Basketball vs Soccer--rivalry poll...

I'm curious to get your response to this question...

I am not a hardcore soccer guy, but I am taping the USA-Mexico game. Wouldn't take the time to watch Duke-UNC. It is basically meaningless; both will be in the tournament no matter what.

I love soccer, but I rarely watch it except for the World Cup. And to your point 7587. Aren't US and Mexico both going to make the World Cup, so does this game really matter?

Well, Mexico did just slip out of its qualifying group on (I think) goal difference. You never can tell with World Cup qualifying; the pressure is so high it can get to a team. Every time around somebody somewhere that should have made it is left out.

Also, Duke and UNC always play at least twice a season, and they both play in the ACC, so that rivalry game is just one of many big games over the season. The US and Mexico are far and away the two superpowers of CONCACAF, so when they meet it is sort of to see who's best on the continent.

But as far as the general American public goes... I'd say the hoops game is a bit more relevant in that soccer, flat out, isn't as popular. The Mexican side of the battle for North America takes the rivalry a LOT more seriously than anyone up here (probably because it's really the only sport they are consistently competitive with the US in AND the fact that they haven't won up here in 8 years)
That said, I prefer soccer, but I just have to be realistic...

I don't see anything in how the question was phrased that restricts the audience to Americans.

If you want to ask which game will have better attendance at the game and in the total TV audience, the contest between National teams wins hands down.

Purplegeezer wrote:I don't see anything in how the question was phrased that restricts the audience to Americans.

If you want to ask which game will have better attendance at the game and in the total TV audience, the contest between National teams wins hands down.

Well by the nature that the stadiums for soccer are inherently bigger, of course attendance is going to be higher...

DaTruRochin wrote:

Purplegeezer wrote:I don't see anything in how the question was phrased that restricts the audience to Americans.

If you want to ask which game will have better attendance at the game and in the total TV audience, the contest between National teams wins hands down.

Well by the nature that the stadiums for soccer are inherently bigger, of course attendance is going to be higher...

And the TV audience? Remember, I'm talking TOTAL.

Oh ok FINE... Haha globally yes... But nationally... Not so much.

Globally, the big game tomorrow will be Argentina - France. Les Bleus against the AlbiCeleste. It'll draw more than the other two combined.

ESPN2 11:45AM - long lunch?

But another reason UNC- Duke won't be the top draw is that there are other basketball games around the country people would rather watch.

And who could turn away from the cage fighting?

In the Carolina region, UNC-Duke isn't even the biggest sporting event people will focus on this week. That would be the Daytona 500!

up7587 wrote:In the Carolina region, UNC-Duke isn't even the biggest sporting event people will focus on this week. That would be the Daytona 500!

Shudder.

DaTruRochin wrote:

up7587 wrote:In the Carolina region, UNC-Duke isn't even the biggest sporting event people will focus on this week. That would be the Daytona 500!

Shudder.

Boogity boogity boogity! Let's go racing, boys!

For my heart and eyes, the US. vs. Mexico is the bigger rivalry. I remember it feeling so heated when I was living in Mexico watching games that after one of Donovan's goals, I seriously thought about telling people I was a Canadian to prevent from having beer bottles thrown at my head.

UNC vs. Duke is regional like NY vs. Boston in baseball. Some of the country just isn't as vested in it. Daytona isn't really for me personally... Argentina vs. Brazil is much more of a rivalry than vs. France...but, you're right that will be a good game. I'm going to a potluck to watch the US vs. Mexico with some of my Spanish-speaking friends, and I guess the Chivas are also playing later in the evening too...

Anyway, it should be a nice day of sports...

Purplegeezer wrote:Globally, the big game tomorrow will be Argentina - France. Les Bleus against the AlbiCeleste. It'll draw more than the other two combined.

ESPN2 11:45AM - long lunch?

Now since it's a friendly, what kinds of teams will turn up? Will they have their first-choice players available, or, like England against Germany, will some of the top guys not be around?

DaTruRochin wrote:Oh ok FINE... Haha globally yes... But nationally... Not so much.

It never fails to amuse me how people forget about how many latinos watch tv in this country. I mean seriously, a lot of the 11 million+ latinos in California alone will be watching that game. That demographic has to shake up the ratings a little bit...

Now, you could say that the rivalry is one sided...until Mexican-Americans begin to lose the game and take of their top layer green jerseys to expose the U.S. national team jerseys underneath!!! (This has actually happened in games in the past...)

athleticjames wrote:It never fails to amuse me how people forget about how many latinos watch tv in this country. I mean seriously, a lot of the 11 million+ latinos in California alone will be watching that game. That demographic has to shake up the ratings a little bit...

