Lawyers Get A Head Start On The World Cup

from the and-they're-off dept

Mon, Jun 5th 2006 8:15am — Carlo Longino

The World Cup starts on Friday, and while the athletes are preparing, overzealous lawyers have already begun playing. In addition to the ridiculous trademarks they attempt to secure, they're also looking to "protect" media rights -- by sending pre-emptive nastygrams to random sites warning them that they're being monitored in case they do anything out of line. You've got to wonder how much these lawyers are billing their clients for this pointless activity, and how much time they'll waste keeping an eye on sites that would never do anything to infringe on their clients' rights anyway. Of course, it's not the first time the law firm in question has engaged in some internet stupidity. One of its partners, who apparently specializes in "computer law and electronic commerce", was made a laughing stock of London's legal and financial circles last summer after an embarassing email that he sent to a secretary got spread around. The bigger point, though, is that these stupidly targeted letters won't do anything to help protect the closed business model of the company that controls the rights. All it's done is inflate their legal bill.

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46 Comments

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Bob, 5 Jun 2006 @ 8:46am

Nobody wants to watch a sport that if you're lucky you see 2 scores in 90 mnutes.
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Carl, 5 Jun 2006 @ 8:47am

I agree Bob, I dont think Ive ever heard anyone talk about the World Cup. IF this were about the Super Bowl it might be interesting since people actually watch that.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jun 2006 @ 8:52am

Re:
Carl...you are really showing your ignorance here... The World Cup is the most watched sporting event in the world...
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Nate, 5 Jun 2006 @ 8:54am

Look global guys. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, just not here in the States.
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Chris, 5 Jun 2006 @ 8:54am

Bob and Carl...you guys are both tools...soccer is one of/if not the most watched sport in the world!!
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jun 2006 @ 8:55am

And NASCAR is the most popular sport in the US. Consequently, I am training to be a NASCAR coach. Please indulge my practice session: LEFT! LEFT! LEFT! LEFT!

How'd I do?
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Wolfger, 5 Jun 2006 @ 8:59am

pathetic amounts of USA-centrism
First off, who cares if Americans watch or not? Outside of our country, the World Cup is *the* sporting event. Not even the Superbowl comes close to the viewership the World Cup gets.

Secondly, who the hell are we to talk about boring? We've got baseball, a golf-only cable channel, televised bass fishing, televised bowling, and we even put poker on ESPN. I'll watch the world cup long before any of those other uber-boring sports.
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mark, 5 Jun 2006 @ 9:04am

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5655244

super bowl:
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mark, 5 Jun 2006 @ 9:06am

oops
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5655244

super bowl: less than 100 million viewers
world cup finals: 1.1 billion viewers

yea, who watches the world cup?
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dan, 5 Jun 2006 @ 9:15am

well said, Wolfger. i'd like to buy you a beer.
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Bob, 5 Jun 2006 @ 9:20am

Well if they want us to watch it in America they need to put it on a major network at a decent time intstead of ESPN2 at 3 AM on a wednesday. Im sorry I dont mean to be mean but I just cant see how it can be exciting to watch a sport where there is usually less than 3 scores in an entire game.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jun 2006 @ 9:23am

Baseball isn't even a sport, its more of an activity, sorta like golf. Soccer is atleast thankfully a sport.
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Soccer Fan, 5 Jun 2006 @ 9:31am

Re:
Bob, they air it at 3 AM because of a 6 - 9 hour time difference (depending on which US time zone you are in). And airing it a t 3 AM is not a big deal... as long as you have a VCR, DVR, TiVo, etc...

I am a Belgian immigrant (don't worry, I'm a legal alien) and soccer is THE sport out there... and I guess it's still in my blood. Back in 2002, I stayed up until 2 AM or 3 AM to watch the matches. Soccer is growing in the US, and sooner or later, it will be a pretty popular sport out here too not like Nascar (TURN LEFT!!!), Baseball or football here, but popular enough to have a true American Soccer League and have it televised more often...
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Stop being a tool, 5 Jun 2006 @ 9:33am

Re: Stop it right this second
Cmon now Bob, there is such thing as time zone, and it could be that thematch you were watching was televised from another timezone. Give it a chance maybe you'll like it.
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Jack Sombra, 5 Jun 2006 @ 9:36am

World cup, where
World Cup: A Sports event the whole world participates/competes in.

A shocking concept for americans used to the word "world" in a sporting event meaning all (and only) American states can participate.

