Those freaking flying flags

RB · June 17, 2006

World Cup Soccer 2006

I mean I watch the games wherever I can, and also observed the folks in their display of pride and beating of the chest sentiments of their home country.

Is it simply that folks have gone football frenzy?

I just don't get the public assertion and ownership of someplace else, almost as if folks are just plain defiant and rebellious. I didn't see any American flag flying come to think of it.

Is this the root cause of our problems of being proud Canadians. That people still believe they belong to some place else.

August1991 · June 17, 2006

I just don't get the public assertion and ownership of someplace else, almost as if folks are just plain defiant and rebellious. I didn't see any American flag flying come to think of it.

In Montreal today, I saw a guy driving with a German flag on one side of his car and an Italian flag on the other. Maybe he was Swiss.

geoffrey · June 17, 2006

If I cheered for the Edmonton Oilers, would I be any less Calgarian?

I'm not cheering for France because I am from a French background (though it contributes), I just know les bleus are the most talented team out there.

If Canada was at the world cup, I'd be behind them, but they are not.

BHS · June 18, 2006

My two cents: the flags flown during World Cup shouldn't be taken as symbols of national identity, but rather as symbols of competing sports franchises. That's how they appear to be treated, at least to me. In that sense, the flying of these flags is less than offensive, because it reduces other nations to nothing more than empty vessels for pointless group identity boosterism, akin to wearing an AI jersey at the Y to goad your Raptor-loving buddies. Which is more pathetic for those countries than it is problematic as regards our own uncongealed-national-identity issues.

If you really want to get pissy, why not take issue with those little oval Euro bumper stickers? Nothing says, "I'd rather be in Luxembourg than this stupid, culturally backward, quasi-American wasteland" better than LUX on the back of your car.

RB · June 20, 2006

those flags will hurt someone for sure

I mean how are folks able to control so many flags on their vehicle to start

One fellow was literally poking his head and hands though the car window and high flying a flag that mostly covered the car - it is dangerous

moderateamericain · June 20, 2006

I love when americans do it were annoyingly patriotic; but when other countiries do it there just supporting there sports franchise

Oddman · June 20, 2006

I love when americans do it were annoyingly patriotic; but when other countiries do it there just supporting there sports franchise

That's the price you pay for being the world's empire...nobody outside the empire wants to see your flag...i think it just comes with th territory...Like it or not, America has a rep of being arrogant and self centered. Sort of like the French have a rep for sitting on the fence, the Japanese have a rep for being overly polite...and so on...

Shady · June 20, 2006

Sort of like the French have a rep for sitting on the fence

Wrong. I believe the French have a reputation of surrendering, not fence sitting. That's the Swiss.

geoffrey · June 23, 2006

Sort of like the French have a rep for sitting on the fence
Wrong. I believe the French have a reputation of surrendering, not fence sitting. That's the Swiss.

Hush you, when's the last time your team has won a world cup? (you better not be a Brazil supporter...)

They also gave us democracy and created a much better justice system then the one in non-Quebec Canada.

RB · June 26, 2006

well, all weekend I was very clued in with my games.

First rounds I was crossing my fingers for the US team

But, now I am backing England, they won today over Ecuador, Beckham scoring their only goal. I mean truly you could see besides being the captain that he was a motivation for the players, they did a lot better when he was out in the field.

(well, truly I was surprised to see the ethnic representation from Ecuador, I was expecting sort of more Amerindians kind of folks) and so I wondered about their history

I watched Netherlands and Portugal playing with spite, lots of yellow and red cards and badly behaved boys

Anyway if England loses to Portugal - I am a Brazilian fan

Toro · June 26, 2006

Canadians are much more patriotic flag-wavers than Canadians realize.

Charles Anthony · June 26, 2006

Is it simply that folks have gone football frenzy?

I do not even understand how people can enjoy watching soccer --- sorry, I mean, football. It is boring!

The intentions of a person displaying a foreign flag or sticker may be arrogance such as ("My home country is better than Canada!") or it may simply be pride of their heritage. Personally, I am more patriotic to my hometown NHL hockey team than to Canada. Patriotism does not have to be (and I think that it rarely is) rational. I HATE seeing other hockey jerseys in MY city! I HATE people in my city cheering for the visiting team! I HATE them!!!!!!! Get out of my town! is all that I can think.

However, if I moved from my city to permanently reside in a different NHL city, would I change allegiances??? I would be reluctant.

Hockey is the only way that I can relate to seeing national flags and bumper stickers.

Shady · June 26, 2006

I really wish England had Owen healthy. I think they could win it all. But, without him, it's going to be tough to compete with teams like Brazil.

I can relate to people who think soccer (football) is boring. Sometimes it can be very tedious to watch. However, the more you know about the game, and especially the players, the more you get out of it.

Black Dog · June 26, 2006

I do not even understand how people can enjoy watching soccer --- sorry, I mean, football. It is boring!

I'd hardly call 90 minutes of uninterrupted action "boring" especially when contrasted with the tedium of North American sports like baseball, footbal (more accurately called "throwball") and basketball (which take sthe North American obsession with scoring to a ridiculous extreme). The only sport that can come close to proper football is hockey, but soccer's purity (no equipment or acoutrements, just a man and a ball) make it the superior game.

As for the Cup, you gotta like Germany. Brazil hasn't looked good, but could take it up a notch. Argentina has looked strong as well. England, as usual, is primed for a fall.

Argus · June 27, 2006

If I cheered for the Edmonton Oilers, would I be any less Calgarian?

Well, according to a Calgarian I know, that's a big YES!

