Mummy, the MLS hurts me
There being nothing going on in Europe today (bloody international weekends), I decided to try and watch the MLS Something-or-other Cup Final, if only because I think the New England Revolutions are way cuter than the Houston Whatevers. (This is because a) the New England Revolutions are in Boston, which is infinitely cooler than anywhere in Texas; b) before every game the NER have a bunch of people dressed up in Revolutionary Army uniforms fire muskets; and c) the Houston Whatevers wear orange. No, I'm not kidding you. Orange. It's hideous.) Except I only lasted through about ten minutes of the game, because of the following two facts:
1. Americans really, and I mean really, do not know how to film soccer. They film it like it's American football. The have bad camera angles and a scoreline which takes up too much of the screen and every few minutes they cut to the crowd or shrink the game and bring up some 'pertinent fact' about a player on the side (I think they get bored). It is quite literally painful to watch.
2. Americans also don't know how to play soccer. They play it like it's American football. The main goal seems to be to elbow the opponent down, kick him in the stomach, and then kick the ball. Somewhere. Anywhere. If it finds an opposition player, then chase after him and try to deliver the same treatment. I might bitch that the English style of play is thuggery, but this is beyond thuggery. This is something that isn't even recognizable as soccer. And the refs seem to think this is how you play! Not only were people not carded for blatant use of elbows/bodyslams/studs, but play was allowed to continue! Like that was the point of the game! *flails dramatically*
All I can say is, if that is how soccer is played and presented here in the States, no wonder no one follows it. *despairs*
1. Americans really, and I mean really, do not know how to film soccer. They film it like it's American football. The have bad camera angles and a scoreline which takes up too much of the screen and every few minutes they cut to the crowd or shrink the game and bring up some 'pertinent fact' about a player on the side (I think they get bored). It is quite literally painful to watch.
2. Americans also don't know how to play soccer. They play it like it's American football. The main goal seems to be to elbow the opponent down, kick him in the stomach, and then kick the ball. Somewhere. Anywhere. If it finds an opposition player, then chase after him and try to deliver the same treatment. I might bitch that the English style of play is thuggery, but this is beyond thuggery. This is something that isn't even recognizable as soccer. And the refs seem to think this is how you play! Not only were people not carded for blatant use of elbows/bodyslams/studs, but play was allowed to continue! Like that was the point of the game! *flails dramatically*
All I can say is, if that is how soccer is played and presented here in the States, no wonder no one follows it. *despairs*