Well, India itself has like 1.2 billion, so those stats are kinda jinxed. I was talking more of a global reach as far as countries. Im sure ping pong is the shit in China, and that?s close to 2 billion people right there.

It's strange i can't get over this idea that the more complicated and expensive a sport is, the better is must be????

How come? Please explain.

Pretty much says it all....

Soccer.

http://imgur.com/9kwid.jpg

Americans can?t play soccer because 70% of them are overweight fat fucks that will have a stroke if they try.

Meaningful debate with someone who starts a thread to bash the game for no reason than the World Cup has started, and he's upset because it's filled the TV schedule with games that replace his usual shopping shows and Dr. Phil. Nah, you won't get debate here.

Americans dont like soccer because we love pussy and guns.

What's the most expensive sport, I'm not talking about audience ticket price but to actually do it?

Ice Hockey.

You dont know why bowling is popular?

http://www.picum.com/ggj/havefun.jpg

very good question. I can only guess. My first would be F1 racing. Yachting must be near the top too. There may be others I can't think of at the top of my head.

But I think F1, just because the setup is so high.

The most boring sport to watch - Field Hockey, I thought I'll grow a beard when I watched that once as a part of Olympics

No he's right, soccer is cheap to play, those other sports are bad examples. Ping pong requires a table, paddles, and it's not a team sport that kids on a playground can play. Basketball requires at least one hoop, preferably with netting and a backboard, and a court.

Soccer on the other hand requires a ball, and a couple of makeshift goal posts. Doesn't even have to be an actual soccer ball, any ball of equitable size will do. No other gear needed. No specialized training either, just kick - pass - kick until someone scores. Rinse, repeat.

I don't see it as a bad thing when someone says it's popular because it's cheap to play. In fact it's pretty damn accurate, but it's also because most other sports just aren't as basic and as cheaply and easily played as soccer/football. I'm not sure why poeple want to argue the point either. I mean, if that's not the reason it's the most popular sport on Earth then what is? Some would say it's so popular because it's just a far superior sport than all others, but that's just pure fantasy talking.

Fact is, it being so cheap to join in and play has almost everything to do with it.

Europeans are too smart for NASCAR. They expect their race car drivers to know how to turn right and left.

totally agree

Formula 1, or Americas Cup yacht racing would be most expensive almost for sure.. They make those yachts out of freaking space age materials for 1 race, it's just spendy as hell.

Exactly, that's why you also find so many amazing players in places like South America or Africa

actually no, we wouldn't Jimmy. It's really boring.

Imagine the co-pilot conversations go something like this (I know there is only one guy driving btw Jimmy, no co-pilot this is hypothetical):

"Ok, Take a left.....now take another left, sharp left here, now take another left, and another left....and left here....now another left......ok this one's a left.....another left here.....now a right , NO NO NO, actually sorry thats a left....and so on."

Gee, wildly exciting. I see how you took Formula 1 and sucked the life out of it, and created Nascar!! good for you. I like how you did that.

Who are your all time favorite players?

My favorite players would be:

1) Diego Armando Maradona
2) Paul Gascoigne
3) Eric Cantona

Not exactly easy types to deal with but incredible players

Yeah, I prefer watching a fast, hard hitting action packed game. Watching soccer is like watching golf and not knowing any of the players.

Maradona before my time and only just remember the other 2 :1orglaugh:1orglaugh

1)Zinadine Zidane
the end ;)

Like baseball?

Maradona was expecting that delivery of blow that got held up in The Gambia. It was supposed to be his party supply during the World Cup...i guess he'll have to stick to eating babies instead.

Now to answer your question:

Cantona is up there for sure.
Pele you can't beat his skill and flair for the game.
Johann Cruyff
Platini
George Best
Rooney....going to prove it this world cup...

Now that's a list I can relate to.