As to why the first two posters bearly hear about the world cup, simple, USA knows it has no chance of winning, unlike their other tournaments where "USA" can always win....because it (and sometimes canada) are the only participants
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ijakings, 5 Jun 2006 @ 9:52am

Cricket
Cricket > All

Dont even try to argue, i win.
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ijakings, 5 Jun 2006 @ 9:52am

Cricket
Cricket > All

Dont even try to argue, i win.
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nunya_bidness, 5 Jun 2006 @ 9:56am

Lawyers
Wasn't this an article about lawyers and how they are ruining evertyhing, not sports ding-bats and how there sport is the least boring, yawn.
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Bob Mime, 5 Jun 2006 @ 9:57am

Popular sports
I can create the most popular sport in the world if given a chance: Lawyer Tossing! Just think of it, each week you could visit a different cliff, tall building, or structure around the world and start tossing Lawyers. Score would be based on screams, form, and landing.

Lawyer Tossing: Landing near you soon!
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jun 2006 @ 10:02am

Re:
To Nascar Coach:
LEFT LEFT LEFT?
you mean the pedal on the RIGHT!

:-)
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anonymous coward, 5 Jun 2006 @ 10:04am

go to nevada smith's in NYC around 5am when Brazil is playing. you'll never be in a bar with more beautiful women. that's why i'm a soccer fan.
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Moneyguy, 5 Jun 2006 @ 10:07am

Interesting
Nothing like showing your ignorance then backing it up with an un-informed comment, huh Bob? Trust me, it's best to give up at this point. I suffer from occasional bouts of athlete's foot of the mouth and I urge you to shout "Mea Culpa!" and try watching a game. I'll take soccer over professional basketball and NASCAR any day of the week.
For those who feel that Americans don't have a chance, you may be right (but then again the U.S. team may surprise you). The reason has more to do with the number of professional soccer leagues here in America (or lack thereof), the vast number of competing sports, and of course, little or no media coverage. My own town has the Crew to root for and they have a devoted following as do a few other cities here in the U.S.
As for comments about the true topic of this article, the last line says it all: "All it's done is inflate their legal bill." Lawyers always want to make it seem like they have your best interest at heart, but like everyone else, their bottom line comes first. Of course if they didn't send out the letters they'd be accused of incompetence and fired.
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Justin, 5 Jun 2006 @ 10:20am

Nascar
Maybe we can all be typical Americans and watch a bunch of cars in traffic drive around a circle instead of the enjoying the drama, action, triumph and defeat of world cup soccer!

I am as patriotic as the next guy, but we can't even like good racing here. Along with Sombra's comments, we can't even watch Formula 1, a foreigner might win!

-J
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Kevin Heller, 5 Jun 2006 @ 10:37am

Free Advertising
Nice job helping to promote Infront Sports & Media ... -- I mean they did get their client mentioned on boing boing - traffic numbers to the client have probably quintupled since that post. to me it looks like the B&M lawyers gamed you guys for free adverts....
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SPR, 5 Jun 2006 @ 10:38am

Re: Re:
Watched perhaps by those seeking a cure for insomnia!! Otherwise, what world cup?
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chaalz, 5 Jun 2006 @ 10:43am

Re:
Its true that the timing of world cup games is difficult for some to accept (well, not for us die hard fans). I'll only add that different sports have different scoring levels. In basketball, you see hundreds of shots made. In baseball, maybe a dozen runs. In soccer, maybe 2-3 goals. We dont only watch the game to see goals, but to see great athletes at work. Its great watching Iverson do a crossover and leave his opponent 5 ft behind him (bball). Ever see Ronaldinho run with a soccer ball. A thing of beauty.

Life is about the journey, not the destination.

At least be apart of something that happens rarely, give it a chance and at least watch the finals.

-chaalz
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SailorAlphaCentauri, 5 Jun 2006 @ 10:49am

World cup is popular world-wide...
but I doubt it will ever be huge in the States. Granted, baseball and golf are boring to many Americans (myself included), but soccer falls into the category of more-fun-to-play-than-watch. I've given it a shot; I've watched roughly 20 matches and I just couldn't get into it. I was bored, I didn't care about any of the players, and any sport where players don't use their hands is just dull to me. At least with baseball (and other sinfully boring American passtimes), I can watch the highlight reel and get the best of each sport. I watch and am baffled at how excited everyone gets, but then again I'll willingly watch curling so to each his own.

