Wow, an American from the land of capitalism has to use such a dumb reason as that to try and badmouth the sport. America sells out on EVERYTHING, thats not a dig, because im all for making money wherever possible but to be from the country you are from its a pretty lame thing to bring up.. Your other bullet points just show what you no about the game and obviously will never appreciate it, just keep watching your ex drug dealers running around in their tight figure hugging outfits touching either up every chance possible, and leave football to us.
America has a reputation for capitalism but putting adverts all over a uniform? I am so glad the major sports leagues of the US and Canada don't cover their unis with ads for liquor, cigarettes, gambling, candy, soda, etc. Only the second tier sports, NASCAR, MLS, do that. Can you compare and contrast offsides in soccer and ice hockey? Can you defend the diving and crying? Sure we can leave the association football to you. But tell me where EPL goalies Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel and Tim Howard are from? There are a few surly characters in the NFL but the game takes people from all walks of life whether it be the rough city streets or kickers from suburban soccer fields. I am guessing the England has never had players with off field issues?
So as an American you see far far greater amounts of advertising everyday than any other country, its everywhere in America in places any other person would never think to see it. Your tv is full of so much more ads than any ive ever watched also, there seems to be a lot more tacky cheap commercials everywhere. But ads on shirts is a big deal to you? I guess you only wear non branded clothes yourself, maybe you even tie-dye them like a hippy? And surprising you dont like liquor, cigarettes, gambling, candy, soda advertised when America is the largest consumer of these, even AT sporting events you guys cant leave this stuff alone. I haven't watched hockey enough to know their rules. Nobody likes the diving. It is mainly the other countries who dive the most though. Yes good some Americans who saw the light, im sure there are more in the championship and other divisions too, maybe even rest of Europe.
jabb, don't worry, not all americans are like that. There are people who appreciate non-american sports here, too. Well, most of them are immigrants, but aren't we all?
I don't think we have more adverts than the rest of the developed nations. I see it all around your stadiums and even projected on the field. And the commercials can be averted with a remote control or DVR. I will wear whatever clothes is of good value, I wouldn't mind having Old Navy logo'ed clothes (good value) but I wouldn't pay extra to advertise for Abercrombie & Fitch. And what we have at sporting events is typically beer, soda, and food from hot dogs to sushi. Smoking is banned almost everywhere in California. Hockey's offside rule is that a player cannot enter the offensive zone before the puck. It keeps the offensive team from leaving someone camped out in front of the goal but doesn't allow an offense to be controlled by a defensive player gaming the rule. Regarding diving, I don't see the English doing it much, it's mostly those from countries using latin based languages, from Italy down through Argentina. The refs shouldn't be so tolerant of diving, maybe they should carry off any player who holds his shin for more than 2 seconds or red card a player for having a miraculous recovery when an opponent is red carded. Hockey also has a better penalty shot. The shot taker takes the puck at center ice and the goalie can do whatever he wants, come out to cut off the angle, stay back on the goal line, go out for a poke check, etc. In....football...it's two players taking an educated guess.
Uhhh, I appreciate soccer, about $3000 of my gross income goes to it each year and my immigrant grandparents from the British Isles told me about a game called soccer before we had AYSO. I point out some things that need cleaning up like diving and some performances that should be better (shots 10 meters over the bar).
I don't think it will be long until more is done to punish divers, its stupid that you have two of the best players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Drogba who are probably the worst divers in the league. No i don't like hockeys way of taking a penalty and i think thats how they used to play football in American (maybe still do). It does take skill our way, a goalie reads the player by his movement and then makes the judgement, its not just an all out guess. Thats why some goalies clearly stand out in penalties not because the stars are shining on them.
I agree with you on that(well...just partially about the shots), but trying to convince everybody to call it "soccer" is a bit over the top.
It was football, then association football, then soccer, and in the last generation or two folks are trying to always say football. I watch Fox Soccer Channel's Football Phone In and those to English guys consciously make an effort to say football and often slip up and say soccer and catch themselves. Where I come from we called carbinated beverage "pop". When I am back there I call it pop, in California I call it soda. I adapt my language.
Again why have you not explained why when on a forum we should call it soccer? Ok if i was in America i should call it soccer (although i wouldn't) but why on a forum which isn't mainly Americans should we still call it soccer, just explain that?