The only objection I have against European club football is not having playoffs. As an American sports fan, this is a hard concept for me to grasp. Despite no postseason, relegation encompasses all the anxiety and excitement of a playoff. As the regular season winds down, the bottom of the table plays out like the BCS as teams desperately try to avoid relegation to the league … [Read more...] about White Hart Lane and the Importance of Frugality
FIFA
On the Pitch with an American Novice: The Soccer Learning Curve – The Americas Edition
So here’s the plan: I want to choose an MLS team to follow and perhaps cheer for next season. As I was watching the U.S. National team play, I realized that I’ve limited my soccer knowledge intake to European football. If I want to back an MLS team and have a greater appreciation for my country’s team, I better learn the terminology on this side of the pond as well. And just to … [Read more...] about On the Pitch with an American Novice: The Soccer Learning Curve – The Americas Edition
On the Pitch with an American Novice: Pints and Red Cards
To show their appreciation for winning the 2008 European Championship, a beer company in Spain rewarded each member of La Selección, as the Spanish team is called, his weight in beer. So I figured here on the clipboard, we could give out our own football rewards, a pint at a time. Hold on – if anyone has done something that merits a reprimand, we’ll have to card ‘em. Know … [Read more...] about On the Pitch with an American Novice: Pints and Red Cards
FIFA shows Croatia only a Yellow for Racism
In soccer, a yellow card is a cautionary measure for what FIFA deems “unsporting behavior of a less serious nature.” If such a behavior is deemed “serious,” then a red card is shown and the player is sent off and suspended. A second yellow card in a match is considered an indirect red card and merits the same disciplinary action. Realizing this is well known to even non-soccer … [Read more...] about FIFA shows Croatia only a Yellow for Racism
On the Pitch with an American Novice: The Soccer Learning Curve
I spent most of my first year as a soccer fan confused. There were so many new terms and allusions that I couldn’t keep up. I soon realized that if I was going to enjoy this pastime, I needed to learn the vocabulary. I’m starting to get comfortable with some of the terminology, so for you fellow soccer neophytes, here are some I’ve come to be familiar with. Match: a game. … [Read more...] about On the Pitch with an American Novice: The Soccer Learning Curve