Skip to content

Inside: U.S. Soccer's March to Brazil

Barber Shop Talk
91 8 3.1k
  • Amen Taco.

    I had another argument with Gipper before on something where his responses were along the same lines as here. I'm not surprised he's in law.

    Some of the older generation are just a lost cause when it comes to soccer. At least they'er the older generation...

    We need more soccer on TV so kids can experience it growing up. It looks like there is a very good line up the next few years too, so hopefully it creates a new generation of fans.

    T Taco918 wrote on last edited by Taco918
    #64

    @mld-woody said:

    Amen Taco.

    I had another argument with Gipper before on something where his responses were along the same lines as here. I'm not surprised he's in law.

    Some of the older generation are just a lost cause when it comes to soccer. At least they'er the older generation...

    We need more soccer on TV so kids can experience it growing up. It looks like there is a very good line up the next few years too, so hopefully it creates a new generation of fans.

    Well you have to give them credit where it is due, they allowed our generation to play soccer which has raised its profile here, both as entertainment and a legit skill. It can only grow from here.
  • MLD WoodyM MLD Woody wrote on last edited by
    #65

    Its very big where I'm from. When my mom was young there weren't even teams for girls (same are, NEO). Now, there are indoor facilities and leagues all over the place, plus or town holds the Adidas High School Showcase. Girls not only have rec, travel and premier, but club teams as well. I hope it continues to grow. I'd love to have a Cleveland MLS team

  • In the US, baseball is growing in popularity?

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
    #66

    @mld-woody said:

    In the US, baseball is growing in popularity?

    Yes, it has set attendance records several years in a row. The only segment that it seems to be waning in is amongst African-Americans.

  • @gftchris said:

    In what way is it an economic issue? It's by far the most popular sport in western Europe, which is one of the wealthiest parts of the world.

    You could play gridiron football in any place you can play association football, you just need a ball. So why isn't it so popular in China?

    He's trying to find "excuses" for it being the most popular sport in the world. Mainly because he doesn't like it (and frankly it doesn't seem he understands the game).

    But this is the dude that equated Akron engineering to Michigan engineering so really all logic is lost on him

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
    #67

    @mld-woody said:

    He's trying to find "excuses" for it being the most popular sport in the world. Mainly because he doesn't like it (and frankly it doesn't seem he understands the game).

    But this is the dude that equated Akron engineering to Michigan engineering so really all logic is lost on him

    My son's best friend in HS just graduated with an engineering degree from Akron U. just like you did from Michigan.

    And I will take him any day over you for his knowledge and intellect.

    (as for comparative skills at engineering....I wouldn't know how to measure that).

  • @mld-woody said:

    He's trying to find "excuses" for it being the most popular sport in the world. Mainly because he doesn't like it (and frankly it doesn't seem he understands the game).

    But this is the dude that equated Akron engineering to Michigan engineering so really all logic is lost on him

    It's a lost cause my man. The older generation will never respect soccer since they more than likely didn't play the game growing up (as our generation did) to see and appreciate the amount of skill necessary to play the game, and the US isn't a powerhouse, which I'm upset about as well although I understand the reasoning behind it.

    Plus Gipper is in law so he'll bullshit semantics until he proves his point.

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
    #68

    @taco918 said:

    It's a lost cause my man. The older generation will never respect soccer since they more than likely didn't play the game growing up (as our generation did) to see and appreciate the amount of skill necessary to play the game, and the US isn't a powerhouse, which I'm upset about as well although I understand the reasoning behind it.

    You are right. Nobody played soccer when we were growing up.....no one but girls that his. But, I admit it is a good way to get a cardio workout.

    Though you are wrong about not understanding the tactics. I enjoyed the indoor soccer game. I know it is a bastardized version of the sport, but in that version you got right into the tactics of scoring...and there is no offsides. Not time for all the fiddlying about in the center of the pitch.

    Plus Gipper is in law so he'll bullshit semantics until he proves his point.

    My point is usually proven right off the bat in most threads. All the rest is just garnishment and fuckin' wichya.

    Its like me saying futbol may not be the most popular sport in the world. It may be....and maybe in some areas it is popular n/w/s that those areas may be wealthy. Popularity and superiority do not necessarily equate. In this case, definitely not.

