't understand why most plays wind up with a pile of bodies.
My theory.Some games like baseball and bowling are more fun to play than watch.Other games like football and boxing are more fun to watch than play.Soccer?Could be both.

Pete

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Colombia 0 - Mexico 0 in Snoozeball, posted by Pete E on Feb 13, 2003

When I was a kid I was a big boxing fan.(I still am).One day I was at my grandfathers and we found these boxing gloves.We took them home and the neighbor kid and I laced them up and went at it .I was beating the cr-p out of him thinking this is fun.Then he nailed me with a big shot.It felt like my brain was bouncing back and forth off each side of my head.That was the end of any thought I ever had of boxing myself.I'll be a spectator,thank you.Football I never got into,thought the coaches were such jerks.My cousin played at his dads insistence.He had to play both ways,offense and defense,tounge hanging out,running backs steping on his hands.And then they would get on the bus and the coach would chew their a-s all the way home.No thank you again.Sport to watch,not play.
Baseball and bowling can be fun to play,boring as hell to watch.

Pete