Originally Posted by
T8191
Soccer? Ptui. Double Ptui, in fact.
Football is the proper name, but of course in the US, they give that name to the funny game with guys who have unnatural looking shoulders that the referee keeps spoiling by stopping play every time someone gets the ball.
However, all these cultural differences make for amusing bar-talk, whilst watching 8 different games on 12 different TVs. The BIG positive is that, unlike UK, you
don't tend to get your head kicked in for supporting the wrong Team
I agree there. Went to Miami a few weeks ago on a "Volunteer Crew" trip. The captain and a couple of my crew colleagues drifted into a bar with a Spanish sounding name and lined up the beers (and a "party pooper" coca cola pour moi moi). A football (okay "soccer" pftui, pftui) game was in progress on the incredible wall-size TV between the USA and Mexico. All around us was excited Spanish chatter!
Mexico scored - we cheered thinking that the crowd in the bar would want Mexico to win! To our surprise and chagrin, other occupants of the bar booed! The bartender leaned across and said, confidentially, "You see, even though the regulars are largely Hispanic, they still see themselves as American first and foremost. They are all rooting for the USA!"
Never once felt any threat though for cheering the wrong side!
Would I have got away with cheering West Ham in a bar full of Millwall supporters?