Other Sports U.S. soccer ratings top NBA Finals - Page 12

Eleazar · 07-03-2014, 04:15 AM

NEW YORK -- An estimated 21.6 million people watched Belgium knock out the United States in the World Cup on U.S. television -- an impressive total for a weekday afternoon that almost certainly undercounts how many people actually saw it.

The Nielsen company said Wednesday that 16.5 million people watched the game on ESPN, with 5.1 million more seeing it on the Spanish-language Univision network. In addition, nearly 1.7 million people watched an online stream of the event, Nielsen said.

The record U.S. television audience for soccer is the 24.7 million who saw the United States play Portugal on June 24, which tied the 2010 World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands.

The Portugal game took place on a weekend, however, when there were more people with free time available to watch. The U.S.-Belgium game started at 4 p.m. on the East Coast, earlier in other time zones, during a working day.

Nielsen does not measure viewership in bars, offices or other public places. In 2010, ESPN estimated that the stated audience size for weekday World Cup games would increase by 23 percent if public viewing were taken into account.

Still, Tuesday's knockout game exceeded the average viewership for the most recent World Series and NBA Finals, events that took place during prime-time when more people were home to watch.

The just-concluded NBA Finals where the San Antonio Spurs beat the Miami Heat averaged 15.5 million viewers, with 18 million watching the final game. Last fall's World Series averaged 14.9 million viewers, with 19.2 million watching the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the last game.

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said on Wednesday that everyone connected with the soccer team is excited to see how the sport is reaching a U.S. audience. He could see it coming, given the popularity of the game among young people and the large crowds that turned out for the team's sendoff games before the World Cup.

"Soccer is breaking through and gets its deserved recognition without taking anything away from the other big American sports," Klinsmann said.

He said it's important for people to identify with the way Americans played the game.

"The energy and the commitment and the tempo and the aggressiveness that we played with kind of made people proud at home and surprised a lot of people outside of the United States, maybe in Brazil or in Europe," he said.

The highest overall ratings for the U.S.-Belgium game came in New York, Nielsen said.

ESPN said that overall viewership for the World Cup is up 44 percent over 2010.

Eleazar · 07-06-2014, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

There has seriously been like two draws in the NFL in like six years. Its so rare that in the last one many players mentioned they didn't even know the rules and that the game can even end in a tie.

Lengthen the PK, no ties no matter what. You have to admit it would be better. Soccer should really consider some changes, just like the NBA added the 3 pt line, the shot clock, etc

The popularity of soccer doesn't seem to be suffering.

It's just not an instant gratification sport like we Mericans are used to

BWillie · 07-06-2014, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sully

I'm always amused when people spout off about how little athleticism it takes to play any given sport.
Ummm, those guys are making MILLIONS. If it's that easy, why aren't you doing it? You hate money?

Just because its difficult doesn't mean you have to be a great athlete to do it.

Sully · 07-06-2014, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

Just because its difficult doesn't mean you have to be a great athlete to do it.

So anyone could do it with some work and practice, then?

BWillie · 07-06-2014, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sully

So anyone could do it with some work and practice, then?

Absolutely not. Could anyone be a competitive eating champion with some practice? Of course not. Same with golf, mlb pitchers. You can be a an unathletic statue and still be skilled at those as well.

**Baby Lee** · 07-06-2014, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

Just because its difficult doesn't mean you have to be a great athlete to do it.

Athleticism is probably the single biggest hurdle to international soccer greatness. There are tons and tons of players who can pull off a set piece shot like Messi and Sneijder, and a different set of tons and tons who can make fancy moves like Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, and Lord knows there are tons and tons of workout warriors who can run at pace for 90+ minutes like Robben.

But soccer calls upon you to run like a cross country competitor most of the match, take on physical confrontations and be the stronger competitor from head to toe, leap for headers, sprint for through balls, match up on defense, . . and here's the kicker, be sharp enough to do those things you've practiced and practiced, when you're completely knackered in the final minutes.

It's like asking LeBron James to run a marathon at a competitive time with a bunch of Kenyans, then asking him to shoot a pair of free throws, a contested 3pter and then slam dunk over Shaq.

But there's no athleticism in soccer.

Truth be told, the athleticism aspect of international soccer was a bigger impediment than the spectre of having to live overseas to make money. I loved to play striker, and ran ran ran like there was no tomorrow. But I hated long distance running, every moment of it. Hated every aspect of soccer that required athleticism over skill. I enjoyed outrunning opponents in bursts, and the creativity of creating chances to score. If there had been an alternate universe where indoor soccer with it's more intricate foot skills and smaller field was the 'Premiere League' I'd have liked to live in that universe. But the 'beautiful game' requires a marathoner's mentality with the skill of one who puts on the 'green jacket.'

jd1020 · 07-06-2014, 10:02 PM

You mean to tell me that every player of a sport has just been practicing for a very long time at their sport and have become good at it?

BREAKING NEWS!!!!

**morphius** · 07-06-2014, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

The popularity of soccer doesn't seem to be suffering.

It's just not an instant gratification sport like we Mericans are used to

just to see what it would do I would love to see a rule change and there being no offsides when the ball is in the penalty box.

07-03-2014, 04:15 AM
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	U.S. soccer ratings top NBA Finals NEW YORK -- An estimated 21.6 million people watched Belgium knock out the United States in the World Cup on U.S. television -- an impressive total for a weekday afternoon that almost certainly undercounts how many people actually saw it. The Nielsen company said Wednesday that 16.5 million people watched the game on ESPN, with 5.1 million more seeing it on the Spanish-language Univision network. In addition, nearly 1.7 million people watched an online stream of the event, Nielsen said. The record U.S. television audience for soccer is the 24.7 million who saw the United States play Portugal on June 24, which tied the 2010 World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands. The Portugal game took place on a weekend, however, when there were more people with free time available to watch. The U.S.-Belgium game started at 4 p.m. on the East Coast, earlier in other time zones, during a working day. Nielsen does not measure viewership in bars, offices or other public places. In 2010, ESPN estimated that the stated audience size for weekday World Cup games would increase by 23 percent if public viewing were taken into account. Still, Tuesday's knockout game exceeded the average viewership for the most recent World Series and NBA Finals, events that took place during prime-time when more people were home to watch. The just-concluded NBA Finals where the San Antonio Spurs beat the Miami Heat averaged 15.5 million viewers, with 18 million watching the final game. Last fall's World Series averaged 14.9 million viewers, with 19.2 million watching the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the last game. U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said on Wednesday that everyone connected with the soccer team is excited to see how the sport is reaching a U.S. audience. He could see it coming, given the popularity of the game among young people and the large crowds that turned out for the team's sendoff games before the World Cup. "Soccer is breaking through and gets its deserved recognition without taking anything away from the other big American sports," Klinsmann said. He said it's important for people to identify with the way Americans played the game. "The energy and the commitment and the tempo and the aggressiveness that we played with kind of made people proud at home and surprised a lot of people outside of the United States, maybe in Brazil or in Europe," he said. The highest overall ratings for the U.S.-Belgium game came in New York, Nielsen said. ESPN said that overall viewership for the World Cup is up 44 percent over 2010.
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07-06-2014, 10:02 PM	#171
jd1020 In Search of a Life Join Date: Nov 2010 Casino cash: $7742645	You mean to tell me that every player of a sport has just been practicing for a very long time at their sport and have become good at it? BREAKING NEWS!!!!
Posts: 24,322