I suppose I just flat out forget how many Latinos actually live in the US... I guess I don't spend much time in California, so that might have something to do with it...

PurplePrideTrumpet wrote:
Now since it's a friendly, what kinds of teams will turn up? Will they have their first-choice players available, or, like England against Germany, will some of the top guys not be around?

Both teams are fielding their "A" squads, that is, they have recalled pretty much their World cup teams.

for France:


Goalkeepers
23 Grégory COUPET Olympique Lyonnais
1 Mickaël LANDREAU Paris SG

Defenders
3 Eric ABIDAL Olympique Lyonnais
13 François CLERC Olympique Lyonnais
21 Julien ESCUDE F.C. Seville
2 Patrice EVRA Manchester United
17 Gaël GIVET A.S. Monaco
5 Philippe MEXES AS Rome
19 Willy SAGNOL Bayern Münich
18 Sébastien SQUILLACI Olympique Lyonnais
15 Lilian THURAM FC Barcelone

Midfielders
6 Claude MAKELELE Chelsea F. C.
14 Rio Antonio MAVUBA Girondins de Bordeaux
8 Jérémy TOULALAN Olympique Lyonnais
4 Patrick VIEIRA Inter Milan

Attaquants
39 Nicolas ANELKA Bolton Wanderers
10 Djibril CISSE Olympique de Marseille
9 Sidney GOVOU Olympique Lyonnais
12 Thierry HENRY Arsenal F.C.
7 Florent MALOUDA Olympique Lyonnais
22 Franck RIBERY Olympique de Marseille
20 David TREZEGUET Juventus Turin


I'm not sure the starting order, but all the big guns are listed.

and for Argentina, a possible 11:

-------------Carrizo/Romero
-Zanetti--Demichellis--Heinze--Papa
---Maxi--Mascherano--Gago--Jonas
-------------Messi-----Agüero


they are missing a couple of guys due to injuries (Verón , Crespo) but Tevez, Cambiasso, DiMaria,Lavessi, will be available to sub in, as will Riquelme.

Which is a combination of their World Cup and Olympic rosters. Oh yeah - you'll get to see Maradona at the Dir. Técnico. He says they will attack, and he's looking for players who can play their patented possession passing game.


Neither team is holding back, and France's national pride is stinging a bit because Argentina just put a whoopin' on them in the Rugby World Cup.

Twice beat them in the cup on France's turf, the opening game, and destroyed them in the third place match.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhY6s0oobwc&feature=related

Frenchies are not gonna be happy about the cheap shot on Chabal, or the whoopin they received on the scoreboard.

Argentina is up on France 1-0 at the half. France had a bit better of play for large sections of the half, Then Argentina countered with Aguero who won the ball in the attacking box, got the ball to Guterrez, who took a sidestep and beat the keeper from about 15 yards.

Good game to be watching.

Very good game indeed... But from what I can see France is still looking for that playmaker to dominate and create in the mid the way Zidane used to (albeit Zidane was arguably the greatest player of his generation), and the team still expects the finishing and dominance of Henry circa 7 years ago (haha hell, even 3 years ago...) They just kind of lack an identity right now...

The second Argentina goal was classic. Tevez got the ball off a French corner and did a great job taking the ball upfield and fighting off players. He got the ball to Messi who took it to the top of the box and did what he does. Two great players connecting.

I agree France is struggling figuring out what it wants to do. Ribery was the only real threat. Man, I'd like to have him on my side.

Argentina clearly isn't at the top of its game either. Their young guys haven't really established themselves. Their vets kept them in the game, though.

Good game

In other action, Brasil pummeled Italy 2-0. It was all Robinho.

Basketball-Direct-TV: MesaPilot1 is addicted....I don't know which team to cheer for, I dislike Paulus from Duke but always cheer when any ACC team beats up on Duke or North Carolina.

Soccer-Looks interesting, glad I DVR'd


Nascar-My dad tortures me for 9 month's of the year with it at his house. But I will have to say Daytona is the one to watch

Purplegeezer wrote:The second Argentina goal was classic. Tevez got the ball off a French corner and did a great job taking the ball upfield and fighting off players. He got the ball to Messi who took it to the top of the box and did what he does. Two great players connecting.

That goal was absolutely sublime.... It went from a French corner to an Argentine goal in 10 seconds, it looked more like a 2 man track relay than a soccer game; it's hard to believe (and scary) that Messi is only 21....

DaTruRochin wrote:
That goal was absolutely sublime.... It went from a French corner to an Argentine goal in 10 seconds, it looked more like a 2 man track relay than a soccer game; it's hard to believe (and scary) that Messi is only 21....

And Tevez is 25. His birthday was a couple days ago