Britbillsfan Posted April 22, 2006 Posted April 22, 2006 I also had people yell at me "EVERTON OR LIVERPOOL?". That is also religious based. Everton=Protestant, Liverpool -Catholic. Man city=Protestant, ManU=Catholic. Religion is huge over there. I truly learned to appreciate freedom of religion that we have in the USA 667175[/snapback] Whilst there is club rivalry between Livepool/Everton and Man Utd/City those clubs these days have such a wide support base that religious bigotry is not really an issue with them. There is intense rivalry between those teams but the red/blue split is no longer really on religious grounds. Rangers/Celtic on the other hand have many fans who consider the religious bigotry to be an essential part of their sporting experience. Nuts.
Britbillsfan Posted April 22, 2006 Posted April 22, 2006 It's too bad that they couldn't have moved up before the World Cup draw. We probably would've been a #1 seed. Instead, now we're is a group with #2 Czech Republic and #14 Italy. That's the hardest group in my opinion. 666977[/snapback] No 1 teams are generally the current World Cup holders. For everyone else FIFA world rankings are based on wins/draws/defeats with very little in the way of compensation for the quality of opponents. The USA benefits hugely by playing a pretty weak set of teams in its regional division (Jamaica, Costa Rica, Honduras, etc, etc) with only Mexico producing half decent teams now and again. Not the Us's fault, just the way things are. European/S American clubs are largely hamstrung when it somes to rankings as there a lot of good quality teams that are played against all the time, especially the friendlies (which are also taken into account, despite the fact that often it can be almost a second team that is put out on the field on occassion). A European/S American team at or near the top of the rankings will be very good as they will have to beat a lot of good teams to be there. The World Cup seedings are based upon how well teams performed in previous World Cup tournaments, which is why it is more difficult to get a good ranking with this formula, you actually will need to have played well against much better calibre teams. Whilst the US are a good, solid team #4 is pushing credibility a tad. They are very much a wild card when it comes to teams as there is no real way to know how good they really are (the only time they get to play good teams in top level competition is in the World Cup Finals). (As a note as to seedings it is like having preseason count (friendlies) in making the post season in the NFL AND an having a division III school in college football be ranked at the top of the nation if it had a perfect record when Division I teams might only lose one game. Not that I am accusing the US of being a division III team, just using this as an illustration as to why the FIFA rankings are screwed).
GoodBye Posted April 22, 2006 Posted April 22, 2006 The cool thing about going to a baseball game is, for the most part, you don't have to pay attention. 90% of the time, before anything on the field happens you will hear the CRACK of the bat hitting the ball. You just look up when somebody hits the ball and you are good to go. (All you miss is the occasional stolen base and guys scratching themselves. ) Of course, I've only been to 1 MLB game since '94, but I do still go to a few AAA games now and then. 667277[/snapback] Yeah, the only exciting thing about watching a baseball game is when they FINALLY hit the ball. lol Oh and seeing the guys in their uniforms. I guess I shouldn't judge it on only seeing AAA games. Maybe a major league game might be a LITTLE more interesting.
ajzepp Posted April 22, 2006 Author Posted April 22, 2006 If baseball was more exciting than soccer, soccer would have a 70th minute stretch
Taro T Posted April 22, 2006 Posted April 22, 2006 Yeah, the only exciting thing about watching a baseball game is when they FINALLY hit the ball. lol Oh and seeing the guys in their uniforms. I guess I shouldn't judge it on only seeing AAA games. Maybe a major league game might be a LITTLE more interesting. 667306[/snapback] Depends on what teams. I'd rather watch the Bisons play another good AAA team than watch KC play almost anybody.
Pete Posted April 22, 2006 Posted April 22, 2006 Hey Brit Bills fan- where you at? I would of loved to met up with you- I enjoy your posts. Next time- cheers mate!
olivier in france Posted April 22, 2006 Posted April 22, 2006 I just bought that online- thanks! I still have some Arsenal songs stuck in my head. I sat in the Arsenal punting section for Arsenal-Fulham in March. Arrrr-senn-alllll! Arrrr-senn-alllll! Arrrr-senn-alllll! On a sidenote- Olivier, Hirly, AJ- are you familiar with the Auld Firm(Old Firm) football game between Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtics? I was over there and heard many perspectives on that game- fascinating 666872[/snapback] the Celtic-rangers games are probably the most heated games in the world of sport. I'm a big Celtic fan as they wear green as "my" Greens the ones of St Etienne! and the Celtic fans are some of the most loyal and faithful in the World, the best with the ones of Liverpool and of course us, the St Etienne fans!
olivier in france Posted April 22, 2006 Posted April 22, 2006 I also had people yell at me "EVERTON OR LIVERPOOL?". That is also religious based. Everton=Protestant, Liverpool -Catholic. Man city=Protestant, ManU=Catholic. Religion is huge over there. I truly learned to appreciate freedom of religion that we have in the USA 667175[/snapback] man city-man u is not that religious oriented i think..., from what i know it's more a social class thing, Man City being the blue collar team.
olivier in france Posted April 22, 2006 Posted April 22, 2006 It's too bad that they couldn't have moved up before the World Cup draw. We probably would've been a #1 seed. Instead, now we're is a group with #2 Czech Republic and #14 Italy. That's the hardest group in my opinion. 666977[/snapback] this group is a real killer that's sure! good luck to the americans!