  • gftChrisG gftChris wrote on last edited by
    #69

    Indoor/small sides football is quite different to actual football. You play on a much smaller court, meaning that you have very different tactics - there's more emphasis on close control and dribbling, if you take the ball past an opponent then you're maybe 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 rather than being 7-on-6, and less emphasis on retaining possession and shifting the angle of attack to move the defence around (that 'boring' stuff you don't understand).

    Which point did you make right off the bat in this thread? I mean, one that hasn't been categorically shut down by multiple people.

  • Indoor/small sides football is quite different to actual football. You play on a much smaller court, meaning that you have very different tactics - there's more emphasis on close control and dribbling, if you take the ball past an opponent then you're maybe 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 rather than being 7-on-6, and less emphasis on retaining possession and shifting the angle of attack to move the defence around (that 'boring' stuff you don't understand).

    Which point did you make right off the bat in this thread? I mean, one that hasn't been categorically shut down by multiple people.

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
    #70

    @gftchris said:

    Indoor/small sides football is quite different to actual football. You play on a much smaller court, meaning that you have very different tactics - there's more emphasis on close control and dribbling, if you take the ball past an opponent then you're maybe 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 rather than being 7-on-6, and less emphasis on retaining possession and shifting the angle of attack to move the defence around (that 'boring' stuff you don't understand).

    Which point did you make right off the bat in this thread? I mean, one that hasn't been categorically shut down by multiple people.

    You misunderstand the difference between comprehension and "boring". I know all about it, ergo, it bores me. Indoor soccer is more like hockey...and yes, all the boring stuff is for the most part eliminated. Huzzah!

    I recognize that there may be "boring parts" of sports that I like a lot more than soccer...like baseball and even football. But because I view the balance of those sports far more superior, I tolerate the boring parts.

    What is it about all of that that all y'all cannot understand?

  • MLD WoodyM MLD Woody wrote on last edited by
    #71

    I don't think you don't understand the sport because you think it is boring.

    I think you don't understand thhe sport because of comments you made about the tactics of the game.... which weren't true.

  • MLD WoodyM MLD Woody wrote on last edited by
    #72

    I'm sure your son's friend is a great guy. I can't say anything for or against that.

    But the Akron Engr = Michigan Engr thing.... my god, lol. I find that pretty damn hilarious. Like the Miami of Ohio = Michigan as a whole thing... lol. Yes, great people come from everywhere, I got that. But in no universe are these colleges comparable.

  • The Cysko KidT The Cysko Kid wrote on last edited by
    #73

    Bragging about your school is getting tiresome. Going to Michigan does not make you intrinsically more valuable than a graduate of case engineering school or even Akron.

  • I don't think you don't understand the sport because you think it is boring.

    I think you don't understand thhe sport because of comments you made about the tactics of the game.... which weren't true.

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
    #74

    @mld-woody said:

    I don't think you don't understand the sport because you think it is boring.

    I understand the sport....it is a boring sport. See, your comprehension is clearly lacking. Must be that Michigan education.

    I think you don't understand thhe sport because of comments you made about the tactics of the game.... which weren't true.

    My comments were absolutely true.

    Which part do you say are not true? That soccer is played on a rectangular field? That it is played with a goal and a goalie? That like hockey there are somewhat similar maneuverings that have to take place to get an opportunity to score?

    These are the generalizations that I made. Otherwise some of the tactics involved in the game I find boring. That is an opinion....unlike you, I only have one asshole, and I have my opinions. I get it, you cannot handle a differing opinion.

    Grow the fuck up.

  • I'm sure your son's friend is a great guy. I can't say anything for or against that.

    But the Akron Engr = Michigan Engr thing.... my god, lol. I find that pretty damn hilarious. Like the Miami of Ohio = Michigan as a whole thing... lol. Yes, great people come from everywhere, I got that. But in no universe are these colleges comparable.

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
    #75

    @mld-woody said:

    I'm sure your son's friend is a great guy. I can't say anything for or against that.

