That was awesome. Lucky, but awesome.I came here after Tim Howard scored a goal for everton!
GOLAZOOOOOOOOO!!!
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Apple Interested in Bidding for English Premier League Streaming Rights?
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So I read this ENTIRE thread and there were several anti-American football quotes similar to this.
What is with you Brits? Are you that upset that us Americans (who are d*mn proud to be independent and enjoy our own hobbies/sports) do not care about SOCCER?
You have every right to enjoy your football just as we enjoy ours. It seems you Europeans (ESP those from the UK) must have a chip on your shoulder that we don't watch your sport or your precious PL. I am a huge sports fan, know many sports fans, and NONE of us watch soccer at all.
I think the fact that there are 3 (almost co-major) sports here in the US make this more obvious. Example: EPL made an estimated 15.7 bil Euro in 2008-2009 or about $20 billion dollars. The NFL made $9 billion dollars. The NBA made $3.8 billion. MLB made $6.6 billion. You do the math.
The Americans in this thread have been respectful of you, please be respectful of our sport.
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Um, I've seen just as many anti-soccer posts as anti-(American) football. Probably more, and a lot more disrespectful (how many have posted it's boring or doesn't count as a real sport?). He's just posting a fact - EPL has a bigger audience than any American sport. AND an international audience, which would be a major incentive to an international company...like APPLE. Thus, it does make some business sense for Apple to go after it. That kind of fan base would give Apple a VERY convincing argument for other content providers to work a deal with them.
BTW, I'm American and I LOVE soccer. And so do at least a dozen of my friends. I'm not insulted when people don't get the game. I could care less. *I* love it and enough friends of mine love that I don't care if anyone does. Why would you get so offended when someone doesn't love YOUR sport? It's a good thing you don't care for soccer - you wouldn't last 5 minutes in the stands if you're that easily offended.
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Hah! I saw the headline and my immediate reaction was the same.
Seriously, I would love to see Apple buy the Oakland A's and find a way to keep the team in Oakland. (Sorry, I know I'm way off-topic now.)
Actually, try going to the black hole in Oakland, CA to see the Raiders wearing anything but silver and black (I'm a 49er fan, across the bay rivals). I think I'll be fine.
Obviously the viewership is larger. The US has only 300 million people vs. a 7 billion planet. I think its a testament to how successful/profitable our sports our with such a small fan base (at least compared to the world).
I'm actually not that offended, I just like to check Britons on their crap re: this subject. Ugly things have been said on both sides, sure, but Americans aren't acting like our sport is God's gift to the world, feeling the need to explain (albeit in a very rhetorical setting) how the PL is *the* premier soccer league in the world.
Maybe I just don't get British humor, but maybe they don't get Americans either.EDIT: flux--where you from? I find that most football/Soccer fans either played the sport themselves or on one of the coasts (which tend to have a larger multiethnic community). Just curious.
I'm in Portland, OR (self-proclaimed Soccer City USA). And yes, I play soccer and I met a lot of my friends playing soccer, so my sampling is biased. But then again, it's not hard to find soccer fanatics here. The recreational leagues fill up quickly.Actually, try going to the black hole in Oakland, CA to see the Raiders wearing anything but silver and black (I'm a 49er fan, across the bay rivals). I think I'll be fine.
Obviously the viewership is larger. The US has only 300 million people vs. a 7 billion planet. I think its a testament to how successful/profitable our sports our with such a small fan base (at least compared to the world).
I'm actually not that offended, I just like to check Britons on their crap re: this subject. Ugly things have been said on both sides, sure, but Americans aren't acting like our sport is God's gift to the world, feeling the need to explain (albeit in a very rhetorical setting) how the PL is *the* premier soccer league in the world.
EDIT: flux--where you from? I find that most football/Soccer fans either played the sport themselves or on one of the coasts (which tend to have a larger multiethnic community). Just curious.
People who love one sport will always bash another sport they DON'T watch. I also happen to love basketball. I bash baseball all the time (how many other professional sports do you see fat people?