olivier in france Posted April 22, 2006 Posted April 22, 2006 Depends on what teams. I'd rather watch the Bisons play another good AAA team than watch KC play almost anybody. 667328[/snapback] i love both soccer and baseball and in fact i can watch baseball games for days and never get bored... while i'll probably never understand how people can actually watch car races, figure skating golf or bowling! well as they say "There must be something for everybody..." !!
linksfiend Posted April 24, 2006 Posted April 24, 2006 http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-f...ov=ap&type=lgns U-S-A!! U-S-A!!! U-S-A!!! 665890[/snapback] I have no idea how the FIFA rankings are caluclated, but two of the larger British oddsmakers aren't buying this. Ladbrokes is favoring both #2 Czech and #14 Italy by 0.5 goals per match over USA William Hill has #12 Italy at 7.5/1, #2 Czech at 25/1 while USA is at 100/1 to win outright.
ajzepp Posted April 25, 2006 Author Posted April 25, 2006 I have no idea how the FIFA rankings are caluclated, but two of the larger British oddsmakers aren't buying this. Ladbrokes is favoring both #2 Czech and #14 Italy by 0.5 goals per match over USA William Hill has #12 Italy at 7.5/1, #2 Czech at 25/1 while USA is at 100/1 to win outright. 669075[/snapback] That's probably a more realistic assessment....If the US can just come out of their group and make a good showing in single elimination, I'll be very happy with that. I don't expect them to win, but I do expect them to BELONG.....if they can accomplish that, I think it's a successful WC for them.
nick in* england Posted April 25, 2006 Posted April 25, 2006 I saw this comedian on TV a few months ago. I can't remember his name. But he was telling this story about the time he went to see a game between England and Germany. It might have been a "friendly" or maybe a Euro Cup game. Anyhow, I guess England was losing relatively badly - maybe 3-0. Then they started their version of "the wave" where everyone in a section shouts "if you won the war stand up", then they all stand up, then the next section does it all the way around the stadium. 666968[/snapback] Another classic England Chant when playing Germany: "2 world wars and one world cup - la laaa.. la laaaa"
linksfiend Posted April 26, 2006 Posted April 26, 2006 William Hill has #12 Italy at 7.5/1, #2 Czech at 25/1 while USA is at 100/1 to win outright. 669075[/snapback] The odds in our group: Italy 7.5/1, Czech 25/1, USA 100/1, Ghana 250/1 The odds in "the group of death": Brazil 2.75/1, Croatia 50/1, Australia 80/1, Japan 150/1 I don't know, I think I'd like to try to advance over Brazil and Croatia rather than Italy and the Czechs
meazza Posted April 26, 2006 Posted April 26, 2006 The odds in our group: Italy 7.5/1, Czech 25/1, USA 100/1, Ghana 250/1 The odds in "the group of death": Brazil 2.75/1, Croatia 50/1, Australia 80/1, Japan 150/1 I don't know, I think I'd like to try to advance over Brazil and Croatia rather than Italy and the Czechs 671195[/snapback] Brazil is better than Italy, and the Czech Republic. Italy has more of a chance of !@#$ing up. Brazil won't. They don't need tactics, they just throw their top 11 on the field regardless of position and let them play. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/98694/joy_ronaldinho/ http://www.metacafe.com/watch/99423/ronaldinho_show/. The star of Brazil and one of the greatest to play the game.
Pete Posted April 27, 2006 Posted April 27, 2006 USA 100-1? Anyone want to give me those odds? Please
linksfiend Posted April 27, 2006 Posted April 27, 2006 Brazil is better than Italy, and the Czech Republic. Italy has more of a chance of !@#$ing up. Brazil won't. They don't need tactics, they just throw their top 11 on the field regardless of position and let them play. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/98694/joy_ronaldinho/ http://www.metacafe.com/watch/99423/ronaldinho_show/. The star of Brazil and one of the greatest to play the game. 671234[/snapback] Sorry, I didn't mean to slight Brazil. They're the obvious favorite to repeat. I was trying to say that I think we have the tougher grouping to advance. I'd prefer trying to beat out Croatia to advance as the second place finisher as opposed to the Czechs.
meazza Posted April 27, 2006 Posted April 27, 2006 Sorry, I didn't mean to slight Brazil. They're the obvious favorite to repeat. I was trying to say that I think we have the tougher grouping to advance. I'd prefer trying to beat out Croatia to advance as the second place finisher as opposed to the Czechs. 671860[/snapback] ya i understand, i just felt like posting ronaldhino videos, especially for azjepp
Britbillsfan Posted April 27, 2006 Posted April 27, 2006 Hey Brit Bills fan- where you at? I would of loved to met up with you- I enjoy your posts. Next time- cheers mate! 667358[/snapback] In Swindon, one of the key towns of the Industrial Revolution and pretty close to the Stonehenge and Avebury Neolithic sites. Apart from that (and maybe the company I work for) it is a real dump. And to keep this vaguely on topic the local football team < RJ.
Britbillsfan Posted April 27, 2006 Posted April 27, 2006 Another classic England Chant when playing Germany: "2 world wars and one world cup - la laaa.. la laaaa" 669706[/snapback] I like the second line that was recently added after a certain football match..... 2 world wars and one world cup One-Nil down and then five-one up!
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