2015 Women's World Cup thread

[The Batlord]

It's an open secret in American football that a lot of the players, especially the 300 lb+ guys, are dying in their forties and fifties, because the stress they put themselves through is so extreme that it just destroys their bodies and ruins their hearts. These are people who are basically performing at the scientific extremes of what the human body is capable of: from physical exertion, to the impacts of such massive people colliding, over and over again, at full speed.

Heavy NFL players twice as likely to die before 50

[Trollheart]

It's true I know ****-all about AF: didn't mean to offend anyone by putting it down. It just seemed odd that soccer was seen as a safer sport, when I would have gone for golf or maybe tennis. Anyway, God Bless America!

[Plankton]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

It's true I know ****-all about AF: didn't mean to offend anyone by putting it down. It just seemed odd that soccer was seen as a safer sport, when I would have gone for golf or maybe tennis. Anyway, God Bless America!

The main difference between the two would be that Soccer, or European Football, is more of a stamina, or endurance sport, and contact is fairly minimal such as in say, a baseball game where contact is incidental. AF is more about short bursts of power, and is a full contact sport where the contact is extreme, and constant. I've played both, and while I wasn't really good at soccer, it was still exhausting, but I excelled at AF, although I was constantly injured and had to quit while I was in H.S. due to a dislocated shoulder that put me out for the season, and I never really went back to it.

[RoxyRollah]

Umm Im gonna go with alot for 100.00 please Alex.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by RoxyRollah

Umm Im gonna go with alot for 100.00 please Alex.

?

Good summary Plankton.

Is anyone gonna watch the US tonight then ? It's 1:00am UK time.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Plankton

The main difference between the two would be that Soccer, or European Football, is more of a stamina, or endurance sport, and contact is fairly minimal such as in say, a baseball game where contact is incidental. AF is more about short bursts of power, and is a full contact sport where the contact is extreme, and constant. I've played both, and while I wasn't really good at soccer, it was still exhausting, but I excelled at AF, although I was constantly injured and had to quit while I was in H.S. due to a dislocated shoulder that put me out for the season, and I never really went back to it.

I bet that guitar slung over your shoulder got in the way too. That thing you had of playing a scorching solo every time you scored!

[Plankton]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I bet that guitar slung over your shoulder got in the way too. That thing you had of playing a scorching solo every time you scored!

Actually, I picked up a guitar when I put the football down. Very similar to Joe Satriani's story, except my main influence was Randy Rhodes, instead of Jimi.

Originally Posted by from Joe Satriani's wiki page

He was inspired to play guitar at age 14, after hearing of the death of Jimi Hendrix. He has been said to have heard the news during football practice, where he then announced to his coach that he was quitting to become a guitarist.

I think it's kind of neat, but I tend to stay away from the comparison, I'm not even in the same league of that caliber of playing. Plus, he practices more.

[Ninetales]

actually this world cup is in my home town. not going to go to a game cuz its expensive as hell but ive watched both Canada matches so far. its actually got pretty hyped here. soccer is fairly popular here in general, weve got an indoor "mini world cup" that happens every 4(?) years and soccer centres turn into madhouses. its loads of fun. can imagine going to a womens world cup game would just be a reason for me to get loaded as well.

in terms of it being safe or whatever why not just have the middle ground and watch hockey?? you got the speed and the danger

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Ninetales

actually this world cup is in my home town. not going to go to a game cuz its expensive as hell but ive watched both Canada matches so far. its actually got pretty hyped here. soccer is fairly popular here in general, weve got an indoor "mini world cup" that happens every 4(?) years and soccer centres turn into madhouses. its loads of fun. can imagine going to a womens world cup game would just be a reason for me to get loaded as well.

in terms of it being safe or whatever why not just have the middle ground and watch hockey?? you got the speed and the danger

How much?

[Thom Yorke]

Originally Posted by Ninetales

actually this world cup is in my home town. not going to go to a game cuz its expensive as hell but ive watched both Canada matches so far. its actually got pretty hyped here. soccer is fairly popular here in general, weve got an indoor "mini world cup" that happens every 4(?) years and soccer centres turn into madhouses. its loads of fun. can imagine going to a womens world cup game would just be a reason for me to get loaded as well.

in terms of it being safe or whatever why not just have the middle ground and watch hockey?? you got the speed and the danger

Yeah, the hype is actually pretty decent here. The coverage is pretty considerable for this World Cup. I wouldn't say soccer is very popular in Canada in general. Maybe it is at the grassroots level (with the relative cost to play, where is it not, really?), but it doesn't seem very popular at the pro level. The coverage is pretty considerable for this World Cup.

Women's soccer vs. men's soccer is Canada is a pretty interesting comparison. I don't have any numbers to back it up, but it seems like there's more awareness of the women's national team vs. either the men's national team or Canadian MLS teams, even before the World Cup. Christine Sinclair is probably the most famous/recognizable soccer player in Canada (for either Canadian soccer players or players currently playing in Canada) to either passing fans of the sport, or people who don't really care about the sport but will occasionally keep up with what's going on. The Olympics did so much to put it on the map.