RB · June 27, 2006

way to go Brazil 2:0 @ 67 minutes second half

Shady · June 27, 2006

I'd hardly call 90 minutes of uninterrupted action "boring" especially when contrasted with the tedium of North American sports like baseball, footbal (more accurately called "throwball") and basketball (which take sthe North American obsession with scoring to a ridiculous extreme). The only sport that can come close to proper football is hockey, but soccer's purity (no equipment or acoutrements, just a man and a ball) make it the superior game.
As for the Cup, you gotta like Germany. Brazil hasn't looked good, but could take it up a notch. Argentina has looked strong as well. England, as usual, is primed for a fall.

Ok, time to interject some reality. Like I've stated, I don't mind watching soccer once in a while. It can be very entertaining. However, to refer to it as "90 minutes of uninterrupted action" is a little disingenuous. Sometimes it can be more boring the watching paint dry. To sum up Black Dog's view, Soccer = good, American sports = bad. Why am I not suprised? :lol:

soccer's purity (no equipment or acoutrements, just a man and a ball) make it the superior game.

Soccer's lack of equipment make it a suprerior game? Just a man and a ball? Wow, that's dramatic. :lol:

BFD. The same could be said for basketball. When it comes to entertaining sports, I'd watch the same NFL game, or the same NHL game, or the same NBA game three times in a row, before your average soccer game. Hell, even the same MLB game if it's playoffs. Just my opinion.

Black Dog · June 27, 2006

Ok, time to interject some reality. Like I've stated, I don't mind watching soccer once in a while. It can be very entertaining. However, to refer to it as "90 minutes of uninterrupted action" is a little disingenuous. Sometimes it can be more boring the watching paint dry. To sum up Black Dog's view, Soccer = good, American sports = bad. Why am I not suprised?

It's not disingenous. Barring injuries and fouls, play proceeds virtually uniterrupted for the full 90 minutes. Contrast that with say, baseball or football where you'r lucky to get 90 seconds of action at a stretch over three hours.

Soccer's lack of equipment make it a suprerior game? Just a man and a ball? Wow, that's dramatic. BFD. The same could be said for basketball. When it comes to entertaining sports, I'd watch the same NFL game, or the same NHL game, or the same NBA game three times in a row, before your average soccer game. Hell, even the same MLB game if it's playoffs. Just my opinion.

Basketball does not require the degree of skill or athleticism that soccer does. In basketball, you can be a 7 foot tall, 300 pound freak with no grasp of the game's fundamentals and be an MVP (what's up Shaq?).

As for the rest well, I guess your entitled to your opinion, but I always wonder why no discussion of soccer can ever occur without some jokers coming along and putting in his two cents about how boring the game is, blah blah blah. 'Cause, you know, that's really original. Oh well, more the fool am I for taking the bait.

Live From China · June 27, 2006

I think the fact that soccer requires very little equipment is what makes it so appealing to people worldwide. Even a poor child can play soccer. (I guess in the US and Canada that may not be true: kids seem to need to have the latest and the best, and if you are a dreaded soccer mom, you need that expensive SUV). In reality, all you need is a ball or something that resembles a ball. I have even seen children playing football in bare feet. I guess you do need a field but of course it doesn't have to be a regulation pitch. An open space will do.

I used to joke that volleyball and basketball were for people who were afraid to go outside.

RB · June 30, 2006

I do not even understand how people can enjoy watching soccer --- sorry, I mean, football. It is boring!

As for the Cup, you gotta like Germany. Brazil hasn't looked good, but could take it up a notch. Argentina has looked strong as well. England, as usual, is primed for a fall.

nope, looks like germany is going to lose @ 58 mins germany:argentina 0:1

Liam · June 30, 2006

tied up 1:1

Black Dog · June 30, 2006

And Germany advances. Sorry RB.

RB · June 30, 2006

And Germany advances. Sorry RB.

yep, I saw that on the news about 5pm, anyway I am going to look forward for the England:Brazil game

theloniusfleabag · July 1, 2006

Looks like Germany and Italy won...

my prediction:

Germany and Italy team up together and crush France.

Then they take on England, but the Americans come to help.

Italy will turn on Germany about halfway through.

And somebody better keep an eye on the Japanese.

BHS · July 1, 2006

It's not disingenous. Barring injuries and fouls, play proceeds virtually uniterrupted for the full 90 minutes. Contrast that with say, baseball or football where you'r lucky to get 90 seconds of action at a stretch over three hours.
*snip*

Basketball does not require the degree of skill or athleticism that soccer does. In basketball, you can be a 7 foot tall, 300 pound freak with no grasp of the game's fundamentals and be an MVP (what's up Shaq?).

As for the rest well, I guess your entitled to your opinion, but I always wonder why no discussion of soccer can ever occur without some jokers coming along and putting in his two cents about how boring the game is, blah blah blah. 'Cause, you know, that's really original. Oh well, more the fool am I for taking the bait.

I don't even know why I'm doing this. Oh yeah, it's because I'm a argumentative bastard.

1) Describing a soccer match as 90 minutes of virtually uninterrupted action ignores that fact that 95% of that "action" is a bunch of guys standing around watching two or three guys kick the ball back and forth amongst themselves in the midfield. Whoopee.

2) While I agree that physical abnormality is almost a prerequisite for all of North America's most popular sports, I take exception to your second point on the grounds that you appear to be saying that soccer players are on average more skillful and athletic than basketball players. See my point number 1 and contrast it to the fact that basketball requires a high degree of manual dexterity, accuracy and physical endurance from most of it's players. You are correct that some freaks of nature have an such advantage that they are able to play without meeting the general standards required of the less freakish, but that doesn't equate to some sort of general comparison between the sports wherein soccer players are somehow more skillful or atheletic in the mean.