And I've also found it strange that we call our sport championships things like "World Series" when we're obviously not playing the world. It's our arrogance showing to the world where we'll proclaim ourselves as the world champions of something, but refuse to play anyone other than Canada (occasionally).
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Kev Brown, 5 Jun 2006 @ 10:50am

Re:
That's because you - like most of your contrymen - are stupid consumers. Because there is less scoring in soccer doesn't mean it isn't fun to watch - it means it actually takes a modicum of skill to score. Your pathetic, ignorant view is typical of North American sport mentality. Don't appreciate the game, the way it is played and the finer points of tactical and subtle strategy, just complain if you're not seeing someone score every 12 seconds. Go watch a we score they score we score they score we score they score we score.... etc. basketball game. yes - that's really absorbing. BORING!

You are one of those people who doesn't understand a tied game either right? There HAS to be a winner - or more importantly, a LOSER, right?

You sir, are an idiot.
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Bryan Price, 5 Jun 2006 @ 10:59am

Somebody is actually defending the lawyers!
http://www.intuitive.com/blog/baker_mckenzie_tries_to_protect_fifa_world_cup_so_boing_boing_attacks. html

I certainly don't understand it.

And my sleeping on it has made me realize that the C&D was nothing more, and nothing less than email spam.

Anybody want a green card lottery???? </sarcasm>

As expensive as sending those letters out, and I'm sure it was expensive, it was nothing buy a waste of money. It won't do squat about the actual intellectual property rights, it just made somebody some money.

I'm one of the very few in the US that have actually watched a World Cup soccer game (US vs. Mexico). It was interesting, it was frightening, it was in the end fun.
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Tyshaun, 5 Jun 2006 @ 11:01am

Re: Nascar
Maybe we can all be typical Americans and watch a bunch of cars in traffic drive around a circle instead of the enjoying the drama, action, triumph and defeat of world cup soccer!

I am as patriotic as the next guy, but we can't even like good racing here. Along with Sombra's comments, we can't even watch Formula 1, a foreigner might win!

I think we watch NASCAR for the same reason we watch baseball, its origins are in America. NASCAR is a uniquely armerican "sport" started as an offshoot of prohibition alcohol runners in the south.

As a sidenote, I don't the US has a big problem participating in true "World" level sports. Look at the Olympics.

As per the article, I see a new olympic event, lawyer biathalon. You have to cross country ski while shooting at lawyers strategically hanging from trees along your route.
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Tyshaun, 5 Jun 2006 @ 11:01am

Re: Nascar
Maybe we can all be typical Americans and watch a bunch of cars in traffic drive around a circle instead of the enjoying the drama, action, triumph and defeat of world cup soccer!

I am as patriotic as the next guy, but we can't even like good racing here. Along with Sombra's comments, we can't even watch Formula 1, a foreigner might win!

I think we watch NASCAR for the same reason we watch baseball, its origins are in America. NASCAR is a uniquely armerican "sport" started as an offshoot of prohibition alcohol runners in the south.

As a sidenote, I don't the US has a big problem participating in true "World" level sports. Look at the Olympics.

As per the article, I see a new olympic event, lawyer biathalon. You have to cross country ski while shooting at lawyers strategically hanging from trees along your route.
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countrymen, 5 Jun 2006 @ 11:05am

Re: Re:
Most of us countrymen are not stupid consumers, get off your high horse a-hole. running around kicking or throwing a ball or rock or anything, doesnt have subtle strategies, it's not chess.

You Sir, are a bore.
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s, 5 Jun 2006 @ 11:05am

The average world cup game has 314. 1 million viewers

The superbowl doesn't even get 100 million

Granted, it's not the most popular sport in the USA... but soccer absolutely dominates when you talk about world-wide sports.
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Jeff, 5 Jun 2006 @ 11:15am

Soccer (Football) may or may not be boring
As an American, I can say I'm excited about the World Cup. It is the biggest sporting event in the world. I think I understand why many Americans consider the sport to be boring while those of you in other countries find it more exciting. I actually find the game to be somewhat boring, but I did attend the bronze medal game in the 96 Olympics in Atlanta. Brazil was in it and I don't remember who they were playing. The Brazilian fans were amazing. They sang the entire game. Its almost like the game was secondary to the fans. They were having a lot of fun. The only thing I can compare to this is baseball fans in Japan and Korea. They do similar things. And maybe college football, although there is a lot of excitement from the fans, its not quite as organized as soccer fans.

