tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277718557420684316.post9140639693704761287..comments2020-11-03T04:03:04.797+00:00Comments on Meme Logic: Why is football (soccer) so popular?Sylvainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350442622514310015noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277718557420684316.post-587636270486086102013-02-11T21:00:26.688+00:002013-02-11T21:00:26.688+00:00Just realised I never replied to you Leo. Sorry !
...Just realised I never replied to you Leo. Sorry !<br />You are making very good points here. Likening the randomness of football with the randomness of life seems very relevant as people often relate to players just like one would relate to a the hero of a movie facing chaotic challenges.<br />And yes, the other point you make would reinforce this feeling.<br />I also see similarities with what Taz said below.Sylvainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16350442622514310015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277718557420684316.post-60770772706193034342013-02-11T20:52:52.595+00:002013-02-11T20:52:52.595+00:00Thanks for your comment Taz.
Good point. When tea...Thanks for your comment Taz.<br /><br />Good point. When teams are of a similar level and scores are very close, then luck plays a significant role too. When running a 100m, having a good or a bad night sleep can change everything, even for a 100th of a second.<br /><br />With regard to the bond, I feel there are many sports where this bonding effect can happen, what most interest me here is to know what actually makes football different.<br /><br />But you're right to insist that luck is important, if sports were too predictable they would just be boring.Sylvainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16350442622514310015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277718557420684316.post-22007486970816699362013-02-11T13:30:52.568+00:002013-02-11T13:30:52.568+00:00Taz.
Interesting article Sylvain, I would like to...Taz.<br /><br />Interesting article Sylvain, I would like to argue and add a few things as well.<br />One of the advantages I think of a team sport is that fans are able to relate to specific players, players that they find an affinity to and hence build a personal relationship. Surprisingly from experience with friends it's not always the most talented player on the pitch that they build this bond with. These bonds though superficial on the surface makes the fans invest in the game, it's no longer just about whether the team wins or loses but the theater played out on the grass. <br /><br />In regards to luck, all sports when it reaches the height of perfection, where each party is almost if not equal in talent and ability boils down to chance, a slip here an error there and the car who was leading the race for 49 laps is against the wall. The blistered foot that throws a tennis players concentration. This is why you will find that most sportsmen are very superstitious, Nadal one of the greatest Tennis players in the world can't serve a ball without picking his ass.<br /><br />Luck is a universal attraction to all sports, a final throw of the ball as the buzzer goes, and the crowd are on their feet as they watch a three pointer steals the game for good. Essentially what I am saying is, all sports are a game of chance when the players are equal, whether you have a score of 1-0 or a score of 101-100.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277718557420684316.post-9727256552303180032010-11-27T17:39:17.723+00:002010-11-27T17:39:17.723+00:00Always interesting reading your thoughts. There p...Always interesting reading your thoughts. There probably is some interesting psychological variable (tolerance of ambiguity comes to mind) here.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00013536181034926563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277718557420684316.post-57891883387704746172010-11-26T20:09:47.027+00:002010-11-26T20:09:47.027+00:00Hi Sylvain
I'm just speculating here , but I t...Hi Sylvain<br />I'm just speculating here , but I think that luck and faith are important factors of the lives of a large part of humanity. Many people live in places where long term goals (forgive the pun) and plans are stymied by poverty and corruption. In this way, the very randomness of soccer mirrors the lives of many people around the world. <br />Another factor is that soccer is a game where you do not have to be very big or tall to reach the top levels. Of course positions such as central defense and goalkeeper are dominated by tall players, but for midfielders and strikers, there is every chance that you can succeed even if you are small. From the latest world cup winners Spain, their star players Iniesta and Xavi for example. In the past there have been players such as Michael Owen and Maradona to name but two. <br />I think that the games' randomness and the fact that with hard work and skill, even small undernourished players from the streets can succeed in the game, gives soccer a winning combination. <br /><br />p.s There are other factors I haven't even mentioned such as strong links between clubs and religions and/or class. For example Real Madrid (establishment) vs Barcelona (community owned), Glasgow Celtic (Catholic) and Glasgow Rangers (Protestant unionist)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015823857268275481noreply@blogger.com