Which Team USA Accomplishment Would You Rather See?

[guccimaneburrrr]

This is the poll question on ESPN.com right now but I thought it'd be interesting to see what you guys think. It might be one sided but....

Would you rather see USA win a Gold Medal in Olympic Hockey or have our soccer team win the 2010 World Cup?

[xbrokendownx]

im a bigger hockey fan than i am soccer fan (although i love both), so i would say gold medal on hockey

[EvilZeppelin]

Team Canada's response to losing in Hockey to Team USA..... http://images.askmen.com/daily/blogs/entertainment/canadians-respond-to-hockey-upset-flash.jpg

[guccimaneburrrr]

awesome

totally pertains to the queation at hand

[deadstar]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4382076164_b265c76611.jpg


I voted soccer. Pretty easily too. It would have a much bigger worldwide impact than an Olympic hockey tournament.

[Mibabalou]

hahah

soccer

[Scott Weber]

world cup, not even CLOSE.

winning the stanley cup means about 10,000 times as much as winning the MLS cup, soccer is the world's sport and on a national and global level hoisting a world cup would dominate olympic gold.

[WakingTheMisery]

Soccer.

[Mibabalou]

WELL I LIKE ITALY ANYWAYS BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER IS FROM THERE, AND PIRLO IS God

[guccimaneburrrr]

world cup, not even CLOSE.

winning the stanley cup means about 10,000 times as much as winning the MLS cup, soccer is the world's sport and on a national and global level hoisting a world cup would dominate olympic gold.

all of this

[xbrokendownx]

WELL I LIKE ITALY ANYWAYS BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER IS FROM THERE, AND PIRLO IS God



http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/2/2u9qscn.gif

[WakingTheMisery]

I think coming into the Olympics, the US was seen as an underdog for sure but now that we've won a few, hockey fans can see the US as more of an actual medal front runner. With soccer, the US is not favored to do well considering some of the injuries we are facing. I don't see either sport as a forte of ours but it will definitely take more work for us to be successful in the world cup this year. Even coming off of a strong year, I see it being an up hill battle.

[guccimaneburrrr]

plus the US has already won Gold in the olympics

our national team has never made it further than the quarters in the world cup

[StuGrimson]

Id rather they win the World Cup because I dont care about that event

[Zeran]

i said hockey over soccer, even though i'm a bigger soccer fan because:
a) a u.s. win in the world cup would be seen as a fluke, and i'd rather us be considered good enough to win because of our skill and talent, so the world/home audience would appreciate our country as a soccer country
b) winning on canadian soil would just be perfect
c) the level of interest in soccer is progressively getting higher and higher, but it's not there yet so that the majority of americans would appreciate the significance of what a world cup victory would mean.

[guccimaneburrrr]

a) who cares if its a fluke, a world cup is a world cup
b) who cares if the majority of americans wouldn't appreciate it

a world cup win captures the whole world's attention while a gold medal in hockey catches the attention of only a handful of countries

[RX XR]

World cup, hands down.

[Scott Weber]

a) who cares if its a fluke, a world cup is a world cup
b) who cares if the majority of americans wouldn't appreciate it

a world cup win captures the whole world's attention while a gold medal in hockey catches the attention of only a handful of countries
seriously. a and b so hard.

[xbrokendownx]

i think part of my answer may have to do with the fact that i root for both the US and Italy equally in soccer and i have already witnessed a world cup victory, so i would like to see a gold medal win so that i have both

[CarlosLunes]

WELL I LIKE ITALY ANYWAYS BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER IS FROM THERE, AND PIRLO IS God

hahahahaha

[LastPlaceRocks]

Olympic Gold because this is a personal question, no one expected the present US team to do much, I wasn't alive for the Forgotten Miracle and Miracle on Ice and they have never won a Gold outside US soil. Plus this is America we're talking about - while winning the World Cup would be the soccer version of the Miracle on Ice, we already have the world's attention in everything. We always will.

[<*)))><]

World cup because that is the world sport and how else can we prove we are the best then winning. After all not like it is a real accomplishment to beat canada.

