OT: Soccer questionnaire for DSP Forum members

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 11:37 pm

Boys:
 
 For a game that no one supposedly cares about in the U.S., it sure seems like we have a lot of soccer fans in here. That´s awesome.
 
 I was just curious about people´s love affair with the beautiful game and had a few questions for each of you, and I´ll answer each:
 
 1. WHEN DID YOU START FOLLOWING SOCCER?
 1998
 
 2. WHAT TURNED YOU INTO A SOCCER FAN?
 World Cup 98 (the tournament, not the EA game!), particularly Michael Owen´s brilliant half-pitch run to a goal for England against Argentina.
 
 3. DID A VIDEO GAME TURN YOU ON TO SOCCER? IF SO, WHICH ONE?
 Nope, it was the World Cup 98 tournament.
 
 4. WHAT CLUBS DO YOU SUPPORT?
 Newcastle United (England), River Plate (Argentina), Syracuse Salty Dogs (U.S. A-League)
 
 5. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS?
 Alan Shearer (Newcastle United), Andy O´Brien (Newcastle United), Andres D´Allessandro (Wolfsburg), Brian McBride (Fulham), Claudio Reyna (Manchester City), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Boca Juniors), Eduardo Coudet (River Plate).
 
 6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LEAGUES?
 English Premiership, Argentine Apertura and Clausura.
 
 How about you boys?
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 24-02-2004 19:49 ]

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 12:02 am

1. WHEN DID YOU START FOLLOWING SOCCER? I followed it closely back in the World Cup 98 days, but then stopped for years.
 
 2. WHAT TURNED YOU INTO A SOCCER FAN?
 World Cup 98 just like PK. I went to a few matches and I really dug it. I played soccer growing up, all the way through High School so it was something I grew up with, but never really watched until 98.
 
 3. DID A VIDEO GAME TURN YOU ON TO SOCCER? IF SO, WHICH ONE? Actually it´s funny because now I´m getting back into it. The fact that you guys so desperately love your sport made me realize that I was missing something. Namely, FSW on my DirecTV. The fact that I had picked up Pro Evo 3 for my PC only added to the fact that soccer was/is still in my blood. Now that I´ve added FSW to my TV viewing, I´m sure I´ll be able to actually participate in some of your guys soccer discussions. I haven´t picked a team yet...maybe I´ll pick Arsenal or something...LOL. I´m actually really digging Fulham...
 
 4. WHAT CLUBS DO YOU SUPPORT?
 I guess we´ll have to say Fulham in the EPL for now...seeing as though they are the only team I´ve seen play for a while, and the Chicago Fire (I love Beasley). I actually have been watching the Fire for the last couple years when they´ve been on.
 
 5. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS?
 Demarcus Beasley (Fire) and Brian McBride (Fulham) and that´s about it until I get more familiar with some dudes in the EPL and other leagues around the world. I guess I´ve always been a fan of guys like Batistuta from Argentina (does he still play somewhere? At one time he was with Parma or Roma). I also liked playing with Van Der Sar on Fifa 98...lol...good thing he´s on Fulham too.
 
 6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LEAGUES?
 English Premiership and the MLS I guess.
 [ This message was edited by: dbdynsty25 on 24-02-2004 20:03 ]

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 12:05 am

Good post!!
 
 I´d like to add one question...
 
 Why is PK being stubborn and not giving in to his cravings of getting WE7:I and a PS2? <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_eek.gif"> I Kid I kid.
 
 1) 2001
 
 2) Liverpool Treble
 
 4) Yes, championship manager 00/01
 
 5) What ever ones have Americans in the EPL. So right now Fulham, Man U (howard), Blackurn (friedel), and Tottenham (Keller). Those are the big names right now fo rme anyway.
 
 6) English Premeirship and Scottish Premeirship. It´s not really leagues but I have to include the Champion´s League, and UEFA cup when an EPL team is in there.

TheMightyPuck · Post by **TheMightyPuck** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 12:16 am

1. WHEN DID YOU START FOLLOWING SOCCER?
 When I was a kid. Came back to it in 1995 (was too busy in ´94 to even register the WC). Got more into it with WC98. Plus in ´98 I moved to LA and started following the Galaxy.
 
