For our American posters: Why do you prefer soccer to American football?

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Royal Blue Jersey

Royal Blue Jersey

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I say why, it's something of a presumption but I thought if you've signed up GoT to support Everton of all teams, you must be a hardcore football fan. But given that American football is so ingrained into your society - I know a few people who like American football and they still love our football, because they're English. There aren't many people from this country who like sport but not football - I assume you also watch it, or are at least exposed to it to a high degree.

What made you choose association football? What converted you, can you pinpoint any specific moments or players or matches or teams? And finally on that point, why Everton?

P.S.
Love this video that I imagine will speak to all of you:
[video=youtube;jbn3rOPmR9w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbn3rOPmR9w[/video]
 


I don't choose between them. I still love American football and always will. I was a late in life convert to soccer. Never played the game, didn't even like it for most of my life. I would say even at this point, I'm a hardcore Evertonian more than a hardcore soccer fan.

You have to understand in American it's perfectly normal to follow multiple sports. The seasons don't last as long as European soccer, so you follow the sports in their seasons, with some overlap.

In soccer cultures, it's basically that sport and that sport only because it lasts almost the whole year.
 
Grew up on proper football and played all the way through NCAA Div 1 level. I have no time for American football as the game is too slow and is just boring. Three and a half hours to play a 48 minute game. Boring.

As for Everton, introduced to the club by a friend I played amateur football with here in Houston and started following them (they had Joe Max Moore at the time and since he was one of the few Americans in the Premier League, I thought "Why not Everton") and then once they appointed David Moyes, and picked up players like Arteta, Cahill, etc.... I was hooked.

Turns out they chose me, I didn't choose them.
 

Hibbo said:
Friday night lights was one of my favourite TV shows ever.
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I wanna give it a watch, seeing as all I heard during BB was 'Jesse Plemons is LANDRY' (and without context it began to grate)

Thanks for the replies. McBain I loled, you can't have a name any more American than that, so would've expected you to be a gridiron (which I always used to pronounce girid-rion for some reason :lol:)

Great post Bill (we're lucky to have you). You must've been happy to see Landon & Tim playing in blue - god, I miss Donovan. Adored him, I think American sportsmen have far better media exposure/training/interest so he was a beaut when interviewed, said all the right things, and was just generally ace. Loved what he had to say about us and our fans, really was a great spell. Every time he took to the field Goodison would be swept by chants of U! S! A!. Good times.

@johnnydawg - exactly my point, I would find it intriguing if you specifically didnt like AF whilst loving soccer, as it were. And I understand exactly what you mean about preferring Everton to football - don't get me wrong, exciting games are exciting by any measurements but I find it difficult to separate the tribal nature of football from the game itself. It's really difficult to really get into a game unless you're rooting for one team or another, and unless the game is a true spectacle of football (see today v Arsenal) it's hard to not be drawn to one team or another by the end. I think that's integral to football, the us v. them. It's why I think it's a shame the same culture doesn't exist in the US, as you are overflowing with cities that have their own very unique (to borrow a phrase ;)) identity, it would be really something to see American sports teams go head to head as cities not franchises. Anyway, that's another debate...but on that point, how do you see the game developing? Is it growing as fast as we'd like to believe? Do you guys ever get the chance to support/see local teams? (Do you even have any local teams? Given the paucity of professional football versus the sheer scale of America, doubtful I imagine!)
 
Royal Blue Jersey said:
Great post Bill (we're lucky to have you). You must've been happy to see Landon & Tim playing in blue - god, I miss Donovan. Adored him, I think American sportsmen have far better media exposure/training/interest so he was a beaut when interviewed, said all the right things, and was just generally ace. Loved what he had to say about us and our fans, really was a great spell. Every time he took to the field Goodison would be swept by chants of U! S! A!. Good times.
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You know what's funny?

While I like to see American players do well and especially for Everton, I really don't care if we have Americans with us or not. I'm all about Everton, regardless of the players we have.

When Landon joined us, I was ecstatic but mainly because I knew what he was going to do for us. Joe Max got it started but after that, we could have had 11 Chinese players playing for us and I'd have been happy as long as we were doing well.
 
Same here. We didn't have any Americans playing for us when I signed on. If we have some and they're ace, that's a bonus.
 
Royal Blue Jersey said:
@johnnydawg - exactly my point, I would find it intriguing if you specifically didnt like AF whilst loving soccer, as it were. And I understand exactly what you mean about preferring Everton to football - don't get me wrong, exciting games are exciting by any measurements but I find it difficult to separate the tribal nature of football from the game itself. It's really difficult to really get into a game unless you're rooting for one team or another, and unless the game is a true spectacle of football (see today v Arsenal) it's hard to not be drawn to one team or another by the end. I think that's integral to football, the us v. them. It's why I think it's a shame the same culture doesn't exist in the US, as you are overflowing with cities that have their own very unique (to borrow a phrase ;)) identity, it would be really something to see American sports teams go head to head as cities not franchises. Anyway, that's another debate...but on that point, how do you see the game developing? Is it growing as fast as we'd like to believe? Do you guys ever get the chance to support/see local teams? (Do you even have any local teams? Given the paucity of professional football versus the sheer scale of America, doubtful I imagine!)
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I don't have a local team. Was asked in another thread by icburns who I supported in MLS and the answer is no one, for the reason you mentioned...I don't have a rooting interest.

I used to watch Sevilla a lot. I kind of adopted them as a second team, so I watched a ton of La Liga. I haven't watched any this year though. They've gotten rid of all the players I was fond of and I've lost touch with them.

I also used to watch a lot of Ligue 1 but that has dwindled down. Never liked Italian football.

It's Everton for me. I watch as much of the BPL as I can, time permitting, because it's relevant to Everton. I also like to see the Americans do well if possible over there.
 

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