    But the Akron Engr = Michigan Engr thing.... my god, lol. I find that pretty damn hilarious. Like the Miami of Ohio = Michigan as a whole thing... lol. Yes, great people come from everywhere, I got that. But in no universe are these colleges comparable.

    I don't know about Miami.....it is the Kenyon vs. Michigan.....Kenyon is far superior. And FYI, that is no knock on Michigan.

    @the-cysko-kid said:

    Bragging about your school is getting tiresome. Going to Michigan does not make you intrinsically more valuable than a graduate of case engineering school or even Akron.

    I know my son's friend has a job waiting for him after graduating AU Engineering school. I wager that it is as good or better of a job than Woody has. (though I don't know off the top of my head what that job is).

  • MLD WoodyM MLD Woody wrote on last edited by
    #76

    You have no idea what job I have or what other offers I turned down.

    Your views of colleges are so Ohio centric its hilarious. Find any legitimate publication that has Akron engineering even sniffing Michigan and I'd be amazed.

    Your infatuation with tiny little liberal arts colleges is beyond me too. I'll give you the fact it isn't as clear cut as the Akron v Michigan thing. LACs play by their own rules and anyone can really claim any of them are the best. Your "far superior" claim though..... Haha haha. Where does Kenyon rank as far as best universities in the world? Just curious....

    This is getting off topic. We've moved from your ignorance of soccer to your ignorance of colleges and universities. The latter of which ... Lol... Much easier to see who is right

  • You have no idea what job I have or what other offers I turned down.

    Your views of colleges are so Ohio centric its hilarious. Find any legitimate publication that has Akron engineering even sniffing Michigan and I'd be amazed.

    Your infatuation with tiny little liberal arts colleges is beyond me too. I'll give you the fact it isn't as clear cut as the Akron v Michigan thing. LACs play by their own rules and anyone can really claim any of them are the best. Your "far superior" claim though..... Haha haha. Where does Kenyon rank as far as best universities in the world? Just curious....

    This is getting off topic. We've moved from your ignorance of soccer to your ignorance of colleges and universities. The latter of which ... Lol... Much easier to see who is right

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by The Gipper
    #77

    @mld-woody said:

    You have no idea what job I have or what other offers I turned down.

    No, I don't. I would still wager that his are equal or better.

    Your views of colleges are so Ohio centric its hilarious.

    Not Ohio centric....just not Michigan ass sniffingcentric.

    Find any legitimate publication that has Akron engineering even sniffing Michigan and I'd be amazed.

    We'll see. I am not sure there is a publication that rates engineering schools.

    Your infatuation with tiny little liberal arts colleges is beyond me too.

    Not sure why it is beyond you. Doesn't your Michigan education give you the tools to comprehend such basic stuff?

    I am the parent of two college students: one recently graduated and looking at grad schools in the future (who, by the way, is now employed by a Big Ten Univ.: Minnesota), and one entering her junior year in college. So, FYI, it was a reasoned, informed, voluminously thought out decision that caused me to send my kids to liberal arts colleges: because those schools were the best environment for them combined with providing the best education for them and the best campus life for them....and also because to a great extent, they themselves studied the options and concluded what was best for them. For undergraduate, those small schools were best for them. For graduate school....that may be a different story. My son is now exposed to the larger campus life (as an employee), and may be more ready to continue with a bigger school. (Bigger in the sense of larger than 16-2600 students). For him, it could be Ivy League schools or comparable, though he tells me that in his academic circles it it not so much the name of the school, but the prestige of the program he is in. A Minnesota, Ohio State etc. may actually have a better department in XYZ science studies than a Penn or Brown....or maybe not. For my daughter, who likely would need an MBA, it may be a much bigger school at which she obtains that, maybe a UT or something.

    I'll give you the fact it isn't as clear cut as the Akron v Michigan thing. LACs play by their own rules and anyone can really claim any of them are the best. Your "far superior" claim though..... Haha haha. Where does Kenyon rank as far as best universities in the world? Just curious....

    It doesn't rank anywhere as far as best universities dumbass. It is not a University. It is a college.

    As far as where it ranks in the world though? #1: Ask Forbes:

    http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/01/most-beautiful-campus-lifestyle-college.html

    This is getting off topic. We've moved from your ignorance of soccer to your ignorance of colleges and universities. The latter of which ... Lol... Much easier to see who is right

    It really is easier. I am right.