Ain't old either but I remember Maradona as a kid and saw some documentaries about him

Zidane was incredible indeed - I remember him playing a UEFA cup finals against Bayern Munich with Bordeaux among with Christophe Dugarry before he left to Italy, of course he was a major force behind the late Juventus

From others I also always greatly enjoyed Gianlucca Vialli - that guy had a major drive

Hristo Stoichkov - incredible left foot and a killer scorer

George Hagi - also incredible left foot, that guy could kill with his power shot

Ronald Koeman - he could crack a bar from 35 meters, never understood that and the only guy who comes close to that would probably be Roberto Carlos

I am so glad I could watch those amazing guys playing the Champions league and in their national teams as a kid

Very true I watched some vintage documentaries - all incredible players and a major presence on the field, those were guys that were able to decide the whole match by themselves

Stuart Pierce had a left foot just like that. Was amazing to watch him thump the ball so hard it almost burst out the back of the net.

I remember "Psycho" Pierce taking that crucial penalty shot in a shoot out, was that against Germany in 1996 ?

yes he scored in 96 at the euros, along with Shearer Platt and Gascoine.

Pele - For obvious reasons
Best - Also for obvious reasons
Beckham - For his passion to play for his country


Maradona - Cheating bastard.

Oh, I never realized you liked soccer Allen, I thought you were a Leeds fan.

Chris.

The next time I travel to Toronto I will be sure to pay you a visit and remind you that you said that. Politely of course.:winkwink:

Too bad Diego Armando got caught with his metamphetamine hobby in WC US 1994, I was so looking forward to see him

:)

My dad is better than your dad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity...United_Kingdom Looks some countries big on soccer aren't the thinest of the thin either. :winkwink:

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

I look forward to your next visit :winkwink:

Have you ever DRIVEN in Europe? I'm highly doubtful they expect much of drivers.

Is there anything entirely specific about the 50+ States in Europe and the driving habits of their inhabitants, apart from shifting gears manually?

Boring..... Like most sports.

Well some of y'all drive on one side of the road, some drive on the other side of the road. Some of y'all don't care which side you drive on.

Very well

They are ranked #28 . US is in top 10 with some island nations like Tonga and Samoa where overweight = beautiful. Ever seen any Tongan kids? They drink sugar jelly with milk and grow to be 6 feet by age of 12.
http://www.forbes.com/2007/02/07/wor...orldfat_2.html

a lot of these arguments dont hold water.
fact is americans love to watch boring sports, but americans actually prefer the event to take all day (like a game of american football or baseball), so all they have to do is sit on the couch and drink lite beer (to keep them calories to a minimum, no need to pack on more than the usual few gut pounds)

fact is americans hate football (yes lets use the proper name) as it is not an american tradition to play football and the american sports TV broadcoast havent figured a good way to make money on broadcasting (there are no time outs for commercial breaks)

HAhahahahahaha

Anyway, can't stand American football, baseball or NASCAR. However i do like basketball.

But then again who really gives a shit about what a shit stain on an interweb forum thinks right.

:2 cents:

baseball is a lot more boring

stop playing soccer in elementary school and grow up and become douche bags and live vicariously through other athletes and team sports, or better yet become assholes and play golf and say it's a sport. wait. let's watch football or basketball where it's the same thing over and over. where the match is decided in the last 2 minutes of the game. just play 2 minute games because it's less agonizing. But we need football and basketball to keeping the stupid employed (handed out free scholarships and cant put a sentence together), where will all the druggies, rapists and criminals go? there's only so many McDonalds and Sizzlers to go around.

It is boring as fuck, but in one hour I go to my friends bar to watch France v Uruguay and I will be 3 quarters shit faced by the end of the match. These eurofags do generally use it as an opportunity to get blotto, Ill give them that. And if France wins the frogs I am with will get blackout drunk.

They gayest part of football, all the pretending to be hurt in order to draw penalties. You'll never see more grown men fall down on purpose and act like they just got their knees blown out than during any given soccer match. And these eurotrash eat that shit up. Esp if it works. If they manage to draw a penalty based on their drama class faggotry... oh the joy.

yup the sooner the referees stamp diving out of football is the day italy never wins another match.

Please leave NASCAR outta this :winkwink:

And Baseball. The endless statistic to keep the viewers occupied between a run being scored. A guy throws a ball another guy swings a bat, happens 4-5 times and then a guy walks. Waiting for a home run is about as exciting as watching paint dry.

Football can be nail biting without anyone scoring, near misses, great saves and defenders getting the better of attackers is better than a one sided game with 4-5 goals sometimes.