to all the Chilean soccer fans

[Mr.420]

There is no doubt that refs have holier then thou attitudes and most are ego maniacs. Thats fine, pretend your a lord at the round table, but jeez have some creditbility when reffing. Not every tackle is a dirty play.

One of the most disgusting peices of getting duped is back in 2004 WC. Brasil vs Turkey. Rivaldo was setting and waiting to receive the ball to take a free kick and I believe it was a Turkish player rifled the ball to him and he went down like he was shot. And the ref gave the turkish player a yellow? For what? The guy was 60 ft feet away. If I knew I got duped, I would make a mental note next time the player goes down I'd run pass him and whisper in that players ear, "unless I see blood coming from your ass, your not gonna get another call from me, here's a yellow for waisting time..."

Only if I was a referee.....

 

[Perry Mason]

First, I agree that the referee was awful. And as was said above, his body language told all. In my experience as a lawyer, I often learn much more about a witness from her/his body language than from what they might be saying.

The ref ruined what could have been a much better game. He certainly frustrated the Chileans. And I think the Argentinians would probably have won in any event based on overall play.

I don't excuse the conduct on the field near the end, but I do understand it. Frustration is a very powerful feeling.

As to what happened afterwards, I think it makes a great deal of sense to wait until the facts are known before jumping to any conclusions. Either the players or the police or both could be at fault. It would not be incredible or the first time.

What does puzzle me is the apparent inablity of a much larger number of experienced, trained policemen to control a small number of teenagers and resorting to pepper spray and tasers... and also the reports that they threw either pepper spray or tear gas into the bus. But we will have to wait and see what an investigation (and there will be one) discloses about these, too.

Perry

 

[JohnLarue]

Point #2. Soccer is a tough man's sport undoubtedly but this comment is disputable when considering all the diving..

Tough Mans Sport??? WTF
This is not a tough man sport. It ranks right up there with darts, tennis, golf, bowling, poker and snooker on a relative degree of toughness.
To be good @ soccer requires excellent co-ordination, extremely good cardiovascular fitness, play making skill and unfortunately good acting skills. (That shit really turns me off of this other wise great game)

However when compared to hockey, football, basketball (those are very big strong men), lacrosse or rugby, soccer is not a tough sport.
I dare say there are much tougher individuals in the crowd than on the field @ most soccer matches

 

[David Beckham 23]

Tough Mans Sport??? WTF
This is not a tough man sport. It ranks right up there with darts, tennis, golf, bowling, poker and snooker on a relative degree of toughness.
To be good @ soccer requires excellent co-ordination, extremely good cardiovascular fitness, play making skill and unfortunately good acting skills. (That shit really turns me off of this other wise great game)

However when compared to hockey, football, basketball (those are very big strong men), lacrosse or rugby, soccer is not a tough sport.
I dare say there are much tougher individuals in the crowd than on the field @ most soccer matches

So you've played at a high level to make such a comment?

 

[Perry Mason]

Ummm... the whole point of it is that it is a gentleman's game based on talent and athleticism -- which is why there is (supposed to be) so little body contact allowed.

Perry

 

[David Beckham 23]

Ummm... the whole point of it is that it is a gentleman's game based on talent and athleticism -- which is why there is (supposed to be) so little body contact allowed.

Perry

The same thing can be said about many sports, basketball included.

 

[kboom]

I was praying that the Argentinian's whould loose finals the chechs had so much more class.....the Argentinian Chilean game I've never seen a bigger buch of pussies in may life. The only joy I took from that game was the chilean boys got extactly what they gave against Canada. The ref did ruin the game however it just became an hour and a half of who could dive and cry the most both teams should be ashamed. In my opinion the chilean pres should be thanking TO cops for not charging his little pussies..

 

[markvee]

Tough Mans Sport??? WTF
This is not a tough man sport. It ranks right up there with darts, tennis, golf, bowling, poker and snooker on a relative degree of toughness.

I like your handle, but I think that soccer is slightly tougher than poker.

Worst ever Tackles

I couldn't find an equivalent set of highlights from the World Poker Tour.

 

[JohnLarue]

So you've played at a high level to make such a comment?

High enough

 

[VERYBADBOY]

High enough

I'm sure you were ... High that is.