 2. WHAT TURNED YOU INTO A SOCCER FAN?
 Not sure. Used to watch the English D1 games on PBS when I was a kid. I remember the ´82 World Cup. Fantastic. I was in Little Italy in Toronto when Italy beat Germany. It was absolutely insane. I love the creativity of the game. I love that it is always ON. That anything can happen in a heartbeat. I love how creativity and skill trump physical prowess. Sometimes <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">
 
 3. DID A VIDEO GAME TURN YOU ON TO SOCCER? IF SO, WHICH ONE?
 I was already into soccer, but ISS64 coincided with my return to the sport so I´ve gotta give it some kind of credit. That and the internet which made it so much easier to follow the European game.
 
 4. WHAT CLUBS DO YOU SUPPORT?
 Chelsea FC
 LA Galaxy
 
 5. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS?
 Shearer is incredible but he plays for Newcastle <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif"> Bocanegra now that he doesn´t play for Chicago; McBride now the he doesn´t play for Columbus; Kevin Hartman (amazing shot stopper): Galaxy; Carlos "El Pescadito" Ruiz: Galaxy; Danny "Thug Life" Califf: Galaxy; Damien Duff: Chelsea; John Terry: Chelsea; Giannfranco Zola: ne Chelsea; Adrian Mutu: Chelsea; Thierry Henry (no wait I didn´t say that); I could go on.
 
 6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LEAGUES?
 English Premiership, MLS, and of course The Champions League (cue music) <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 12:18 am

I don´t really follow soccer. Loved the WC 2002 though and I do rememberr watching at least the semis or quarters of the 1998 tournament.
 
 I haven´t watched MLS either and I don´t see myself jumping through hoops (i.e. pay some premium package or going to an English pub) to watch Euro. soccer games.
 
 I would watch the Euro. Cup if it were on ESPN or some tier I didn´t have to subscribe to. I´ll definitely watch the WC in 2006 and probably whatever Olympic soccer there is.
 
 I did get caught up when Pele joined the NASL and I remember names like Beckenbauer. Pele put NASL on ABC every week, if I remember correctly. If something of that stature happened with the MLS, I´d probably watch it.

jimd · Post by **jimd** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 12:55 am

1. Late 1970´s, followed the Rochester Lancers in the old NASL. Mid 80´s went to England and saw Wimbledon v. Coventry City and became interested in English footbal. (That year Wimbledon went on to upset Liverpool in the FA Cup final--always thought that was cool.)
 
 2. Started playing when I was 5 or 6, and continued through HS and college, and still play outdoor and indoor year round. As a result, always follwed the World Cup and what ever local team we had here. Within the past 7 years, I´ve really started to follow the international game.
 
 Two years ago, went to England and saw three EPL games, (Man U v. Olympiakos at Old Trafford, Aresnal v. Sunderland at Highbury, and West Ham v. Birmingham City at Upton Park). That really hooked me.
 
 3. No, but I would say WE enhances the experience--increases my interest even more.
 
 4. I like Man U because I was there, and it was an unbelievable experience. I always follow what West Ham and Wimbledon are doing. I hate Arsenal--I think it is because they are so cocky and haven´t really had enough success to justify it, up to this point.
 
 Also like Roma and Bari (where my ancestors are from) in the Italian League.
 
 Love the Italian National Team almost as much as the US Team.
 
 And last, but not least, my hometown Rochester Rhinos.
 
 5. Keane (Man U), Gattusso (Milan), Cudicini (Chelsea), Beckham and Carlos (Real Madrid), and Totti (Roma).
 
 6. Serie A, EPL, and La Liga (in that order).

Post by **Jared** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 12:58 am

1. WHEN DID YOU START FOLLOWING SOCCER?
 1994
 
 2. WHAT TURNED YOU INTO A SOCCER FAN?
 I watched tons of it during WC 1994 and just loved the openness of the game. Started playing the next year and got into it even more. You gain such an appreciation for the game after playing it. Then backpacking Europe in 2000, I got to see matches at Highbury (Arsenal v. Liverpool) and Marseille. I´ve been fortunate enough to go to matches at Parc des Princes, Tokyo National Stadium, and (to top it off) four matches during World Cup 2002 (including historic wins by the U.S. over Portugal and Mexico, as well as the U.S. v. S. Korea match).
 
