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.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ESPN must go!!! A thread worthy of my disgust!

When it comes to futbol, the US is seriously struggling. First of all, the only reason it's called soccer is because of "futbol"'s similarity with "football" a sport played primarily in the States. Secondly, why DOES the US have to be so different? Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, yet America just doesn't get it and ratings are below sea level. Sometimes, I wish I played in England or something, instead of here so that people would take the sport seriously and for what it is... absolutely beautiful.

amen, I often wish the same things.

Soccer Made in Germany....from what I recall....one hour of soccer, once a week. Kids today are spoiled....

How about "The Deuce" being kind enough to show us those two great Champions League matches at 12:30 AM?!?! Too much March Madness and World Baseball Championships I guess???

"Soccer Made in Germany" -- wasn't that broadcast by ETV/PBS? I remember it very well. Once a week during the mid-to-late 1970s. Super show.

Hurst66, I looked all over my cable channels Tuesday night wanting to DVR the Arsenal/Real Madrid match alas to no avail. Wish I would have known that ESPN2 was going to show the match (I was too lazy to consult -- http://soccertv.com/ -- but should have in hindsight).

I like baseball as much as anyone, but the World Baseball Championships are a farce and definitely a "made for ESPN production". Means absolutely nothing in the sports world. Fabrication 101!

P.S. -- Fox Soccer Channel (149 on TimeWarner in Columbia) is outstanding!

I woke up at 12:30 last night and Stephen Smith's show was still being broadcast on ESPN2. I had the tape ready to record and I fell asleep on the couch. Woke up with 20 minutes to go and watched the end of Arsenal-Real Madrid. The announcers called it one of the most exciting goalless games they had ever seen and I can vouch that the last 20 minutes was breath-taking. Up and down action, even the Gunners trying to score instead of just sitting back and defending. The crowd was going crazy until the final whistle.

I wish I could have seen the whole match.

Soccer Made In Germany was great.....and, it was all we had.

ESPN definately needs to stick with what they do best, rave about overpaid american sports stars!!!