). I'm neutral about American football (I watch the Beavers, the Ducks, and the Superbowl, and that's about it). I don't think it's really about what country you're from except that culturally some sports are favored over others (e.g. Canadians and hockey). So I say, bash away. Esp baseball. According to good old Wiki -
Promoted as "The Greatest Show On Earth",[59] the Premier League is the world's most watched sporting league,[60] being broadcast to over 600 million people in over 200 countries worldwide,[61]...
So what you are basically saying is the biggest sporting customer base in the world isn't big enough, and they should target smaller audiences. Agreed. Makes total sense.
Either way I think the entire conversation is a little pointless until we hear it from a source more reliable than the daily mail.
we have rugby and cricket too and many of your countrymen have not been respectful
I think you and I have been reading a different thread
The criticism of both sports has been fairly even on both sides.Funny when you have a bias it colours your view doesn't it?
And a further number of such posts – from both sides of the divide – were deleted by the Mods yesterday. There's really no need for such silliness from anyone, so let's keep things civil.I think you and I have been reading a different thread
Meanwhile, the Guardian reckons Apple isn't going to be bidding for any of the rights.
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Did you hear the chant from the Newcastle fans?
"Coleen is a slapper, she wears a wonder bra... and when she's sh*gging Rooney, she thinks of Demba Ba!"
You clearly got here after Olly's clean up. The anti-NFL posts only began when some (expected and stereotypical) anti-football (Soccer :roll eyes
comments can in from the American users. A lot of Americans mock "soccer" because, in your mind (and in the mind of an American, your opinion is law), it's a girls sport. It's embarrassing the way America just decided, perhaps out of feeling threatened by "soccer", that it should be demoted to a girls sport in high schools. You need to learn to look outside your own borders and stop being such a yokel, because the American perception of something is not the be all and end all, or an opinion which the world should just sit back and accept.A lot of Brits, myself included, enjoy the NFL. I prefer Rugby Union (some Brits will mock me for that also, because there's a healthy rivalry between Union and League), but I will happily jump on the defensive when any American dares to label "soccer" a "wuss sport" or "boring" simply because there can be, in some instances albeit rare at the top level, nil-nil draws. I personally find NFL tedious at times, because the amount of stop/start breaks in a game which should only last 60 minutes but can take hours, is monotonous. I still enjoy the spectacle, it's the kind of show that only America could put on, and I mean that as a compliment, but the breaks and time it takes to complete a 60 minute match can grate.
The anti-NFL comments, some of which were in jest and sarcasm (especially those from myself), were in retaliation to some utterly arrogant, self opinionated, down talking, American views on what is THE most popular sport in the world. I think a lot of Americans would be shocked, utterly shocked, at the atmosphere inside the stadiums at some of the worlds biggest derby matches. I can state, with fact, that there is not an NFL ground in the USA that could generate the atmosphere found inside the likes of the Bernabeu or Nou Camp during a Classico or at Ibrox or Celtic Park during an Old Firm derby.
All us Brits are asking for is a little respect, not mockery ... and we will return the compliment.
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Ok, I'm outing myself now: I'm part of the minority of 5.4 bn people who are not watching PL. I only watch the few games every four years during world cup when German team is involved.
And I agree with you: let's wait what Apple cooks up
I used be one of those anti-soccer, hating, mocking Americans...that was until a few years ago...
I'll never played soccer, but my son does...I started watching his games and want to know more about the game...
Actually watched a few games and feel in love with the sport...I now watch more EPL games than any other sports combined...
Don't get me wrong, I still love my American Football...and my #1 team will always be the Chicago Bears...but Chelsea has become a very close second...
Interesting move by Apple...I already get the Fox Soccer channel, so personally, I am already satisfied with my access to games...I just hope whatever Apple does doesn't screw up the access I already have...
I'll never played soccer, but my son does...I started watching his games and want to know more about the game...
Actually watched a few games and feel in love with the sport...I now watch more EPL games than any other sports combined...
Don't get me wrong, I still love my American Football...and my #1 team will always be the Chicago Bears...but Chelsea has become a very close second...
Interesting move by Apple...I already get the Fox Soccer channel, so personally, I am already satisfied with my access to games...I just hope whatever Apple does doesn't screw up the access I already have...
This would be ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
I would pay $10/month to see every Saints game next season - as they will be back in the top flight then
ha ha, you sure?