 3. DID A VIDEO GAME TURN YOU ON TO SOCCER? IF SO, WHICH ONE?
 Nope.
 
 4. WHAT CLUBS DO YOU SUPPORT?
 DC United (though I was a Tampa Bay Mutiny fan, sob), Arsenal, Leicester City, RC Lens, Marseille, Avispa Fukuoka (J-League), and the United States.
 
 5. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS?
 
 They´re mostly older/retired guys. Carlos Valderrama is my all-time favorite (his ball control and passing were sublime, even when he was past his prime). I´m also a fan of Klinsmann (clinical finisher), Cantona, Landon Donovan, John O´Brien, Eddie Pope, and Kasey Keller.
 
 6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LEAGUES?
 MLS, Premiership, French Division 1, and the J-League. [ This message was edited by: Jared on 24-02-2004 21:05 ]

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 1:14 am

1. WHEN DID YOU START FOLLOWING SOCCER?
 1994. Saw Nigeria play a world cup game in Dallas TX. Followed EPL a bit since then... then was in France in 98 during WC, really rekindled my interest.
 
 2. WHAT TURNED YOU INTO A SOCCER FAN?
 World Cup 98, and all the soccer I played from 97-2001 while living in California. Work had a 1/2 pitch on premises, I played 3 times / week, often 5 times/week, during lunch.
 
 3. DID A VIDEO GAME TURN YOU ON TO SOCCER? IF SO, WHICH ONE?
 No, but Winning Eleven has shown me more about tactics etc.
 
 4. WHAT CLUBS DO YOU SUPPORT?
 Chelsea FC
 
 5. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS?
 John Terry (Chelsea)
 Scott Parker (Chelsea)
 
 
 6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LEAGUES?
 English Premiership

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 1:21 am

1. WHEN DID YOU START FOLLOWING SOCCER?
 1994 World Cup, I loved the U.S´s victory over Columbia in which their DF scored an own goal(but saddened when he was shot down a few weeks later in Columbia), then we lost to Brazil 1-0 in the quarterfinals.
 
 2. WHAT TURNED YOU INTO A SOCCER FAN?
 Funny, I never became a "fan" until playing Winning Eleven 6 I last year, that game turned the light on and I haven´t been the same since(I have always played and followed baseball).
 
 3. Yes, to a fantatical state, WE: 6 Int.
 
 4. Tottenham, Man City, Liverpool and Portsmouth....although I am thinking of throwing down $150 for a LA Galaxy 10 game plan, DB or TMP, are you interested?
 
 5. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS?
 Reyna, John O´Brien, Tim Howard, Ben Olsen(I love his style for DC United), McBride, Ray Parlour for Arsenal(he is the ultimate pest in EPL along with Robbie savage), Bocanegra
 
 6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LEAGUES?
 EPL and MLS

bphilipb · Post by **bphilipb** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:11 am

1. Off and on since I was a youngster in the 70´s and the NASL.
 
 2. Seeing a New York Cosmos vs Philadelphia game many moons ago as a kid.
 
 3. No video game for me. It has to do with the fact that I was an impressionable little kid.
 
 4. I support D.C. United (my employer), Man City, and Newcastle.
 
 5. Alan Shearer, Reyna, Freddy Adu, Owen and the greatest of all-time Pele.
 
 6. EPL and MLS are the leagues I follow. My anger though goes to Comcast with not having FSW. It just doesn´t make sense why they don´t carry the games. If I live not even a mile away I can get Cox cable and get FSW. I have a dish for direct tv but my play doesn´t have a place where I can put it. (I´m in an apartment). Oh well.

lsdean · Post by **lsdean** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:47 am

1. WHEN DID YOU START FOLLOWING SOCCER?
 When I was 5-6 I started to play. Started to really follow things probably when I was 12
 
 2. WHAT TURNED YOU INTO A SOCCER FAN?
 Played soccer through college/semi-pro. I love the passion of the game.
 
 3. DID A VIDEO GAME TURN YOU ON TO SOCCER? IF SO, WHICH ONE?
 Nope but the first one that really grabbed me was World Cup 98
 
 4. WHAT CLUBS DO YOU SUPPORT?
 Manchester City (England), Ajax (Holland), Columbus Crew (MLS)
 
 5. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS?
 Brian McBride (Fulham), Claudio Reyna (Manchester City), Bergkamp(Arsenal), O´Brien (Ajax), Keller (Tottenham). I guess that I like the Americans <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">
 
 6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LEAGUES?
 English Premiership

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:52 am

I´m not really a soccer fan, but I´ve recently toyed around with PES 3 and it´s a lot of fun to play.
 
