OK United States, tell Queenzone who beat you at Olympic qualifying soccer

Micrówave wrote:  All you can say is it's the worlds most popular sport but no data to support it... as usual from you, Bob.  But like I said, it's easy to skew a "world's most popular" into anything... you just don't understand that.

I think it's at least fair to say it's the closest thing the world has to a truly international sport. When you consider  the  variance in geography and climate, economies and political situations and history and culture, there is some specialness in the idea that one common human endeavour can emerge.  Pointed, practiced indifference does seem like kind of an odd response to that.  Do you see that at all? Canada for example lacks history and experience and access, but I don't think it lacks curiosity or respect for the game.

Micrówave wrote:

second-most popular sport in the US is driving around in a circle for several hours.

What an idiot.

Have you ever heard the term "The Top 4"?  It's a very common sports term, FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, and HOCKEY are the top 4 sports in theUS.

Go figure a foreigner to guess it was Nascar!!!  You read too many slanted opinions of America, dude.  No wonder why you think I have a horse and shoot pistols.  You're a fucking child, intellectually.   I got some news for you too.  No matter how many records Queen sold in the UK doesn't matter... it's how many you sell in the US.  But somewhere, in your fantasy world, you're really pissed off about that too.  Damn Americans.

Why don't you lose your bigotry towards America.  I don't insult whatever country you live in but all you do is shit on America. 

30 billion people watched the 2006 World Cup in Germany (obviously this figure includes people watching more than one game). No other sport comes remotely close.

Again, what an idiot.

Why don't you find out what the most watched single game.  It's an NBA game you dork.  Not a soccer game.  

BOB:  Here, let me dig up a 6 year old stat and add up every game and then brag about 30 billion people.

By the way, next time you make that up, keep in mind there's only 7 billion people IN THE ENTIRE WORLD you fricking idiot.  You're John Simon, aren't you?

You're correct. Nothing that ever has happened, or ever will happen, matters until it's been validated by Americans.

American sport is basically a series of beer commercials, interupted every now and again by a few seconds of what's laughably called "action". Discuss.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_watched_television_broadcasts

The most watched sporting events worldwide - 2008 Olympics opening ceremony, 2006 World Cup soccer final, and 2011 cricket semi-final. No NBA in sight.

Micrówave wrote:
No matter how many records Queen sold in the UK doesn't matter... it's how many you sell in the US.

Yes, because the US is the only country in the world that matters. It is the centre of the universe. We get that.

Defining the world's most popular sport is best measured by the number of people who take interest in it, not the dollars made or spent in one particular place.

http://www.topendsports.com/world/lists/popular-sport/fans.htm

http://www.mostpopularsports.net

Soccer, cricket and field hockey are the most watched/played sports in the world. None of your favourite sports are in the top 5. But I'm sure you'll soon be twisting reality to fit your perceptions as usual, saying those statistics are wrong, that my research sources aren't valid, or that it doesn't matter because most Americans wouldn't agree.

I'm not anti-American. I know many fantastic people from your country, and New York is one of my favourite cities to visit. The reality is - you are anti-anything that isn't approved of by America, be it a sport, an idea or a statistic. Virtually every post you make in the personal forum has a xenophobic tone to it.

You are so full of anger. And all towards someone you've never met. But I'd probably be angry too if everyone I spoke with from outside my country told me that I had no concept of reality outside of my borders.

Holly2003 wrote:
American sport is basically a series of beer commercials, interupted every now and again by a few seconds of what's laughably called "action". Discuss.

I wouldn't be so harsh. It's more like a few minutes.

In all seriousness, I do rather like baseball. It's a wonderful game of patience and numbers. The sheer number of possible statistics is staggering.

Fun fact about me - my dream job is to be baseball's chief statistician.

Not all of us Americans are the same, so hopefully you guys are not generalizing every American as Microwave (which I know you're not).

Most watched single game:

Houston Rockets vs Dallas Mavericks

But it wasn't because of the US.

This was the first and only time where two Chinese players matched up...  Yao Ming vs Wang Zhi Zhi.

I bought a Mavericks "Wang" jersey and still wear it... although I'm not a fan of either team, it's a fun jersey.

About 96% of the ratings were based on Chinese Ratings.  Over a billion people watched that ONE game.

Not all of us Americans are the same

Yes, I'm a little off. I'm not afraid of speaking against the common majority.

But still, I went ahead and watched two soccer matches this weekend. B O R I N G.

And I will admit that Soccer is the most popular sport in the world... by your definition Bob. Mostpeople that play or take interest. As I said before, when it's time to get your 5 year old some coordination skills and basic exercise, Soccer is the default... thus definitely making it the most "popular" for any joe blow.

But for anyone who is a fan of competitive sport, Soccer is definitely weak. I think I know how I could like it. Confine the field to the size of a basketball court. That way, we wouldn't be watching dudes jog for 44 minutes. I'm not particularly fond of watching that.

I like plays.
I like body checks into the boards.
I like a two minute offense.
I like the bases loaded, bottom of the 9th, with two outs.
I like the pick & roll

I don't like dudes jogging...which is about all soccer players do 90% of the time.

Most people that play or take interest

Update. 

"Checkers" (Draughts) is the "sport" played by most people ever.  We're talking centuries of humans.

So Mexico beat Canada 3-1.  The crowd was overwhelmingly stacked with Mexico fans and they all had signs and hats with writing designed to intimidate the Canadians and their fans.  The writing all said...um...what was it again...?  It was pretty fun and trash-talky...um...oh yes!  The writing all said "MEXICO". I rest my case. :P

Mexico is probably the only nation who has home field advantage when they play their away games in the US. Which sucks cause I HATE the Mexican National Soccer Team.

Greaserkat wrote:  I HATE the Mexican

Oh geez... you and Brian May!!!

Actually, I watched that too...   at a Mexican restaurant coincidentally.

Pretty sad when the only "American" soccer player I can name is David Beckham.
We can't even yell USA USA USA with that one.

I think his import was to raise interest for the sport here - so far, not working too much. I wonder when it will catch on better in the U.S?

Micrówave wrote:
But for anyone who is a fan of competitive sport, Soccer is definitely weak.

Then I guess people in 190 countries are wrong and you must be right.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom yet again.

You won't see this at a soccer game.  Probably for the best. :)

GratefulFan wrote: You won't see this at a soccer game.  Probably for the best. :)

Indeed, and that's because most soccer players are worried about their expensive haircuts being ruined.

On a serious note though any kind of punch, headbut etc in a soccer (I have trouble saying "soccer" but will make the effort for you :) game will lead to immediate expulsion, probably resulting in that team losing. The player would also be banned for 6 games for violent conduct. Even rugby has cleaned up its act: a few years back, punch ups were normal but now throwing a punch can lead to expulsion, fine, ban etc. Of course, rugby players find other ways to inflict damage and it's still a very tough game, but it's organised violence now, as opposed to disorganised fighting :) However, it looks like in ice hockey the point of expulsion is reached only when the violence spreads to people in suits or to fans!