SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums College, Pro & International Soccer ESPN=The Death of Soccer

Recently, when watching ESPN, they did a run-up on how the champions league play has been going thus far. When they did a preview for the Rangers-Villareal game, the sportscaster smartly remarked that Rangers are the first ever Scottish team to proceed past the group stage.

This Idiot failed to recognize that Celtic of Glasgow had won the Champions league in 1967. So, how can a team win the European Cup, but fail to advance to the round of 16 of the European Cup? This continues to amaze me of the ignorance that American sportscasters have towards the beautiful game.

It's no big surprise, soccer is only appreciated here by the hardcore fans that play it. Being from another country and only being in the US for 4 years now, i can clearly tell u the distinction between American soccer and African soccer (where i'm from lol ). America has always wanted to be different from everyone else, their soccer program is growing, but it's nothing to be proud of. If you asked any sportscaster about soccer they would have no clue what to say, they probably couldn't even pronounce Shevchenko!

BACK IN 67 WHEN CELTIC BEAT INTER IN THE FINAL, IT WASN'T CALLED THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, SO I GUESS THIS IS WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, FOR THE MOST PART THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME IS NOT IMPRESSIVE.

I can't help but agree here. " Shame US " Mallon(SP) has been bad since he did the '87 NCAA game at Riggs. Not to mention Rob "I an espn's boy toy" Stone and the worst ever "Chello" Balboa. Cut you hair for pete sake and quit being over critical of every play. This guy thinks he is the "Valdarama"(SP) of broadcasting. I like JP Delacamra(sp) but he sucks up to "chello" so bad it makes me sick. I can handle Wynalda b/c he sticks to the truth and the game. No war stories.


Just give me Lil Tommy Smythe and Dereck Rae and I am happy, although Tommy does look like Darth Vader in the oxygen chamber.

sorry you hit a nerve.

GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO RELEASE THAT WILL.I WOULD TAKE TOMMY AND DERECK ANY DAY. OR HOW ABOUT THIS NAME OUT OF THE PAST---TOBY CHARLES? BACK IN THE DAY, HE DID A GOOD JOB. GOOD LUCK AT C.N. THIS YEAR! LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE ALREADY OFF TO A GOOD START.

Anthony Pelton is correct. Back in 1967 and indeed in 1968 when Manchester United won it for the first time, it was called the European Cup and it was the Champions only of each country that could compete. The League group stages are a relatively new idea. They have tinkered with it a few times over the last few years as they have allowed more teams to be involved in it.
But back in 1967 all the Champions from all the European countries went into a draw like the FA Cup format, and you played over 2 legs, home and away. Back then I think there were 2 or 3 rounds before you got to the quarter final. But it was single elimination all the way through.

Soccer Made In Germany on PBS....ahhhh the memories.

Thanks Anthony. Same to you at the fort! Looks like you guys are off to a good start as well!

Be good and let the flops roll on.

Oh ya I see now, thanks. I didn't realize that the groups were that new of an idea. Still, the European Cup and Champions league are essentially the same tournament, with just some minor changes.