Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Of course, it is primarily popular in places where it isn’t called soccer, but is better known as football. And while soccer is the most popular sport for young American children to play, for some reason it just hasn’t caught on as a spectator sport for the adults. With the soccer season still in its first weeks, (and because it is the favorite sport of the writers of this blog), and because there are cheap fares to cities where some great soccer will be played this week, we’re devoting our little corner of cyberspace to converting our readers to soccer.
Some of the many reasons why the writers of this blog love soccer (and think you should too):
Soccer players eat just as much dirt as football players, and do it without protective padding. Sacrifice your body for the game brings a whole new meaning in soccer. Sure all sports require athletes to make painful dives, catches, and body slams. But no one does it with more speed,power, and “oomph” than soccer players.
Soccer players are more physically fit. In soccer, every man on the pitch is in top physical condition. You won’t find an ounce fat in the whole league. They go for 90 minutes or longer, running the entire time without any breaks. Football players don’t stay on the field for the entire game. Basketball players rarely play a full game. They get TV time outs and short breaks during the game. Baseball players run for ten seconds every twenty minutes. Soccer players never stop running for 90 full minutes. You won’t find a beer gut anywhere in the major leagues.
Not that it should matter (but hey, let’s face it, for some of us it does) soccer players are just better looking. You have to be pretty determined to ignore pop culture to not know that soccer player David Beckham is fabulously good-looking. But a second glance at the rest of the American Major Leagues will reveal Ian Joy and Chris Wingert of the Real Salt Lake, not to mention Brian McBride of the Chicago Fire, and well, most of the DC United roster, to be rather enjoyable to look at.
You know how you never know just how long a football, baseball, or basketball game is going to last? Or how they can stretch the last two minutes of a game out forever? Well, in soccer two minutes really means two minutes. The clock doesn’t stop, and no one wastes your time with infernal time outs.
The fans are so much more fun. You can’t go to a major leagues game without finding an entire section of fans with drums, air horns, and more, keeping the beat alive for the whole 90 minutes of the game. And everyone enjoys sing, “Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole!”
Soccer takes more skill! Can you run as fast as you can, while artfully dribbling the ball, scanning the field for an open teammate, avoiding the oncoming challengers, and passing at just the right moment? Not to mention jump four feet in the air and hit a ball flying at you at 50 mph with your head? I didn’t think so.
Most major sports in the US require a second mortgage on your home to afford a good seat ticket. Soccer games are still considerably more affordable,and are held in more intimate and enjoyable stadiums.
This week the Western Division top ranked Chivas USA will host top ranked Eastern Division DC United at home in Carson, California. Conveniently located in Los Angeles County, you can fly into Long Beach or LAX to catch the most crucial game in American soccer this week.
Next, we have the Houston Dynamo playing the New York Red Bulls in New York. Houston is a major hub for Continental Airlines, as is Newark, the nearest airport to Giants Stadium. A quick cheap flight will get you in to see these two well-matched teams fight it out on the pitch.
One of the most competitive games this week will be the Kansas City Wizards against the Real Salt Lake, in Salt Lake City. While the Real can’t seem to win on the road, no one has managed to beat them at home. The brand new Rio Tinto Stadium is comfortable, clean, and perfect for game-watching. Find a cheap flight to SLC and watch the Wizards get their trash kicked. (Oops, did we sound biased there?)
Which team do you support? Who would you fly to see play? What are you waiting for? Pick a team, book a flight, and find some weekend fun! And then return and report and tell us which game you supported!
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