I think you and I have been reading a different thread
Funny when you have a bias it colours your view doesn't it?
Show me a post where there was bashing the sport? Talking about it being "boring" is not talking about the sport. Calling the players "steroid junkies" or whatever is bashing the sport and players.
My brother is a football (American) coach. He works over 12 hours a day. Those players work their butts off and all are in tip top shape. Do not talk about something you know NOTHING about. The reason why pads are worn is that this is a sport where players of different physical strengths and weaknesses play together as a team with different roles. Believe me, rugby would be illegal if you were allowed to have 6'7 300 lb guys who can run a 40 yard dash in 4.3 seconds (sorry for not using metrics
)I respect soccer/football and its draw around the world. I simply want those of you who love it to realize many in America do not, and anytime you criticize that there are going to be people to argue the subject.
On that note, go Apple
Also
"Colleen is a slapper she wears a wonder bra, and when she's sh*gging Rooney she thinks of Demba Ba.. Imogen is welsh she likes a large martini, and when she's sh*gging giggsy she thinks of Colloccini but when Demba Ba is not enough and colleens feelin' naughty she just lies back then shuts her eyes and thinks of Cheick Tiote!"
Also
"Colleen is a slapper she wears a wonder bra, and when she's sh*gging Rooney she thinks of Demba Ba.. Imogen is welsh she likes a large martini, and when she's sh*gging giggsy she thinks of Colloccini but when Demba Ba is not enough and colleens feelin' naughty she just lies back then shuts her eyes and thinks of Cheick Tiote!"
That is ******** SUPERB! LMAO.
Now this is what I am talking about. Maybe you guys don't even realize that you're doing it but you are insulting the NFL with this here is a list of the largest stadiums in the WORLD by capacity:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_stadiums_by_capacity
8 of the top 10 are in the US. Most of the rest are also American. The UK has the 20th largest stadium.
Now I have never made it "across the pond," to watch a soccer game but have seen many football games. Many with over 100,000 people in attendance (Ohio St vs. Michigan college football; over a 100 year rivalry) and it was loud as heck. I don't make statements about the "loud factor," of something I know nothing about. Why can't you just say "it's loud" or its "exciting," vs. saying that you can state with fact that it is louder than a football (American) when you cannot. By shear number of people who can attend, this is highly suspect.
Now if you mean by passion, that is *possible* as I consider myself a die-hard San Francisco Giants fan (baseball) and Sacramento Kings (unfortunately) fan (basketball) my passion tends to abate (temporarily) after the season, and especially when the baseball playoffs heat up in October and basketball in June (at least when the Kings were good!)
There is no comparison - from personal experience I am quite comfortable asserting that not one NFL stadium/fanbase can compete with the major Euro/SA stadium/fanbase for atmosphere.
It's not even close, to be honest.
But I'm not sure what direct bearing this has on Apple...
It's not even close, to be honest.
But I'm not sure what direct bearing this has on Apple...
Why did you respond then?
Which stadiums have you gone to? Which setting (playoffs, bowl game, rivalry game)? The fact that you can "comfortably assert" without actually being able to do so (neither of us could by the way) proves my point.
On the Euro football side, darby games at ManU and Chelsea and Tottenham, numerous Champions League games in Spain and Italy (in the visitors section), for starters. Euro qualifying, World Cup qualifying, World Cup finals, domestic leagues, domestic cups in several countries - too long a list to cover in detail.
On the American side football side, everything from a couple of Super Bowls, a couple of wildcard playoffs on down to "generic" MNFs. Tossing in colleges, rivalry games at various ACC, SEC and whatever conference U of Miami was in during the glory years. Also ACC basketball at pretty much all the away locations (I'm a Ramblin' Wreck alum), but never mind that, as we're only talking "football".
College football comes closest in terms of sheer scale - eg a Vols game at Neyland or (back in the day) or a Canes-Seminoles game in Tallahasee is an awesome spectacle. But it's still outdone by top flight Euro football, IMNSHO.
Including all sports, the closest I've experienced in North America to what routinely happens in Europe was at hockey games. Especially in Montreal, and during the recent Olympics.