FLHoya
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Post by FLHoya on Jun 15, 2010 0:52:04 GMT -5
3. I really enjoy Jurgen Klinsmann's analyses, even when he's just being silly at times, but Alexi Lalas is getting on my nerves. He is being hypercritical of just about everything. And you can tell there are some teams he just doesn't like and he's not being at all objective about them. Just my opinion. Personally, I like Lalas, I just am not enjoying anything he has to say this World Cup. I'll take Lalas over Wynalda any day. Take every criticism you have of Lalas, multiply it by 100 and imagine if the US team played atrociously and that's what you got out of Wynalda in 2006. I really enjoy how some of these critical moments create hilariously awkward pairings down the road though. Right after the USA-Ghana game in 2006, Eric Wynalda absolutely destroyed Bruce Arena on ABC/ESPN. I believe the initial quote was something along the lines of "Bruce Arena cost the United States this World Cup". Sure enough, a year or two later when Bruce was between jobs, he and Wynalda shared the booth from time to time on ESPN's MLS/Natl Team telecasts. Likewise, for anyone who's read The Beckham Experiment or is familiar with the machinations of the LA Galaxy's front office a few years ago...it's got to be funny seeing Alexi Lalas share the studio table with Ruud Gullit.
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SirSaxa
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Post by SirSaxa on Jun 15, 2010 8:46:54 GMT -5
BBC might filter out noiseExcerpt LONDON -- The BBC is considering filtering out crowd noise from its World Cup broadcasts following a deluge of complaints about vuvuzelas. .... "We have already taken steps to minimize the noise and are continuing to monitor the situation," the BBC said in a statement. "If the vuvuzela continues to impact on audience enjoyment, we will look at what other options we can take to reduce the volume further."
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The Stig
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Post by The Stig on Jun 15, 2010 8:55:08 GMT -5
I might be one of the only people on earth who's actually a fan of the vuvuzela. So much of the World Cup is sanitized these days that the only "African" parts we see are sterile, cliche Western images of Africa. People act like this is the first ever soccer event in South Africa, and that the only "local traditions" can be dressing up like a black Indian chief and beating drums. So it's nice to see the South African fans bringing their real traditions to the games and spreading them to the world.
As for the games, YEAH NEW ZEALAND!
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Jun 15, 2010 9:13:22 GMT -5
I might be one of the only people on earth who's actually a fan of the vuvuzela. So much of the World Cup is sanitized these days that the only "African" parts we see are sterile, cliche Western images of Africa. People act like this is the first ever soccer event in South Africa, and that the only "local traditions" can be dressing up like a black Indian chief and beating drums. So it's nice to see the South African fans bringing their real traditions to the games and spreading them to the world. As for the games, YEAH NEW ZEALAND! Yes, it's history in South Africa goes all the way back to the 1990s, when they stole it from Mexico and other Latin American countries! It didn't really get popular until after they were awarded the World Cup. If you want to support the things, fine, but let's not pretend this is some integral part of the South African culture. It's not exactly Thunderstix, but it isn't the seventh inning stretch, either. And where the heck did the whole "black Indian chief" thing come from?
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The Stig
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Post by The Stig on Jun 15, 2010 9:40:05 GMT -5
Most sources say it goes back to the early 1990s, which means it's been an integral part of South African soccer culture for most of the time that black South Africans (the overwhelming majority of soccer fans in South Africa) have been free to have a soccer culture.
I'm not much of a supporter of Sepp Blatter, but I think his stance on this is spot-on. It shouldn't be for the outside world to dictate to South Africans what their fan traditions should be.
If TV broadcasters are finding it troublesome, just turn down the ambient noise. They can broadcast car racing without interrupting the commentators, so vuvuzelas shouldn't be a problem.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Jun 15, 2010 9:49:39 GMT -5
The commentary in the Portugal-Ivory Coast match has been hilarious.
They are ripping into Portugal for basically not trying to press any kind of attack at all for 45 minutes.
There was one bit toward the end of the half that was straight out of The Simpsons:
"That's one, two three, four, five, now six passes and they've advanced the ball, what, about a yard and a half? No, no, sorry. Backwards again."
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Jun 15, 2010 10:11:52 GMT -5
sucks to be slovakia to have that victory snatched from them, but of course going back to the replay their goal was offsides, so i guess i don't feel too bad for them.
yeah i was hoping for some sparks from this game lets hope it picks up. That ronaldo crack in the first that hit the post was pretty nice.
as for the strikers missing free kicks. I feel like people score a lot less on those free kick shots than people think. at least more often not no matter what the ball those shots go over the top. I might put it as high as 80% time that happens. It's actually quite hard to bend a ball around the wall and on frame. It's just that whenever it happens it gets shown all the time over an over again, so we think it happens more often than it does.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Jun 15, 2010 10:27:27 GMT -5
Second half has been a lot better.
And the swarm of bees welcomes Didier Drogba onto the pitch!!!!!