  • Indoor/small sides football is quite different to actual football. You play on a much smaller court, meaning that you have very different tactics - there's more emphasis on close control and dribbling, if you take the ball past an opponent then you're maybe 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 rather than being 7-on-6, and less emphasis on retaining possession and shifting the angle of attack to move the defence around (that 'boring' stuff you don't understand).

    Which point did you make right off the bat in this thread? I mean, one that hasn't been categorically shut down by multiple people.

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by The Gipper
    #78

    @gftchris said:

    Indoor/small sides football is quite different to actual football. You play on a much smaller court, meaning that you have very different tactics - there's more emphasis on close control and dribbling, if you take the ball past an opponent then you're maybe 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 rather than being 7-on-6, and less emphasis on retaining possession and shifting the angle of attack to move the defence around (that 'boring' stuff you don't understand).

    Which point did you make right off the bat in this thread? I mean, one that hasn't been categorically shut down by multiple people.

    The point that soccer is boring. The indoor version less so. Is there interest in the World Cup here? Yes, some, but not nearly as much as there would be in a Thursday Night pre season exhibition game of football.

    Is there some discussion about the WC? Some.....about a tenth of the discussion that there is about LeBron's cramps or Lundqvist's stops or Toronto's lead in the AL East. And the question of will Phil finally win a US Open will dwarf any convo about soccer.

    And considering that California Chrome is going for the Triple Crown? Crickets compared to that.

    But, I too would welcome a Cleveland/NEO entrant into the MLS. I am all for supporting the area. Since Randy Lerner has gotten his money for the Browns...and is apparently selling Aston Villa as well, I don't know why he would not reinvest it into what is claimed to be his primary interest.....unless he no longer has interest in sports....or maybe he prefers to buy race horses.

  • The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by
    #79

    Indoor soccer was fairly popular here, with the Force and the Crunch...(But despite what Jeff Phelps says, the Crunch title does not count as a title in a major sport. It was still a minor league level sport)

  • MLD WoodyM MLD Woody wrote on last edited by
    #80

    Your link was for "The World's Most Beautiful College Campuses" lol.

    Look, the LAC vs an actual university thing can be debated. You can look at these LACs that are good at a handful of things and claim they're better than Michigan. They're two very different types of schools. Some kids don't want to go to a big school, I get that, their preference. Your claim of "far superior" is ridiculous though. How can it be "far superior" if it doesn't offer the breadth of courses Michigan has. It doesn't have the sane resources. It doesn't Gabe the same alumni base or recruiting prowess. It isn't as highly ranked and multiple fields, not just certain degrees. Kids have their preferences, got it. But "far superior"? You're living in a fantasy land.

    Multiple publications rank engineering schools (along with schools in general). I posted many if these rankings in the last thread we had this argument and the numbers were pretty damn conclusive. Arguing that Akron has a better engineering program than Michigan is insane. That's like arguing the Jags are the best team in the NFL. Even Jags fans won't agreed with you.

    I'm from Ohio. My ratings aren't Michigan centric. My ratings are common sense centric. They're rankings by people in academia and company recruiting centric. They're ranking services centric. They're people that know what they're talking about centric.

    I'll tell you this about my job offer. I got it in the fall semester. I didn't co-op or intern at that company but it was my top choice for full time employment. I had about 15 on campus interviews after our engineering career fair (~300 companies). I turned down offers with higher salaries and signing bonuses for this job as well. If I want to chase money, I would have applied to different types of jobs.

    I'd be willing to bet, on average, engineering students coming out of michigan have a higher employment rate, "better" and higher paying jobs, and a larger selection of companies and offers to chose from when compared to Akron. Of course, I'm sure there are exceptions. It sounds like your Son's friend found a great job. That's awesome for him.

  • Your link was for "The World's Most Beautiful College Campuses" lol.

