OT - World Cup 2018 Thread

[XLIX]

Again though, your comparing the MLS with MLB and the NBA. When you look at it like that, the sport looks behind, but it’s not.

But Champions League soccer which plays all of their games minus the final on a weekday at 245 eastern time draws high ratings. That’s why FOX (now Turner sports)payed a boatload to acquire the rights here. Same with EPL and NBC.

A "boatload"? LOLOL!! I looked it up. Turner will pay $65 million annually to broadcast UEFA. That's roughly equivalent to 2 Thursday Night Football games on Fox.

Let me say that again. I am not talking about 2 full weekends of NFL action. Just 2 Thursday Night Football games cost more than the entire annual package for UEFA.

And the World Cup/Euro Cup draws in more ratings than the world baseball classics, and they have MLB players in that. All of those competitions are every 4 years I believe.

Weak analogy. The World Baseball Classic is not a major event for the sport of baseball. It is glorified Spring Training.

 

[AzorianPats]

A "boatload"? LOLOL!! I looked it up. Turner will pay $65 million annually to broadcast UEFA. That's roughly equivalent to 2 Thursday Night Football games on Fox.

Let me say that again. I am not talking about 2 full weekends of NFL action. Just 2 Thursday Night Football games cost more than the entire annual package for UEFA.
Weak analogy. The World Baseball Classic is not a major event for the sport of baseball. It is glorified Spring Training.

Who’s comparing soccer to football though? NFL and college football are king in the States. Soccer nowhere near the level of popularity the NFL is. Why don’t you look up the deal NBC paid to acquire the rights to the English priemership.

WHy is the WBC a weak analogy? It’s a once every 4 year event. I can tell you for sure Puerto Rican’s and Dominicans go crazy for it, just not Americans.

Even die hard MLS/ US national team fans know the best quality of play is in Europe. That’s the only difference between soccer and the other sports. The best American players don’t play in MLS they are in Europe. Imagine Lebron James and Kevin Durant ditching the NBA to go play in Europe.

 

[XLIX]

Who’s comparing soccer to football though? NFL and college football are king in the States. Soccer nowhere near the level of popularity the NFL is. Why don’t you look up the deal NBC paid to acquire the rights to the English priemership.

It doesn’t fall on me to support the point you are trying to make.

The fact that you aren’t providing us the numbers yourself means they probably don’t help support your thesis.

WHy is the WBC a weak analogy?

Because no one gives a sh*t about the WBC.

Even die hard MLS/ US national team fans know the best quality of play is in Europe. That’s the only difference between soccer and the other sports. The best American players don’t play in MLS they are in Europe. Imagine Lebron James and Kevin Durant ditching the NBA to go play in Europe.

You can pick whatever soccer league you want. Compare their ratings and TV contract here in America to other sports. Then get back to me about how soccer is as popular as baseball.

 

[AzorianPats]

It doesn’t fall on me to support the point you are trying to make.

The fact that you aren’t providing us the numbers yourself means they probably don’t help support your thesis.
Because no one gives a sh*t about the WBC.
You can pick whatever soccer league you want. Compare their ratings and TV contract here in America to other sports. Then get back to me about how soccer is as popular as baseball.

How NBC Sports is monetizing its $1 billion Premier League soccer investment

MLB agrees to TV deals with Fox, Turner Sports

 

[AzorianPats]

It doesn’t fall on me to support the point you are trying to make.

The fact that you aren’t providing us the numbers yourself means they probably don’t help support your thesis.
Because no one gives a sh*t about the WBC.
You can pick whatever soccer league you want. Compare their ratings and TV contract here in America to other sports. Then get back to me about how soccer is as popular as baseball.

So NBC is gonna pay $1billion for a sport that’s not popular?

Again your making **** up now to suit your argument. I never said soccer was as popular as baseball. All I said was that soccer was a popular sport, and using the argument you made that it wasn’t because of MLS ratings was wrong.

 

[IcyPatriot]

I enjoy soccer immensely and it helps that I can watch many games not caring who wins. It's like the only sport where this happens for me ... so looking forward to the games and don't care who wins. If USA was in i would care ... they care not. I know people who hate that I can watch RM vs Barca and not care who wins ... they don't understand how I can do such a thing.

 

[XLIX]

So NBC is gonna pay $1billion for a sport that’s not popular?

Again your making **** up now to suit your argument. I never said soccer was as popular as baseball.

Actually, yeah you did. You wrote (direct quote here):

"your comparing the MLS with MLB and the NBA. When you look at it like that, the sport looks behind, but it’s not."

What exactly did you mean when you said soccer is not behind MLB and the NBA?

All I said was that soccer was a popular sport, and using the argument you made that it wasn’t because of MLS ratings was wrong.

The article Convertedpatsfan posted said soccer was as popular as baseball. When I disagreed with that, you chimed in with "(soccer) looks behind, but it's not."