VBB

 

[David Beckham 23]

High enough

I could introduce you to a 6'2, 200lbs sweep that broke someones collar bone a couple of months ago. If you played at a high level then you know that receiving a sliding tackle or a shoulder barge isn't anything like play darts.

 

[JohnLarue]

I could introduce you to a 6'6' 240 lb rugby lock or his pal a 6'2' 265 lb prop who are hell bent to make a match a living nightmare for opponents by punching, kicking, or racking them (racking is dragging the boot cleats across your back for not releasing the ball when you should) (they will buy you a beer after the game, though). Until you have been tacked by one of these guys you really have not been tackled.
FYI. I have received a concussion, a separated shoulder, broken ribs, torn knee ligaments, many cuts & bruises & a broken bone in my foot from rugby. And that was just the training session's!
If it wasnt for the mouth guard, soup would be the meal of the day, everyday

Look, before this gets out of hand with the back and forth. I will admit soccer can be an amazing game to watch (when there is scoring and when there are no theatrics) and I realize many of your are avid fans, so I may have been out of line with comparison to darts or poker, but when compared to hockey, football, rugby, lacross or basketball soccer is just not a tough guys sport.
As I mentioned before there are other admirable qualities most soccer players have (endurance, skill, play-making etc), but not tough compared to these above mentioned sports

 

[wonkyknee]

can't really lump hockey in there...

I could introduce you to a 6'6' 240 lb rugby lock or his pal a 6'2' 265 lb prop who are hell bent to make a match a living nightmare for opponents by punching, kicking, or racking them (racking is dragging the boot cleats across your back for not releasing the ball when you should) (they will buy you a beer after the game, though). Until you have been tacked by one of these guys you really have not been tackled.
FYI. I have received a concussion, a separated shoulder, broken ribs, torn knee ligaments, many cuts & bruises & a broken bone in my foot from rugby. And that was just the training session's!
If it wasnt for the mouth guard, soup would be the meal of the day, everyday

Look, before this gets out of hand with the back and forth. I will admit soccer can be an amazing game to watch (when there is scoring and when there are no theatrics) and I realize many of your are avid fans, so I may have been out of line with comparison to darts or poker, but when compared to hockey, football, rugby, lacross or basketball soccer is just not a tough guys sport.
As I mentioned before there are other admirable qualities most soccer players have (endurance, skill, play-making etc), but not tough compared to these above mentioned sports

I think you need a least a minimum skill requirement used to classify something as a sport, and Hockey only gets a decent player in the prof leagues once or twice a decade, the rest are all cast offs from other real sports and professions. Tough maybe, but so is street fighting..there should still be some kind of game with skill being exhibited. No real athletes commit to playing hockey which is most dominated by goonism and literally zero athletism or skill. I really don't expect to see Hockey or Baseball on TV in 20 years. Baseball for a whole other set of reasons of course.

 

[dcbogey]

I think you need a least a minimum skill requirement used to classify something as a sport, and Hockey only gets a decent player in the prof leagues once or twice a decade, the rest are all cast offs from other real sports and professions. Tough maybe, but so is street fighting..there should still be some kind of game with skill being exhibited. No real athletes commit to playing hockey which is most dominated by goonism and literally zero athletism or skill. I really don't expect to see Hockey or Baseball on TV in 20 years. Baseball for a whole other set of reasons of course.

Something other than your knee is wonky. Your comments indicate that you : don't understand the game; never played the game; and/or haven't watched a game - I mean REALLY watched an NHL game live. Exceptional players only come along "once or twice a decade" but to call the rest cast offs is ridiculous.

 

[wonkyknee]

watched a game?

Something other than your knee is wonky. Your comments indicate that you : don't understand the game; never played the game; and/or haven't watched a game - I mean REALLY watched an NHL game live. Exceptional players only come along "once or twice a decade" but to call the rest cast offs is ridiculous.

watched a game live?...why waste my time? and apparantly noone else in the world is watching either, but a minor insignificant few.

There's just as many in the U.S watching "dog fights". Same amount of talent needed.

 

[netizen]

To be good @ soccer requires excellent co-ordination, extremely good cardiovascular fitness, play making skill and unfortunately good acting skills. (That shit really turns me off of this other wise great game)

Is this what you are talking about? Wonder if any of the FC players are this skilled!
www.collegehumor.com/video:1776326