    Look, the LAC vs an actual university thing can be debated. You can look at these LACs that are good at a handful of things and claim they're better than Michigan. They're two very different types of schools. Some kids don't want to go to a big school, I get that, their preference. Your claim of "far superior" is ridiculous though. How can it be "far superior" if it doesn't offer the breadth of courses Michigan has. It doesn't have the sane resources. It doesn't Gabe the same alumni base or recruiting prowess. It isn't as highly ranked and multiple fields, not just certain degrees. Kids have their preferences, got it. But "far superior"? You're living in a fantasy land.

    Multiple publications rank engineering schools (along with schools in general). I posted many if these rankings in the last thread we had this argument and the numbers were pretty damn conclusive. Arguing that Akron has a better engineering program than Michigan is insane. That's like arguing the Jags are the best team in the NFL. Even Jags fans won't agreed with you.

    I'm from Ohio. My ratings aren't Michigan centric. My ratings are common sense centric. They're rankings by people in academia and company recruiting centric. They're ranking services centric. They're people that know what they're talking about centric.

    I'll tell you this about my job offer. I got it in the fall semester. I didn't co-op or intern at that company but it was my top choice for full time employment. I had about 15 on campus interviews after our engineering career fair (~300 companies). I turned down offers with higher salaries and signing bonuses for this job as well. If I want to chase money, I would have applied to different types of jobs.

    I'd be willing to bet, on average, engineering students coming out of michigan have a higher employment rate, "better" and higher paying jobs, and a larger selection of companies and offers to chose from when compared to Akron. Of course, I'm sure there are exceptions. It sounds like your Son's friend found a great job. That's awesome for him.

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by The Gipper
    #81

    @mld-woody said:

    Your link was for "The World's Most Beautiful College Campuses" lol.

    Look, the LAC vs an actual university thing can be debated. You can look at these LACs that are good at a handful of things and claim they're better than Michigan. They're two very different types of schools. Some kids don't want to go to a big school, I get that, their preference. Your claim of "far superior" is ridiculous though. How can it be "far superior" if it doesn't offer the breadth of courses Michigan has. It doesn't have the sane resources. It doesn't Gabe the same alumni base or recruiting prowess. It isn't as highly ranked and multiple fields, not just certain degrees. Kids have their preferences, got it. But "far superior"? You're living in a fantasy land.

    They provide a far superior quality education....you know, the thing you are supposed to at school...learn. And I disagree about the breadth of courses. Within the particular fields of study that they engage in, the liberal arts college provides a full curriculum.

    As for alumi bases, these small schools hold their own.

    I mean, for a 1600 student school Kenyon has had the following"

    A. a US President, Rutherford B. Hayes

    B. a Prime Minister of Sweden, Olaf Palme

    C. a US Secretary of Defense, Edwin Stanton (who said upon Lincoln's death "now he belongs to the ages"

    D. A US Supreme Court Chief Justice: Rehnquist

    E. Two other US Supreme Court Justices

    F. A US Poet Laureate: Robert Lowell

    G. A Pulitzer Prize winning Poet: James Wright

    H. A Printz Award winner: John Green

    I. The Author or Ragtime and others: E.L Doctorow (Ragtime movie was the last by James Cagney)

    J. The Editor of Playboy: Robert McCauley

    K. The Editor in Chief of Bloomberg News: Matthew Winkler (Michael Bloomberg was the speaker at my son's graduation)

    L. Oscar winning Actor: Paul Newman

    M. Oscar winning director: Adam Davidson

    N. Emmy winning actress: Allison Janney

    O. Comedian Jonathan Winters

    P. Actor/Director Josh Radnor (How I met your Mother....and the movie "Liberal Arts" no less)

    Q. Peace Corps Director: Kevin O'Donnell (portrayed in movie by Kevin Costner)

    R. The creator of the Birth Control Pill: Carl Djerassi

    S. The creator of the Typhus vaccine: Rolla Dyer

    T. The designer of Celebration Village (for Disney), and archtect for the Inventors Hall of Fame among many others: Graham Gund

    U. The owner at one time of the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians: Bill Veeck

    V. Final Four coach Shaka Smart

    W. Creator of Calvin and Hobbes Bill Watterson

    X. Creator of Zits, Jim Borgman

    Y. Kris Osborn, CNN Anchor

    Z. Constantine Partrides....of whom the Patrides Fellowship and the Patrides Professorship of Literature are named for at....the University of Michigan

    So, I wouldn't worry about Kenyon's alumni base or resources.