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DFW HOYA
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Post by DFW HOYA on Jun 15, 2010 10:35:00 GMT -5
And the swarm of bees welcomes Didier Drogba onto the pitch!!!!! Can't we just call it a field? Americans don't use words like "nil" and "kit" in any normal conversation, and the space between the stands is still a field.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Jun 15, 2010 10:41:44 GMT -5
Oh, you're no fun!
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hifigator
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Post by hifigator on Jun 15, 2010 10:42:02 GMT -5
Yeah, and it's not a "game" either. It's a soccer MATCH!!! Announcers have said otherwise numerous times. But I digress...
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Jun 15, 2010 10:46:08 GMT -5
so the group of death to be decided by who can score the most goals against North Korea?
ugh way to steal my point commentator
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Jun 15, 2010 10:52:33 GMT -5
Most sources say it goes back to the early 1990s, which means it's been an integral part of South African soccer culture for most of the time that black South Africans (the overwhelming majority of soccer fans in South Africa) have been free to have a soccer culture. I'm not much of a supporter of Sepp Blatter, but I think his stance on this is spot-on. It shouldn't be for the outside world to dictate to South Africans what their fan traditions should be. If TV broadcasters are finding it troublesome, just turn down the ambient noise. They can broadcast car racing without interrupting the commentators, so vuvuzelas shouldn't be a problem. No, not really. We're all working off pretty sketchy sources, I think, but from what I've read, they weren't even mass produced until the 2000s. I think there's a greater chance this is Thunderstix than a long lasting part of anyone's culture. I don't really care -- people should generally be able to do what they want, those its treading closely on annoyance. But what annoys me more is people who immediately go to the "culture" defense as if this is some ingrained element of their culture and that everyone else is just Euro/American-centric because they dislike a loud, constant, buzzing noise. I hate Thunderstix, too. Stop trying to make it as if people are close-minded because they hate the damn noise.
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RusskyHoya
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Post by RusskyHoya on Jun 15, 2010 11:04:39 GMT -5
The commentary in the Portugal-Ivory Coast match has been hilarious. They are ripping into Portugal for basically not trying to press any kind of attack at all for 45 minutes. There was one bit toward the end of the half that was straight out of The Simpsons: "That's one, two three, four, five, now six passes and they've advanced the ball, what, about a yard and a half? No, no, sorry. Backwards again." And ties? You betcha!
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thebin
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Post by thebin on Jun 15, 2010 11:17:20 GMT -5
The argument that the cheap plastic African fog horn that dates to the Clinton administration is somehow a piece of ancient African culture really gets to me. I want to hear the crowd- but not a constant drone- I want to hear oohs and ahhs and real cheering. Let them sing. Singing at World Cup games is a REAL cultural tradition that has been made mute literally by a toneless contraption that has no purpose but to make as much feature-less noise as possible. I mean that's darn close to assault if you ask me. Can you imagine having spent a fortune to get to a WC game and there are three jerks behind you blaring essentially human-powered noise makers the entire time? We want to hear their voices. I don't want to hear 30,000 people essentially decide to honk their car horn for 90 minutes and pretend that's some sort of joyous spectator celebration. It's not only annoying to the point of pain, it's a selfish ploy to put the attention on the crowd and away from the game.
No they are not Thunderstix. They are far worse than that because they are MUCH MUCH louder.
Americans- it's OK to like soccer and still use your own language. Enough with the kit, boots, and pitch. And I throw up in my mouth every time I see an American drop a "spot on."
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Jun 15, 2010 11:25:03 GMT -5
The commentary in the Portugal-Ivory Coast match has been hilarious. They are ripping into Portugal for basically not trying to press any kind of attack at all for 45 minutes. There was one bit toward the end of the half that was straight out of The Simpsons: "That's one, two three, four, five, now six passes and they've advanced the ball, what, about a yard and a half? No, no, sorry. Backwards again." And ties? You betcha! Boring!
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Jun 15, 2010 11:42:57 GMT -5
And the swarm of bees welcomes Didier Drogba onto the pitch!!!!! Can't we just call it a field? Americans don't use words like "nil" and "kit" in any normal conversation, and the space between the stands is still a field. Except, y'know, when we call it a court, or a diamond, or a gridiron. But I agree, let's stop importing any new words - if it wasn't part of the American lexicon in 1789, then we don't need it.
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prhoya
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Post by prhoya on Jun 15, 2010 13:11:20 GMT -5
"That's one, two three, four, five, now six passes and they've advanced the ball, what, about a yard and a half? No, no, sorry. Backwards again." Ahhh, Mexican style! They have possession for 2/3 of the game, but that possession is on their side of the field.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Jun 15, 2010 13:49:17 GMT -5
I'll say this for the North Koreans. They don't seem to have any nerves or fear early on playing Brazil. They're taking to the attack as best I think they can. And defending fairly well too.
I imagine that'll only hold up for so long, but still.
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Jun 15, 2010 15:24:05 GMT -5
I'll say this for the North Koreans. They don't seem to have any nerves or fear early on playing Brazil. They're taking to the attack as best I think they can. And defending fairly well too. I imagine that'll only hold up for so long, but still. Well, they did come back to make it 2-1.
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