[zachff]

Soccer would be a WAY bigger upset, so while I voted hockey (I'm a hockey player/fan) soccer would be insane. The US is probably the 3rd or 4th best Olympic hockey team, but we're probably closer to 20th in soccer.

[TheOtherAndrew]

<---- Canadian says World Cup.

[guccimaneburrrr]

i just don't understand how you can root for another country other than the us equally like floyd or more like tate

[StuGrimson]

Either way you get a large group of people pretending to care about a sport they didnt a few weeks prior

[xbrokendownx]

i just don't understand how you can root for another country other than the us equally like floyd or more like tate



my father was born in italy and lived there for 10 years. i still have family there

[guccimaneburrrr]

Either way you get a large group of people pretending to care about a sport they didnt a few weeks prior

which is true regarding both international hockey and soccer

[LastPlaceRocks]

i just don't understand how you can root for another country other than the us equally like floyd or more like tate
It's one of three things:
1. You actually grew up in that country or are first-generation. This is the land of immigrants after all.
2. You actually don't care about soccer and just want to jump on someone's bandwagon; let's face it, outside of 2002 the US hasn't given anyone much to cheer about.
3. Self-hating American.

[guccimaneburrrr]

I'm an American with roots from England, Scotland and Ireland

American teams will always have priority over any other team and I'd like to see the aforementioned nations do well

[xbrokendownx]

having roots and being first generation are different though. my father is 100% italian and from there. italian was his first language. i was raised rooting for Italian soccer

the first sports memories i have are from the 1994 world cup Italy-Bulgaria soccer match

[guccimaneburrrr]

you being first generation is more explainable for liking italy as much as the US

and it was the 94 world cup

[LastPlaceRocks]

having roots and being first generation are different though. my father is 100% italian and from there. italian was his first language. i was raised rooting for Italian soccer

the first sports memories i have are from the 1996 world cup Italy-Bulgaria soccer match
I think you mean 94, or Bulgaria has a hockey team (and Italy has NHL players for that matter).

[xbrokendownx]

haha yea i did mean 94, i dont know why 96 stuck out in my head

[LastPlaceRocks]

By the way, that reminds me I've already seen the US win the World Cup.

[lauren1234]

I'm gonna say hockey.

[guccimaneburrrr]

By the way, that reminds me I've already seen the US win the World Cup.

women don't count they shouldn't even be allowed to vote

[StuGrimson]

women don't count they shouldn't even be allowed to vote

He is talking about the 1996 World Cup of Hockey

[LastPlaceRocks]

I'm not talking about women, although that one was a bad combination of sports and stripping.

[we are cured]

i appreciate soccer. i live hockey. easy choice for me.

[LastPlaceRocks]

He is talking about the 1996 World Cup of Hockey
And 2011.

[greenteaallday]

How this is even close is bizarre, World Cup by far.

[sleepyseanzzz]

even though i like hockey and i hate soccer and i think its dumb how america embraces it for one month every 4 years, i would much rather see america win the world cup because if someone like brazil wins it then it will be impossible for me to drive through the downtown area of my home town on my way to work this summer

also i think landon donovan has the least personality of any professional american athlete ive ever seen. he is the face of american soccer and he should be happy that they are finally a little bit successful and that more people are watching because of him

[LastPlaceRocks]

How this is even close is bizarre, World Cup by far.
It's easy - this is a personal question and between the people who care about hockey and the people who don't cheer for the US in soccer, it's close. Well that and it's a battle of two sports which the majority of people don't give a shit about.

[derekmoyer4]

The World Cup.

not even a debate.

[JJtrackie716]

Team Canada's response to losing in Hockey to Team USA..... http://images.askmen.com/daily/blogs/entertainment/canadians-respond-to-hockey-upset-flash.jpg

I sure hope their health care covers olympic ass beatings

[JJtrackie716]

Also, voted for the Gold medal since there is absolutely no chance we will win this World Cup or any in the forseeable future.

[Stavie Steelo]

Gold in Hockey easily, World Cup is cool to watch but I don't care to much about soccer.

[Zeran]

I'm an American with roots from England, Scotland and Ireland

American teams will always have priority over any other team and I'd like to see the aforementioned nations do well

that's how i feel as well.