    (As for my daughter's school....the kids from the Walton family attended there, and they are bloated with Walmart money.

    And the chief architect for the Disney Corp. also attended there...Trinity in SA Texas....and she happens to be the mother of one of my son's roomate...at Kenyon.

    Multiple publications rank engineering schools (along with schools in general). I posted many if these rankings in the last thread we had this argument and the numbers were pretty damn conclusive.

    I don't remember them. Prove it.

    Arguing that Akron has a better engineering program than Michigan is insane. That's like arguing the Jags are the best team in the NFL. Even Jags fans won't agreed with you.

    OK.....Akron may not be the Patriots or Seahawks....but by your own point they are in the same league.

    I'm from Ohio. My ratings aren't Michigan centric. My ratings are common sense centric. They're rankings by people in academia and company recruiting centric. They're ranking services centric. They're people that know what they're talking about centric.

    FYI, ranking services, while interesting and occasionally useful...don't alway know what they are talking about and are often biased. E.g. One of the ranking services is also the publisher of "Who's Who in America" . FYI, anyone can get into Who's Who in America if they pay the price to get in there. One of that services major criteria in ranking its schools is by determining how many alumni have paid to be in Who's Who. So, a lot of it can be absolutely bullshit.

    I'll tell you this about my job offer. I got it in the fall semester. I didn't co-op or intern at that company but it was my top choice for full time employment. I had about 15 on campus interviews after our engineering career fair (~300 companies). I turned down offers with higher salaries and signing bonuses for this job as well. If I want to chase money, I would have applied to different types of jobs.

    I'd be willing to bet, on average, engineering students coming out of michigan have a higher employment rate, "better" and higher paying jobs, and a larger selection of companies and offers to chose from when compared to Akron. Of course, I'm sure there are exceptions. It sounds like your Son's friend found a great job. That's awesome for him.

    I know he has a good job. I don't remember where.

    I am sure you did fine too. After all, this one thing is true: engineers are generally in higher demand than people that graduate with a liberal art's degree. My son's molecular biology degree got him a good research job with a school for the time being. (until he goes to grad school). His roommate with the history degree is still looking.

  • The GipperT The Gipper wrote on last edited by The Gipper
    #82

    Interesting but dated info that I found about this person:

    Ms. XXXX is an accomplished and versatile architectural designer and project manager, whose current work includes the Martha's Vineyard Historical Society new History and Cultural Museum in Edgartown, Massachusetts; the Marion D. Campbell Center for the Performing Arts at the Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts; the Cleveland Botanical Garden Glasshouse project in Cleveland, Ohio; and the award winning National Association of Realtors Headquarters building in Washington, D.C.

    xxxx has also managed the design of Disney,s Coronado Springs Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida; the Cheekwood Learning Center and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee; the International Retail & Manufacturers, Showcase for EuroDisney in Paris, France; the Camp Creek Community, Fort Walton Beach, Florida; the Stowe Mountain Resort in Stowe, Vermont ; Disney,s Inn at Celebration in Celebration, Florida; the Visual Arts Center at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina; and the new Fine Arts Center for St. John,s School in Houston, Texas.

    xxxx is a registered architect in the State of Maryland and a member of both the American Institute of Architects and the Boston Society of Architects.She received a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas and a Master of Architecture from the University of Minnesota.Laura joined Graham Gund Architects in 1987.

    Interesting in that she got her BA where my daughter goes. Got her Masters at Minn. where my son now works. And her son and mine were roommates at Kenyon, she worked for Graham Gund ...who also attended Kenyon. (Gund is related to the Gund Brothers who used to own the Cavaliers).

    What this doesn't show is that she has now been hired as Disney's top architect permanently.

  • MLD WoodyM MLD Woody wrote on last edited by
    #83

    That is a pretty interesting work history. Designing some of those things would have been cool. I'd rather do more mechanical design though, like instead of designing the look of a Disney resort, designing the rides.

    Being an Imagineer would be cool haha

    But yes, that is a very cool amount of coincidences.