Its not the lack of scoring that keeps me from being a soccer fan, its the lack of scoring opportunities. I went to a minor league game one time and one team had only 2 scoring chances the entire game. There didn't use to be a lot of scoring in the NHL, but at least there were 30 shots on goal every game.
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Moneyguy, 5 Jun 2006 @ 11:20am

Stupid Consumers
Damn Kev - nothing like thowing all Americans into one pot. And I thought I had a talent for putting my foot in my mouth!
Before you call us all "Stupid Consumers," I'd like to know how many football jersey's you own - or any other type of sports memorabilia promoted by your favorite team. Or whether you prefer the shirt with the Nike logo over the one with no logo. Or how many matches you've purchased tickets for, etc. Need I go on?
There's nothing special about soccer/football - each sport has it's own subtle strategies and tactics ...and it's own fans. I enjoy most sports and I appreciate the inordinate amount time and effort it takes to become world-class.

Ignorance of a sport is just that, ignorance.
Ramming home the "finer points of tactical and subtle strategy" to elevate soccer above other sports is pomposity at it's worst.
You sir, make ugly Americans look good.
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Arnes, 5 Jun 2006 @ 11:40am

2 billion viewers worldwide.
Soccer is the most popular sport worldwide according to statistics.

Superbowl - 180 million viewers
World Series - roughly 30 million viewers
Playoff Finals - 25 million viewers
World Cup finals as i already have mentioned 2 billion viewers worldwide. Numbers speak my friends.

If you don't believe me go on ESPN.com and look for yourself.
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Carl and Bob's moronic views, 5 Jun 2006 @ 4:18pm

Carl and Bob
Carl and Bob... You two have absolutely no Idea as to how big the world cup is. It is by far the most watched sporting event in the world. Your ignorance show's that there needs to be more done here in the United States to promote soccer youths so they too can enjoy as does this whole world.

As for the scoring is concerned, its all about anticipation that draws people to watch. Of that, when someone does score, you can let out....

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
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YouKnowNothing, 6 Jun 2006 @ 9:32am

First, just because something is popular doesn't mean it's any good. As evidence I offer Brtiney Spears and Ashlee Simpson.

Soccer is a game for guys who throw like girls. It's the only sport I know where a team doesn't have to do anything and they will still advance if the game ends in a draw. Another absolutely retarded aspect of Soccer is the end-game shootout to determine a winner. Case in point, the USA women's team winning some championship because they scored more times in a shootout than the other team (China?) a few years ago. A soccer-loving friend of mine told me the shootout is just a guessing game between the shooter and the goalkeeper. Lots of skill there.

If you're playing for a championship, the game should just keep going until someone scores or the players drop dead. Just a few years ago an NHL game went 90+ minutes in overtime (on top of the 60 minutes regular time) to determine a winner. I've played both soccer and hockey, and hockey requires a LOT more stamina than soccer. Martial Arts and collegiate wrestling requires more stamina/speed/skill/power than both soccer and hockey. Yes, I've done those, too.

And please don't talk about "stupid consumers". Have you seen the incredible amount of advertising in and around a soccer stadium? They players even have advertising on their uniforms, for Chirstsakes!
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Foreigner, 6 Jun 2006 @ 2:22pm

Re: Stupid Consumers
> Before you call us all "Stupid Consumers," I'd like to know
> how many football jersey's you own - or any other type of
> sports memorabilia promoted by your favorite team. Or
> whether you prefer the shirt with the Nike logo over the
> one with no logo.

The answer is zero. We carry our colors in our heart, not
over our skin.
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American Soccer Fan, 6 Jun 2006 @ 2:59pm

Re:
Because the games are in Europe this time, they come on during the day. ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC will carry the games live at 9AM ET, 12 NOON ET, and 3:00 PM ET

As for the major network thing -- if ESPN is not a major network, then why the ABC move Monday Night [American] Football there.