[EvilZeppelin]

I sure hope their health care covers olympic ass beatings

HAHA.

[Zeran]

a) who cares if its a fluke, a world cup is a world cup
b) who cares if the majority of americans wouldn't appreciate it
well, i care, which is why i stated my opinion.

[drawndead]

Hockey over Soccer but I would love to see both

[Kurt Retenauer]

WELL I LIKE ITALY ANYWAYS BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER IS FROM THERE, AND PIRLO IS God

I lol'd.

That being said, FIFA World Cup. It's much more of a feat and more appreciated on an international level.

[Nick Hull]

I'm a bigger fan of soccer than I am hockey, but I'd be more excited to see our hockey team win it all than I would our soccer team.

[achassi]

I would cry if we won the FIFA World Cup. Not so much for a medal in hockey.

[JJtrackie716]

even though i like hockey and i hate soccer and i think its dumb how america embraces it for one month every 4 years, i would much rather see america win the world cup because if someone like brazil wins it then it will be impossible for me to drive through the downtown area of my home town on my way to work this summer

also i think landon donovan has the least personality of any professional american athlete ive ever seen. he is the face of american soccer and he should be happy that they are finally a little bit successful and that more people are watching because of him

I hate landon donavon and always have, will be glad when he retires.

[KidRobot]

I sure hope their health care covers olympic ass beatings

ahahahahahhahahaha

[derekmoyer4]

I would cry if we won the FIFA World Cup. Not so much for a medal in hockey.
i would do the same thing.

[derekmoyer4]

also 12 teams in Olympic hockey, 32 teams in FIFA World Cup.

[preppyak]

world cup, not even CLOSE.

winning the stanley cup means about 10,000 times as much as winning the MLS cup, soccer is the world's sport and on a national and global level hoisting a world cup would dominate olympic gold.
This.

The US just getting into the knockout round when we hosted it had a big impact on soccer in the US...can't even imagine if we won the thing.

[MyWorldEntire]

Definitely the World Cup.

[vodka red bull]

olympic gold in water polo would mean more than the world cup and gold in ice hockey.

just kidding i would love that though

the US winning the world cup would pretty much solidify US domination in pretty much all relevant team sports in the world. that is the one dark spot on the US in terms on team sports in my opinion.

[LastPlaceRocks]

This.

The US just getting into the knockout round when we hosted it had a big impact on soccer in the US...can't even imagine if we won the thing.
Actually I think it was the fact we hosted the World Cup and were starting another top league that had more to do with that than anything. Although on the other hand it did make the ass-whooping of 1998 not seem right (as did the hockey guys in Nagano after winning the '96 WC).

olympic gold in water polo would mean more than the world cup and gold in ice hockey.

just kidding i would love that though

the US winning the world cup would pretty much solidify US domination in pretty much all relevant team sports in the world. that is the one dark spot on the US in terms on team sports in my opinion.
If we can get both...

[showmethefever]

Personally, I'd rather see gold in the Olympics, but the World Cup would most likely have a bigger impact.

[robat19]

Either way you get a large group of people pretending to care about a sport they didnt a few weeks prior
yep

[JGood4]

World Cup. The US has already won hockey gold before. Winning the World Cup would greatly help the growth of soccer here. The US is one of the top 5 or 6 hockey countries in the world. The same can't be said for soccer. Plus soccer is more popular worldwide.

[Oddpac87]

WELL I LIKE ITALY ANYWAYS BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER IS FROM THERE, AND PIRLO IS God
:-d Well done sir.

[inthemidst]

im a bigger hockey fan than i am soccer fan (although i love both), so i would say gold medal on hockey

This. I'd love to see the USA take gold in Hockey. I don't think it's the equivalent of the "Miracle on Ice" 30 years ago, but it's still pretty great.

[J.C.]

World Cup and it's not much of a question in my mind.

[Killadelphia]

I prefer Olympic Gold because I prefer hockey over soccer.

Winning the world cup would indeed have the biggest impact though because playing soccer is 1000x less expensive than playing hockey as a youth. So there will be more wannabe Donovans than Millers.

I really don't think I'd enjoy either less than the other though.

I think another quarterfinal birth for the USA is an accomplishment in itself though.

