Comments on: Soccer is for Wimps, Losers, and Sissies, and I mean it!

By: kevin

kevin — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:51:07 +0000

As a European, I find American attitudes to soccer strange. People in the USA call it boring. I have tried watching American football and baseball–my wife is American, and believe me, I REALLY have tried; but after half-hour stretches in which NOTHING OF ANY KIND happens, I give up. Ice hockey can be fun, but that is because it is (wait for this one) EXACTLY LIKE SOCCER. Including the offside rule! The goal of soccer is to win, whatever anyone says. As to penalties, everyone hates them. But what is perfect?

By: daniel

daniel — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:02:59 +0000

Your just close minded and think in a stupid way. Soccer is just a goal post and a ball but the people playing have to create stratagies and techniques to reach the goal post. Its fun and requires skill. Why would you even spend the time writing about soccer if you dont like it. Your a joke.

By: Robby Dixon '13

Robby Dixon '13 — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 15:33:27 +0000

He's at it again. A bit of inspiring reading for Independence Day.

By: Steve Henke '12

Steve Henke '12 — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:56:18 +0000

The follow-up explanation: http://avoidingthedrop.com/2009/03/27/first-timers-stephen-h-webb/

By: R Rao

R Rao — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:39:23 +0000

While I find your tone disgusting I will try to engage you in debate. In baseball there is no scope for creativity. Pitchers have an arsenal from which to choose, batters must time the ball and outfield players must throw to the bases. In soccer however the players can engage with space and with the appropriate skill, if they have the vision they can create plays never seen before. I would encourage a child to play soccer so as to inculcate an ability to innovate under stressful conditions. In football, apart from the quarter-back the rest of the team is simply doing what they have been told. Even the quarterback is merely regurgitating the playbook often (but not necessarily). This is ideal if you want kids to do exactly as they are told when they’re older but isn’t there another side of the personality we aught to cultivate?

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:12:35 +0000

You attack soccer as if it were the worst of all games ever invented by mankind. You say that its simplicity is something bad. It isn’t! Being simple is the reason why it is so dynamic, contrary to this game that you so fondly call football, but where a player is allowed – or even supposed to – take the ball with his HANDS, a game that stops every too seconds.
And besides, soccer is just like basketball, but played with one’s feet instead of one hands. Seriously, I’m a player of both basketball and soccer and I can tell you that the two are very much alike, starting with the rules (there aren’t many in both games, which is a GOOD thing). As you so eloquently put, hands are the natural way humans go about their businesses, but the feet are a completely different story! It’s all so natural to use your hands, but this is the point of soccer (or football, which is its real name), to NOT use your hands, because it’s a difficult thing to do. One’s gotta have lots of ability and will not to touch the ball! It’s a game where you can learn how to control yourself, a game that allows people to really deal with problems with grace and diplomacy, instead of just pushing one another with terrible violence.
You are right to say it is a European sport, because Europe at least try to solve its problems with diplomacy…

By: T

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:26:38 +0000

Mr. Webb I would love to walk up to you at glorious Wabash college and say to you “I love soccer it is my favorite sport” because one: it is the truth and 2: I would love to see your reaction…

By: Luis Sierra

Luis Sierra — Sun, 02 May 2010 18:49:37 +0000

I find your your claim about Football very insulting and rather ignorant for a man claiming to be a professor. I can argue with you forever regarding this subject, but I believe it will be a battle no of us will win, we have the right to believe and expressed our opinions without oppression. I believe you may be a sexist regarding your comment on girls being able to play our sport, let me just remind you that women have the strength to give birth to a child, therefore, they should be able to withstand an injury in our sport, your argument on agility is complete rubbish, and don’t let me remind you about other woman in other sports that have succeeded in ways that exceed those of many men. Our sport is called Football, the Brits created it an named it as Football, I believe you should find some sense in it with the intelligence you claim you have and tell me how your sport applies to the name further than ours. I love Football and so those the rest of the world, it is the most popular sport in the world, our world cup gathers twice the audience of the Olympics now that is an accomplishment worth mentioning.

By: John

John — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:40:55 +0000

This is a joke, right?