 This topic brought up an incredible memory from 1996 (I believe). I was in Constanta, Romania and I believe there was the world cup or something goin´ down (see, told ya I don´t know much about the Sport).
 
 Anyway, Romania pulled off a huge upset against somebody (Brazil, Columbia.. heck, I don´t know). Well, the celebration in the streets was friggin incredible. I´ve never seen anything like it in my life. I mean, this thing lasted all through the night and there wasn´t a person in that country that was going nuts in celebration.

mobiggins · Post by **mobiggins** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:54 am

1. WHEN DID YOU START FOLLOWING SOCCER?
 As long as I can remember.
 
 2. WHAT TURNED YOU INTO A SOCCER FAN?
 Probably the fact that my grandma lived basically next door to Steaua Bucharest´s stadium. I was a real soccer fan, though, in 86 when Steaua won the UEFA Champion´s Cup (I believe) against Barcelona, in a thrilling PK finish in which the Steaua goalie parried away all 4 Barca shots. It was amazing to watch as he guessed right time after time. He was a great keeper. Too good, as Ceausescu´s security staged a hunting "accident" to keep him from defecting. But I digress...
 3. DID A VIDEO GAME TURN YOU ON TO SOCCER? IF SO, WHICH ONE?
 Winning Eleven made me want to play the game. I´ve always been more of a watcher than a player, so I settled for something in-between and became a ref.
 
 4. WHAT CLUBS DO YOU SUPPORT?
 I´m not big into club soccer, I watch it casually, but I like Valencia, and I grew up with Steaua.
 
 5. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS?
 Strangely enough, I don´t pay attention to the players much. I like the international game, and I focus on the countries more than the players. I know I´m not explaining that one very well...
 6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LEAGUES?
 Premiership and La Liga.
 
 What were you doing in Constanta, Boom?
 That´s Hagiville, by the way. My great aunt has a house out there, and I hit the beach from time to time when I visit home. [ This message was edited by: mobiggins on 24-02-2004 22:56 ]

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 3:06 am

1. WHEN DID YOU START FOLLOWING SOCCER?
 
 WC98. What can I say, I´m Croatian. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif"> The Germany game was simply amazing.
 
 2. WHAT TURNED YOU INTO A SOCCER FAN?
 
 My best friend is Mexican, and he preached to me all through college. I laughed him off, but began to respect the game a bit. The epiphany came in ´98, but it wouldn´t have been possible without being softened up for 5 years.
 
 3. DID A VIDEO GAME TURN YOU ON TO SOCCER? IF SO, WHICH ONE?
 
 Not turn me on, but they´ve taught me about 40% of the rules and almost 100% of the tactics and strategy. First WC98, where I just ran Suker all over the field. Then of course WE6.
 
 4. WHAT CLUBS DO YOU SUPPORT?
 Chicago Fire
 Liverpool
 Hannover
 
 5. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS?
 
 Currently?
 Demarcus Beasley
 Owen
 Gerrard
 Beckham
 Hyypia
 Igor Tudor
 
 All-Time? Davor Suker
 
 
 6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LEAGUES?
 
 EPL
 MLS
 
 I don´t see enough of La Liga, and I´d sure like to see more.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 3:06 am

1. WHEN DID YOU START FOLLOWING SOCCER?
 
 Always been an observer of the World Cup and just started watching some of the English Premiership the last few years.
 
 2. WHAT TURNED YOU INTO A SOCCER FAN?
 
 Every World Cup I have followed. More into the international aspect then the leagues. I can´t say I am a soccer fan per say, but I have grown to enjoy the sport more over the years.
 
 
 3. DID A VIDEO GAME TURN YOU ON TO SOCCER? IF SO, WHICH ONE?
 
 Nope but I have played most every soccer game since Pele on the Atari...
 
 4. WHAT CLUBS DO YOU SUPPORT?
 
 No favorites
 
 
 5. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS?
 