[LastPlaceRocks]

The only thing I don't understand is that the US has been awaiting the "soccer revolution" for like fifty years as more and more kids grow up playing the game.

[Killadelphia]

The only thing I don't understand is that the US has been awaiting the "soccer revolution" for like fifty years as more and more kids grow up playing the game.

Yeah, but instead of staying in soccer, they go to other sports in middle/high school.

[Kurt Retenauer]

The only thing I don't understand is that the US has been awaiting the "soccer revolution" for like fifty years as more and more kids grow up playing the game.

More and more kids grow up playing the game inferior to Europeans, is the problem. Europe has better instructors, coaches, camps (schools of soccer), and they take their U17 and U20 leagues much more seriously. They train the kids to be pros. And, when a great soccer player does arise in America, they typically go over to Europe anyways because there's more of a market/more money there.

[guccimaneburrrr]

i also think more kids are prone to not play soccer in middle school/high school in places that tend to have a colder climate

any truth to this statement east coasters?

[LastPlaceRocks]

Yeah, but instead of staying in soccer, they go to other sports in middle/high school.
That's the point - I don't see there being a big tipping point with soccer, even with a WC win or good finish as they've been in a holding pattern. We're still barely seeing the rise of American hockey players thirty years after the Miracle on Ice, the growth of the best league in our backyard and twenty years after Gretzky going to LA and we're seeing the same thing on a smaller level with players growing up from the 94 World Cup. I hope I'm wrong though and a good showing or victory spurs more great Americans twenty years down the line.

[Killadelphia]

i also think more kids are prone to not play soccer in middle school/high school in places that tend to have a colder climate

any truth to this statement east coasters?

No, our soccer was a fall sport during school. Most of the kids who were hardcore into soccer were playing indoor soccer in the winter, or they would practice and travel to tournaments around the country.

The weather works both ways though. Many colleges look for pitchers from colder climates because it generally means they have less wear and tear on their arm.

More and more kids grow up playing the game inferior to Europeans, is the problem. Europe has better instructors, coaches, camps (schools of soccer), and they take their U17 and U20 leagues much more seriously. They train the kids to be pros. And, when a great soccer player does arise in America, they typically go over to Europe anyways because there's more of a market/more money there.

This. The development is different. In America, we have better football, baseball, and basketball instructors than any other country. Hockey is getting to be pretty good too, but most of them are not from the States, but more or less Canadian or former professional players.

[Killadelphia]

That's the point - I don't see there being a big tipping point with soccer, even with a WC win or good finish as they've been in a holding pattern. We're still barely seeing the rise of American hockey players thirty years after the Miracle on Ice, the growth of the best league in our backyard and twenty years after Gretzky going to LA and we're seeing the same thing on a smaller level with players growing up from the 94 World Cup. I hope I'm wrong though and a good showing or victory spurs more great Americans twenty years down the line.

That and the fact futbol is what baseball is to us in 95% of the world.

[LastPlaceRocks]

This. The development is different. In America, we have better football, baseball, and basketball instructors than any other country. Hockey is getting to be pretty good too, but most of them are not from the States, but more or less Canadian or former professional players.
When did Minnesota secede?

[Killadelphia]

When did Minnesota secede?

I should have included Canadian border states.

[Kurt Retenauer]

No, our soccer was a fall sport during school. Most of the kids who were hardcore into soccer were playing indoor soccer in the winter, or they would practice and travel to tournaments around the country.

The weather works both ways though. Many colleges look for pitchers from colder climates because it generally means they have less wear and tear on their arm.



This. The development is different. In America, we have better football, baseball, and basketball instructors than any other country. Hockey is getting to be pretty good too, but most of them are not from the States, but more or less Canadian or former professional players.

Right. It's almost like we train kids to just enjoy playing soccer, knowing that they can't really "go pro," which is a shame, but many kids don't aspire to "go pro" as a soccer player, mainly because they know it's not marketed well here, or they'd have to play in England/Spain/Italy, etc. I mean, I don't imagine many kids start playing soccer aspiring to play for the MLS at their peak, because again, it's just not marketed well.

