Demographics & Economics
OMB
Congressional Budget Office
The Federal Budget
U.S. Census Quickfacts
Inflation Calculator
CIA World Factbook
NationMaster
State Healthcare Facts
UN HDR stats
US Bureau of Economic Analysis
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
US CDC health stats
US DOJ Bureau of Justice Statistics
US DOJ crime stats
Constitution
The Constitution
The Founders' Constitution
The Avalon Project
The Federalist Papers
The antifederalist papers
Founding documents
Politics
ADA (liberal) Voting Records
ACU (conservative) Voting Records
Census Voter Turnout
Congressional Research Service
Memeorandum
NOW list of voting scorecards
PolitiFact
PorkBusters
Project VoteSmart list of voting scorecards
RealClearPolitics
Roll call votes--House
Roll call votes--Senate
Survey USA
WaPo Votes Database
Iraq/Terrorism
CentCom
Brookings Institute Iraq Index
Project on Defense Alternatives War Report
Nat'l Defense Univ Iraq
Nat'l Defense Univ Afghanistan
MERLIN, Nat'l Defense Univ Library Network
STRATFOR
Nat'l Memorial Inst for Prevention of Terrorism
West Point's Combating Terrorism Center
Politics blogs
Baldilocks
Blue Mass Group
Cadillac Tight
California Conservative
Jon Chait
Confederate Yankee
Crooked Timber
Democracy Project
Dinocrat
First Read
Gateway Pundit
GenerationPatriot
Horse Race Blog
Just One Minute
Hugh Hewitt
Michelle Malkin
Patterico's Pontifications
Power Line
Red State
RNCC blog
Scrappleface
Sister Toldjah
Talking Points Memo
The Blogometer
The Corner
The Next Right
The Moderate Voice
Think Progress
Wizbang
Moderate / centrist
Ambivablog
Bipartisan Rules
Booker Rising
Centerfield
Charging RINO
Donklephant
Liberal War Journal
Militant Moderates
The Buck Stops Here
The Glittering Eye
The Iconic Midwest
The PoliGazette
The Walrus Said
Legal & academic
How Appealing
Becker-Posner
Bench Memos
Concurring Opinions
Economists Do It With Models
Legalities
Prawfsblawg
SCOTUSblog
Sentencing Law & Policy
UCFB
The Volokh Conspiracy
Christian
Archbp Dolan: Gospel in the Digital Age
Bp Chris Coyne: Let Us Walk Together
ADW blog
Simon Dodd: Motu Proprio
Fr Zuhlsdorf: WDTPRS
Fr Longenecker: Standing On My Head
Elizabeth Scalia: The Anchoress
First Thoughts
Mirror of Justice
Rorate Cæli
Veritas Rex
Middle East & Muslim affairs
Eteraz
Iraq the Model
Lebanese Political Journal
Michael Totten
Michael Yon
General interest
Althouse
Ambiance
Chris Muir's Day by Day
Instapundit
IowaHawk
JAC
Professor Bainbridge
Prettier than Napoleon
Rachel Lucas
The Right Coast
Science Blog
Sippican Cottage
Whatever
Now, it's a well-known fact that despite this latest uptick, Americans generally aren't big on soccer. There is debate on the myriad reasons why (low scoring, confusing rules, tie games, the fact that Europeans like it so much, etc). There has also been much debate over the cultural divides over soccer, with some unserious types taking it to the point of hysteria. Here's the thing: To the extent that soccer had any chance of making inroads into the hearts of American sports fans, this blatant screwjob may have killed that for the time being.
Our RSS feed
I have not been that mad at
I have not been that mad at incompetent referee work since the last time Ron Cherry refed a Florida State game.
I don't know....
...we have had baseball umpires taking away perfect games, college football refs forgetting that you only get four downs, and (after seeing 2 minutes of the NBA final last night) refs seemingly forgetting that their sport has ANY rules. Soccer should fit right in on these shores.
I think you're being harsh on the NBA refs, Rich, that was a
great game last night. Yeah, I see your point, though.
I really don't think it's as
I really don't think it's as bad as all that. Yes, I think it was a terrible call. No, I don't think it's going to end up meaning much.
When we beat Algeria (and we will beat Algeria), we'll have 5 points and almost certainly advance to the second round. In fact, as it currently stands, we have the best chances of all Group C teams to advance, since England must beat Slovenia to advance and Slovenia must at least tie England for their shot-- one of the two of them is probably getting bounced.
This will go down as a lousy call, but it's not going to stop us from advancing on our long-awaited march to destiny.
--Bobby
Yeah, I hope ypu're right, Bobby--and the victory would be
great--I say that as one who is not a bg soccer fan, but is open to becoming one.
Victory!
And we move to the next round. Huzzah!
if there's one thing American sports fans so understand...
...it's officials making terrible calls. Part of every sport.
I don't think there's really a debate about which of the other things on your list limit soccer's popularity. They all contribute. IMO it's the low scoring which most inhibits popularity here. It can primarily be attributed to the only confusing aspect of the game: offsides.
Both hockey and soccer have a version of this rule which, let's face it, acts as a buzzkill on the most exciting aspect of the game: breakaway goal scoring attempts. Folks in parts of the world where socer is the only gamer around have no chice but to develop an appreciation for the cat and mouse chess game in a nil-nil tie. I mean, a nil-nil tie? Really? When there are 600 other channels?
The other reason it won't become more popular here is that the rest of the world controls the best players and highest levels of competition.