 No favorites
 
 
 6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LEAGUES?
 
 English Premiership I guess again I prefer international play.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 4:24 am

LOL...the Live Oak Rockets.

Cincinnati_Kid · Post by **Cincinnati_Kid** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 5:56 am

1. 1975
 
 2.after coming too florida on a vacation ,tampa bay rowdies were born and as the saying went they were a Kick in the Grass on there wat to the 75 NASL Title and later runners up in 78,79...also my interest in Pele with had just signed with the New York Cosmos i had watched some tv special on him the image of his bicycle kick was burnt into my child hood memories the same way Dr Js free throw line dunk ,Fisk 75 Homer or Earl Campbells jersey rippin monday night run were
 
 3.i played soccer from 5th grade up and through high school and even was an anouncer for the school games after i left high school for a couple years in 87,88 and followed the rowdies until there formal demise in 1984 after that i lost touch for the most part with televised soccer until rediscovered my interest and Fifa on the 3DO with one of my soccer fan friends in multi player stirred up the old days...then the Mutiny were brought too life follwed by the 1998 world cup cementing it and soccer on the saturn keeping things flowing. and Mia,Brandi & the girls adding fuel to the fire....but world cup 2002 and americas run along with my first exposure too MLS Extratime put me over the top in a way i hadnt experienced since the 70s not too mention the build up too and the release of WE6 state side a game which lived up too everything i had ever read from mobiggins n others at SR ...which also sparked my interest in the Premiership thanks to getting fox world right around that time as well made me follow it more than i find myself watching the NBA anymore
 
 4.oh how i miss the Rowdies,and the Mutiny were gone way too soon...DC United.....
 .
 5.Pele,Rodney Marsh,Roy Lassiter,Carlos Valderamma,Freidel,Howard,Mcbride,Beasley,
 Donovan,Pope,Reyna ,anxiously awaiting Freddie Adu.......still enjoy glimpses of Brandi on Under the Helmet segments
 
 6. i have concentrated on EPL and MLS so far but look too expand my horizons in looking at a few of the other leagues you guys have mentioned time to time

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 6:24 am

1. WHEN DID YOU START FOLLOWING SOCCER?
 
 The first game I remember watching all the way through was the 1972 FA Cup Final. It was a very dull game (Leeds 0 Arsenal 1), but I was hooked.
 
 2. WHAT TURNED YOU INTO A SOCCER FAN?
 
 Was kicking a ball about with my dad and kids in the street from about 5 yrs old, then once I went to primary school it was organised matches from about 9.
 
 3. DID A VIDEO GAME TURN YOU ON TO SOCCER? IF SO, WHICH ONE?
 
 No, but I´ve been playing ´em since 81.
 
 4. WHAT CLUBS DO YOU SUPPORT?
 Hate to admit it, but I supported Leeds til I was 7 (didn´t know any better, and my dad doesn´t follow the game at all), but supported City since 76 ( ie, just after they last won a major trophy..)
 
 5. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS?
 
 All-Time - Colin Bell, Dennis Tueart, Tony Coton, Niall Quinn
 
 Current - Shaun Wright-Philips, Thierry Henry
 
 
 6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LEAGUES?
 English Premiership, La Liga (Spain), Bundesliga (Germany), Scottish Premiership (comedy value)

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 1:31 pm

1. WHEN DID YOU START FOLLOWING SOCCER?
 
 1994. I remember watching the ´90 final, but really paid attention in ´94 (although to my great regret I didn´t see one game live).
 
 2. WHAT TURNED YOU INTO A SOCCER FAN?
 
 Friends in college who played, the ´94 WC, and in ´94/´95 watching Ajax every week when ESPN2 showed Dutch League on Mondays and Champ´s League on Wednesdays, and Ajax on both all the time (they won the Champions League that year, beating AC Milan on a brilliant late goal by an 18 yr old Kluivert).
 
 3. DID A VIDEO GAME TURN YOU ON TO SOCCER? IF SO, WHICH ONE?
 
 Super Soccer on the SNES remains one of my all time favorite head-to-head games, but it didn´t really get me into the real thing as it was a very abstract representation of the game. They did have players like Lothar with Germany and Roger with Cameroon though. But mostly it was watching the real deal. Konami games (ISS64, really, though there was Goal Storm on the PSX first) did a great job expressing the personality of individual players, so it helped me get more familiar with the real guys leading up to Euro ´96.
 