America can't just be the best at everything. Like you said, we would trounce anyone in football, baseball, and basketball. And, occasionally, hockey.

[LastPlaceRocks]

I should have included Canadian border states.
That's more or less the majority of our instructors, although there are a decent amount of Canadians or former pros.

[Killadelphia]

Right. It's almost like we train kids to just enjoy playing soccer, knowing that they can't really "go pro," which is a shame, but many kids don't aspire to "go pro" as a soccer player, mainly because they know it's not marketed well here, or they'd have to play in England/Spain/Italy, etc. I mean, I don't imagine many kids start playing soccer aspiring to play for the MLS at their peak, because again, it's just not marketed well.

America can't just be the best at everything. Like you said, we would trounce anyone in football, baseball, and basketball. And, occasionally, hockey.

Most kids play soccer at a young age because their parents a) need a babysitter b) want their kid to make more friends.

[Kurt Retenauer]

Most kids play soccer at a young age because their parents a) need a babysitter b) want their kid to make more friends.

Haha this is very true. A ton of my friends tried playing it just because their friends did, and because at a young age it's not very competitive (for them at least, soccer moms are another story) and typically won't get you hurt, not to mention it's not as intimidating as football and baseball.

[Killadelphia]

Haha this is very true. A ton of my friends tried playing it just because their friends did, and because at a young age it's not very competitive (for them at least, soccer moms are another story) and typically won't get you hurt, not to mention it's not as intimidating as football and baseball.

Yeah, when I was younger I went from:

Spring: Soccer/Baseball
Summer: Baseball
Fall: Soccer/Football
Winter: Basketball

to when I was junior in high school.

Spring: Baseball
Summer: Baseball
Fall: Baseball
Winter: Training for baseball

And I was a goaltender who allowed 1 goal all season when I was 10 or 11 for our traveling team and I can still blast a soccer ball from afar.

...and of all that, I coach basketball.

[Kurt Retenauer]

Yeah, when I was younger I went from:

Spring: Soccer/Baseball
Summer: Baseball
Fall: Soccer/Football
Winter: Basketball

to when I was junior in high school.

Spring: Baseball
Summer: Baseball
Fall: Baseball
Winter: Training for baseball

And I was a goaltender who allowed 1 goal all season when I was 10 or 11 for our traveling team and I can still blast a soccer ball from afar.

...and of all that, I coach basketball.

Ah, you were a keeper. Mad props; I tried it one game, gave up 3 goals on 8 shots, haha. I hated keeper. I was typically a fullback. I played soccer from when I was in like, 5th grade until 12th grade (I played for my high school team, but I quit after high school) I played baseball in the spring/summer from 3rd grade until 10th grade, and basketball from 3rd grade to 12th grade (Christian league, not high school.)

Pretty funny that you were all about baseball, but now coach basketball, haha.

[Killadelphia]

Ah, you were a keeper. Mad props; I tried it one game, gave up 3 goals on 8 shots, haha. I hated keeper. I was typically a fullback. I played soccer from when I was in like, 5th grade until 12th grade (I played for my high school team, but I quit after high school)

Pretty funny that you were all about baseball, but now coach basketball, haha.

I've been ask to help train young pitchers, but it is a pain... and I hate my hs, so I'd never coach for them.

[Kurt Retenauer]

I've been ask to help train young pitchers, but it is a pain... and I hate my hs, so I'd never coach for them.

Yeah my friend trains younger pitchers up at Muhlenberg (plays baseball there, too) as his job while he's in school. He hates it too, so I can imagine it sucks.

Same boat with my high school. Not willing to give them another dime/ounce of my effort.

[LastPlaceRocks]

Yeah, when I was younger I went from:

Spring: Soccer/Baseball
Summer: Baseball
Fall: Soccer/Football
Winter: Basketball

to when I was junior in high school.

Spring: Baseball
Summer: Baseball
Fall: Baseball
Winter: Training for baseball

And I was a goaltender who allowed 1 goal all season when I was 10 or 11 for our traveling team and I can still blast a soccer ball from afar.

...and of all that, I coach basketball.
I was a keeper too for the most part, which is weird because at that age I never wanted to be a hockey goalie (hell I still don't - it suicide).