I suppose you call watching the PGA, Grand Slam Tennis, MLB, and NASCAR exciting? Even the American football (because REAL football is played with your FEET) is pretty boring because contrary to popular belief, there's not that much more equivalent scoring, and the game starts and stops all the time. Soccer has fewer rules than American football and the game is more dynamic, yet the majority of Americans call soccer boring. Why? Because that's what they were told. Most people who have bad things to say about soccer are usually talking out the side of their neck. I'm not saying REAL FOOTBALL (not that American shyt) is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
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American Soccer Fan, 6 Jun 2006 @ 3:08pm

Lost the end of my danged post!
but on its own merits as a sport, it rates a damned site higher than anything coming out of the USA right now. Can anyone tell me when the English Premiership, or before that the First Division did not play because of a player's strike. If American sports leagues really wanted to spike up their ratings and attendance, they'd look at soccer's relegation model. Do you think the Houston Texans' fans would have been clamoring to lose their last game to get the #1 draft pick if it meant getting bounced to a LOWER division? In every country EXCEPT the USA, the professional divisions have relegation, where the bottom teams are demoted and the top teams from the lower divisions promoted. That's why you have generations of fans for REAL FOOTBALL clubs, while the fanbase of most American professional teams change depending on which overpaid free agent has been acquired.! To you detractors of the beautiful game, I fart in your general direction!
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Sam, 6 Jun 2006 @ 4:49pm

Re: World Cup Soccer
Typically American. The only sport worth watching is their own never mind that Worls Cup Soccer is a World Sport watched more than the Olympics, SuperBowl, World Series combined. Get with it guys, you are out-of-the-loop so bad you're getting clueless.......and baseball is NOT a sport. Who even sweats in this sport and Football(?) which actually plays a total of 20 minutes for the whole game. I mean actually playing; not getting ready, conferences, injury,time-outs, commercials.....etc.
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Fitz, 8 Jun 2006 @ 10:15am

Really?
What it really comes down to is you like and are interested in what you are exposed to. Most "Americans" (which I am) don't like soccer because they don't understand what it takes play, the skill involved to handle a ball with their feet, thighs, head, etc... and not their "girl throwing hands" (what a tool who posted that. I assume your manly throwing hand can do many things (based on your personality I would guess one is more developed than the other due to your many nights spent home alone watching your tough guy "we have to put on 40 pounds worth of pads in order to make contact with another human being during a sporting event so we don't get booboos" sports) yet you probably couldn't kick your way out of a wet paper bag.)

I think Carl & Bob have every right to think soccer is boring and their only mistake was to criticize those that do like watching and playing it. I will once again make an a$$ out of U and Me and asssume Carl Bob are in their mid 30's or older and were never exposed to the sport in terms of playing, only watching on TV. You can't teach an old dog new tricks and you aren't going to convert the ignorant, that position has already taken by overzealous, ethnocentric, organized religion.

My father coached the Columbus Crew for 6 years and was many times offerred positions coaching in England, Spain, etc.. making hundreds of thousands of dollars but refused because of his desire to bring soccer to the forefront in America. He unfortunately was killed in a motorcycle accident in Dec of '04 and will never see the true progress his (along with many others) sacrifice has made. But believe me, progress has been and will continue to be made as more and more people who played as kids get their own kids into the sport and so on... The reason soccer is becoming more popular is because all the kids who started playing in the 80's when real organized leagues began to flourish are now having children of their own (myself included) and the trickle down effect is starting to take hold.

How long has Pop Warner youth football been around (1929)? And when did football become the high paying "popular" sport in America that it is today? not till the mid to late 60's, more than 30 years later. The NYSA wasn't even founded until 1974, now close to 30 years later, the real benefits are starting to appear. It's just a matter of time!
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The judge, 9 Jun 2006 @ 4:56pm

Re:
My friend the television audience for the superbowl is 6% that of the World Cup final. Worldwide support for the NFL is somewhat lower than darts or bowls.
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RescueMe, 11 Jun 2006 @ 8:25pm

Re:
Finally someone with a modicum of sense when it comes to sports and futbol
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Ash, 11 Jul 2006 @ 6:46pm

Re: Really?
Hey Fitz
im sorry to hear about your father.. Im an immigrant and soccer is huge where Im from and its not South America or Europe.. In fact I think it gets 80% of the funding of sports in the country. Well as a soccer(football) fan, I would like to thank him and you for enduring it for the efforts. Another thing I DO NOT watch MLS.. The only soccer I watch is Champions League, Barcelonas matches(cuz of Ronaldinho) and Premiership matches and World Cup. I also find basketball, football and baseball interesting so im not one of those ooo soccer is the only sport that should be watched. As someone said earlier, good athleticism is just fun to watch. You were talking about youth leagues and I find it interesting that soccer is teh second most played team sport at the youth level behind only baskeball.
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