 4. WHAT CLUBS DO YOU SUPPORT?
 
 MetroStars, MetroStars, and the MetroStars. I told myself in ´95 to put my money where my mouth is, and since I talk about wanting soccer to work in the States, I felt obligated to get season tix at the very beginning. And good thing too, since it forces me to go to games, which I never regret.
 
 Also now Fulham is quickly becoming my favorite foreign club, what with the 2 US boys in the field. I used to HATE ManU like the Cowboys, but since they bought our Timmy, I can´t hate ´em anymore! And wherever Mathis is is good (he scored a cracker for Hanover on the weekend, made the FSW Report top 10 of the week).
 
 And of course I still love Ajax, but I don´t really follow them too closely anymore. John O´Brien of course.
 
 5. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS?
 
 Love the US boys of course; Timmy Howard, Mathis, McBride, Bocanegra, Reyna, O´Brien, Convey, Beasley, Pope, etc. etc. etc. Can´t wait to see Freddy come into the Swamp for the first time.
 
 Zidane, Scholes, Roy Keane, Vieri, Del Piero, Van Der Sar (always liked him from that Ajax team), S. Campbell, Henri, lots of players I like, but don´t follow too closely (Overmars, Bergkamp, Raul, Kanu (also of that old Ajax team)).
 
 6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LEAGUES?
 
 MLS, EPL.
 
 
 wco said: "I did get caught up when Pele joined the NASL and I remember names like Beckenbauer. Pele put NASL on ABC every week, if I remember correctly. If something of that stature happened with the MLS, I´d probably watch it."
 
 Freddy Adu. Not the same, no, but I think it may become similar. Give it some time, but my feeling is that if he scores goals they will be compelled to put the higlights on SportsCenter, and if they do that, over time, he and the MLS will be hard to ignore.
 
 
 pigpen said: "....although I am thinking of throwing down $150 for a LA Galaxy 10 game plan, DB or TMP, are you interested?"
 
 GET THE TICKETS!!!!!!!!!! You will not regret it. First of all, you guys have by far the finest facility for soccer in the entire US, in fact in all of the US and Canada. Take advantage and enjoy it!
 
 Second, if you get the tickets you will feel compelled to go to the games, and this is a GOOD thing. $15 a pop, by far the best sports money you could spend. Heck I remember when good seats at baseball games were cheap, but not anymore.
 
 Plus, soccer is the most convenient of sports, as it always takes 2hrs. Always (unless it´s a knock-out tourney or something with OT). Just like baseball used to be for 75 years, before we were born. 2hrs and that´s it, no Orioles/Yankees AL-style 4hr+ marathons, or NFL style commercial exhibitions with breaks of sport action thrown in.
 
 And like our football, it is SO much better when you are there, since you can actually see the whole game, not just the wee bit of action going on around the ball. I can´t express how much more interesting and exciting the game is when you can see the teams´ shapes, and the off-the-ball action. Not to mention beng able to keep your eye on the more, shall we say, flashy personalities throughout the match. (Stoichkov was GREAT to watch that first year he came over, especially off the ball, jawing with the other bench, etc.)
 
 DO IT PIGPEN!!! You will not regret it, I guarantee! Plus you will get to see Freddy up close. And don´t forget Ruiz is the best player in MLS, and is worth the price alone (even though I hate him!!!!!!!!!!!!).

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 1:33 pm

1. WHEN DID YOU START FOLLOWING SOCCER?
 1990
 
 2. WHAT TURNED YOU INTO A SOCCER FAN?
 
 I was a casual one during the US´s return in 1990. Then when I was 14, I was given the opportunity to train at Sheffield Wednesday over a summer with the youth academy. Although those boys were light years ahead of me, I had the time of my life and learned things about the game you just can´t learn here.
 
 3. DID A VIDEO GAME TURN YOU ON TO SOCCER? IF SO, WHICH ONE?
 
 Nah, the Youth academy experience, although CHampionship Manager is always running on my CPU
 
 4. WHAT CLUBS DO YOU SUPPORT?
 
 Bayern Munchen (Germany), Sheffield Wednesday (England)
 
 5. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS?
 