I am glad you apparently have come around and changed your stance so that you agree with me that soccer is not as popular as baseball. It just never ceases to amaze me why soccer fans are so desperate to make it appear as though their sport is more popular than it really is.

 

[AzorianPats]

How NBC Sports is monetizing its $1 billion Premier League soccer investment

MLB agrees to TV deals with Fox, Turner Sports

@XLIX here’s NHL’s deal

NHL, NBC sign record-setting 10-year TV deal

Let’s add the every four year Tournaments too

Fox wins bid to televise World Cup in 2018, '22

2020 European Championship.

ESPN announces sprawling UEFA broadcast deal, including Euro 2020

 

[AzorianPats]

Actually, yeah you did. You wrote (direct quote here):

"your comparing the MLS with MLB and the NBA. When you look at it like that, the sport looks behind, but it’s not."

What exactly did you mean when you said soccer is not behind MLB and the NBA?
The article Convertedpatsfan posted said soccer was as popular as baseball. When I disagreed with that, you chimed in with "(soccer) looks behind, but it's not."

I am glad you apparently have come around and changed your stance so that you agree with me that soccer is not as popular as baseball. It just never ceases to amaze me why soccer fans are so desperate to make it appear as though their sport is more popular than it really is.

I think overall the most popular sports right now in America are

1. Football 2. Basketball 3. Baseball 4. Soccer. 5 Hockey.

If you thought I was arguing soccer being more popular than baseball, I wasn’t. And my bad if I worded it poorly. I do think soccer is sneaking up though, and it will eventually surpass baseball.

My argument was that soccer is a popular sport in the country. Just not in the traditional way.

I posted some numbers on what NBC and Fox have spent to acquire rights to certain league events. I think even you would admit those are impressive numbers no?

 

[AzorianPats]

I enjoy soccer immensely and it helps that I can watch many games not caring who wins. It's like the only sport where this happens for me ... so looking forward to the games and don't care who wins. If USA was in i would care ... they care not. I know people who hate that I can watch RM vs Barca and not care who wins ... they don't understand how I can do such a thing.

You never root for one team? Ever? Lol

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

France Belgium and Germany for me. On paper the Belgian squad doesn't have a weakness. Except maybe their manager.
France will be very talented and Germans have big tournament pedigree. Neither of the big south american two for me although with Messi Higuan and dybala Argentina have serious fire power.
And of course Spain will be thereabouts. Cannot wait.

I think Brazil will bounce back and have a good World Cup. We will see.

 

[Guts]

Germany is super stacked. Their reserves literally won the Confederations cup. Going to be an interesting world cup though looks like Spain has a new era forming, France are young but super talented, Argentina has Messi while Portugal Ronaldo so they'll be in the mix, I don't know how to feel about Brazil though

 

[XLIX]

I think overall the most popular sports right now in America are

1. Football 2. Basketball 3. Baseball 4. Soccer. 5 Hockey.

If you thought I was arguing soccer being more popular than baseball, I wasn’t. And my bad if I worded it poorly. I do think soccer is sneaking up though, and it will eventually surpass baseball.

My argument was that soccer is a popular sport in the country. Just not in the traditional way.

I posted some numbers on what NBC and Fox have spent to acquire rights to certain league events. I think even you would admit those are impressive numbers no?

Fair enough. I’d put hockey above soccer but gladly admit they’re in the same ballpark as one another.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

It is not me confusing "favorite" with "popular" but rather the writer of your own article, who concludes "soccer now nearly matches baseball's popularity" (direct quote from the article). It is not a logical conclusion based on the data given.

That's fair, I read the article a while ago and didn't see that in the preamble again.

 

[1960Pats]

It just never ceases to amaze me why soccer fans are so desperate to make it appear as though their sport is more popular than it really is.

Worldwide, soccer is king (a real king, not a self proclaimed one like LeBron). Maybe soccer fans in the USA are a bit defensive because some of us haven't taken to it as much as they have.

As a youth sports coach for many years in the past I have the opportunity to talk about soccer to some former players. The common theme among them is that soccer is a sport they liked as kids but didn't enjoy as they got older.

 

[patriot1136]

I think the World Cup is cool and hope to watch some of it. I had a different (better) job back in 2014 so I was able to watch a lot then. Now, I work most weekends, and work relatively late on the weekdays I work, so I will probably miss a lot this time unfortunately.

 

[Kontradiction]

I’m happy the World Cup is back. I get to look forward to mid-day naps again.

 

[Kontradiction]

I’m happy the World Cup is back. I get to look forward to mid-day naps again.

@BelichickFan the sport sucks.

 

[Triumph]

With no USA, I want my second team to win it all.

Russia.

 

[Triumph]

I think Brazil will bounce back and have a good World Cup. We will see.

If they dont their goalie wont see New Years day 2019.