[showmethefever]

i also think more kids are prone to not play soccer in middle school/high school in places that tend to have a colder climate

any truth to this statement east coasters?
I doubt it. All of the other outdoor sports go through the same climate.

[showmethefever]

Yeah, when I was younger I went from:

Spring: Soccer/Baseball
Summer: Baseball
Fall: Soccer/Football
Winter: Basketball

to when I was junior in high school.

Spring: Baseball
Summer: Baseball
Fall: Baseball
Winter: Training for baseball

And I was a goaltender who allowed 1 goal all season when I was 10 or 11 for our traveling team and I can still blast a soccer ball from afar.

...and of all that, I coach basketball.
Same here, I still play football, but even during that I travel on the weekends to play baseball.

[Killadelphia]

I was a keeper too for the most part, which is weird because at that age I never wanted to be a hockey goalie (hell I still don't - it suicide).

I wish I was able to play hockey, but I just didn't have the resources. My dad was telling me stories of street hockey in Philadelphia when each street or region had their own team. And the shit they used to use for pads, pucks, etc, was wild. He was forced to play goalie because he shot too hard. He shot one time on me with my shitty mylec pads and I had a bruise for a week...and it hit the padding. But he's also 6'5"

[StuGrimson]

In our highschool the soccer team was made up of refugees from kosovo and then the filled out the roster by asking the kids with the best grades if they wanted to play

[showmethefever]

I wish I was able to play hockey, but I just didn't have the resources. My dad was telling me stories of street hockey in Philadelphia when each street or region had their own team. And the shit they used to use for pads, pucks, etc, was wild.
In like 3rd grade I had the option to play hockey, but I didn't want to give basketball up and I thought it would be hard to play both. I kind of regret it, because hockey is one of my favorite sports to watch.

[Killadelphia]

In like 3rd grade I had the option to play hockey, but I didn't want to give basketball up and I thought it would be hard to play both. I kind of regret it, because hockey is one of my favorite sports to watch.

I think if I had stayed in Philly, I probably would have played hockey.

[showmethefever]

I think if I had stayed in Philly, I probably would have played hockey.
The town I grew up in had a great hockey program, so if I was still there I'd definitely regret it. But where I live now, the teams are shitty and the rink is pretty fucking small. My little brother plays and it's just not a good program at the moment.

[LastPlaceRocks]

I wish I was able to play hockey, but I just didn't have the resources. My dad was telling me stories of street hockey in Philadelphia when each street or region had their own team. And the shit they used to use for pads, pucks, etc, was wild. He was forced to play goalie because he shot too hard. He shot one time on me with my shitty mylec pads and I had a bruise for a week...and it hit the padding. But he's also 6'5"
We did that with football, although it helped that our street had a former NFL player. I got lucky with hockey, namely because there was a rink a half-mile away and I really took to skating lessons.

[Killadelphia]

We did that with football, although it helped that our street had a former NFL player. I got lucky with hockey, namely because there was a rink a half-mile away and I really took to skating lessons.

Yeah, our closest are like 30-40 minutes away, plus I had baseball in my blood, so my parents didn't bother.

[bigmike]

More and more kids grow up playing the game inferior to Europeans, is the problem. Europe has better instructors, coaches, camps (schools of soccer), and they take their U17 and U20 leagues much more seriously. They train the kids to be pros. And, when a great soccer player does arise in America, they typically go over to Europe anyways because there's more of a market/more money there.
I don't think a world cup win will change much of that, though, unfortunately.

[Kurt Retenauer]

I don't think a world cup win will change much of that, though, unfortunately.

Me either. That was the point of my post. I think it will have a bigger impact on America (and, American soccer) for a short period of time, but long run, not much at all. I don't think anything can make American's like soccer more; there's already too much of a market stored in other sports.

[pshh]

world cup is most definitely not happening.

[DCD08]

We did that with football, although it helped that our street had a former NFL player. I got lucky with hockey, namely because there was a rink a half-mile away and I really took to skating lessons.


holy shit team player records..........nathan?

[KarolaBloch]

I have roots from New Jersey, but I still root for the US in everything.

[LastPlaceRocks]

holy shit team player records..........nathan?
Yes?