 Kevin Pressman (Sheff Wed), Oliver Kahn (Bayern), Giovanne Elber (Lyon), Carl Fletcher (Harchester United <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_razz.gif"> )
 
 6. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LEAGUES?
 
 England and Germany.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 1:45 pm

1 - Late 70´s Watching Toby Charles and Soccer made in Germany. Also followed the old NASL which St. Louis was a part of. I even had a Tulsa Roughnecks jersey!
 
 2- Playing the game made me a fan
 
 3- Nope...only the game itself
 
 4- Well since I´ve just gotten back into following world soccer i´m trying to decide on my EPL team. I´m leading towards Chelsea right now and it looks like we have several Chelsea fans already here. I could go West Ham or Aston Villa as well, maybe even Portsmouth. In the German league it´s all about Werder Bremen.
 MLS would be KC Wizzards and MISL would be St. Louis Steamers. I know it´s indoor but it´s the only pro soccer there is in St. Louis and I bought season tickets.
 
 5 - Right now it´s Ailton of Werder Bremen. He´ll be moving on to play for Schalke 04 next year. Of course I follow the local St. Louis connection in the MLS which inlcudes Taylor Twellman, Pat Noonan, and Steve Ralston all of who play for the New England Revolution.
 
 6- EPL, Bundesliga, MLS, MISL
 
 Tim

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 1:55 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 4- Well since I´ve just gotten back into following world soccer i´m trying to decide on my EPL team. I´m leading towards Chelsea right now and it looks like we have several Chelsea fans already here. I could go West Ham or Aston Villa as well, maybe even Portsmouth. . . .
 
 Tim
 
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 Fulham´s got 2 of our (US) best players, both starting and playing 90´ game in, game out, and the team are doing better now that they´ve got them; hanging in the top 10, and if they are really good and a little lucky, they just may qualify for some European action next year. Just a suggestion!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:04 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2004-02-25 09:55, hugo wrote:
 Fulham´s got 2 of our (US) best players, both starting and playing 90´ game in, game out, and the team are doing better now that they´ve got them; hanging in the top 10, and if they are really good and a little lucky, they just may qualify for some European action next year. Just a suggestion!
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 That´s exactly why I like them. I love Van Der Sar and then the two yanks, Boco and McBride...can´t go wrong with liking Fulham. I´m definitely glad I watched the match between them and West Ham last night on my newly added FSW. LOL

TheMightyPuck · Post by **TheMightyPuck** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:32 pm

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 pigpen said: "....although I am thinking of throwing down $150 for a LA Galaxy 10 game plan, DB or TMP, are you interested?"
 
 GET THE TICKETS!!!!!!!!!! You will not regret it. First of all, you guys have by far the finest facility for soccer in the entire US, in fact in all of the US and Canada. Take advantage and enjoy it!
 
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 DO IT PIGPEN!!! You will not regret it, I guarantee! Plus you will get to see Freddy up close. And don´t forget Ruiz is the best player in MLS, and is worth the price alone (even though I hate him!!!!!!!!!!!!).
 
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 The man speaks the truth. If you want to stand the whole game and get drunk and scream obscenities (and listen to them screamed) go for section 138. If you want to sit down, care if you actually get to sit in your own seat, feel bad when opponents are stretchered off the field, you probably want something else. I´ve been part of the LA Riot Squad for a while (138 ) but this year I´m sitting in the upper deck (232) for a better (and cheaper) view of the game (but I´ll be sneaking down to 138 regularly for drunken debauchery). The Home Depot Center is fantastic. Ruiz is fantastic and Kirovski has looked amazing in training. Right now the boys are in France where they will meet up with their new field general Andreas "The Duke" Herzog who is a bit over the hill but might have something left in him. He definitely is coming to play football (as opposed to Lothar who came to party in NY). Klinsmann is taking a more active interest in the Galaxy and is a sort of unofficial assistant coach to Sigi. Bo and Califf provide a decent central defense. Word is Sigi is going to play 4-4-2 this year so things could be exciting. Opening day is DC United which should be pretty exciting (hope Adu gets a look in).
 
 [ This message was edited by: TheMightyPuck on 25-02-2004 10:35 ] [ This message was edited by: TheMightyPuck on 25-02-2004 10:41 ]