World Cup and US interest - Actually surprising result!!!!

Everything, other than the US team performance.. and maybe even that, coming out of this WC is actually POSITIVE for the advancement of the sport in the US.

1. Network coverage.. ESPN/ABC played it just right.. much good coverage on all ESPN shows without seeming to shove it down the viewers' throats
{I tried to maintain the 'casual viewer' perspective most times, even Balboa's color while annoying to us was probably positive for the sometime fan.}

2. More attacking soccer on the part of most teams. But the US sport fan understands defense, too if he sees it up close and personal. Which leads us to..

3. Great camera/replay coverage... showed the fouls and physical side, rather than covering it up. If you like like rasslin' or a great forearm shiver in NFL, how could you not like...

4. The tendency of even a casual fan to pick a team and follow them... this coverage made it possible, unlike in the past.

- in fact, the US team going out in the group rounds may end up a positive... now that the game is in the conscience, the McBride bloody face and the effort against Italy will be positive... and the fact of US being relatively poor; is, in the mind of MOST, just as it should be.

We'll see for sure when the final ratings are out, but I think it will be the most successful US WC ratings ever.

I've always been an optimist, and I think I have reason to be.

 

RE: World Cup and US interest - Actually surprising result!!

I disagree with #2. There were less goals scored in this World Cup than most any other World Cup. Attacking soccer was not played all that much. In fact, the dreaded 4-5-1 reared its ugly head into the Cup far too often as far as I am concerned. Damn Greeks in 2004 got everyone on board with that!

 

RE: World Cup and US interest - Actually surprising result!!

I think the simple fact that the time of day that the games were played helped viewership and following of the games online, rather than the last one which were during the night here. The 2010 World Cup in South Africa will be the same timezone as Germany I believe, which will be good too. The best hope is that South America gets the 2014 World Cup (only thinking 8 years ahead now!!!) so that the games will be mostly late afternoon/evening for eacy viewing.

 

RE: World Cup and US interest - Actually surprising result!!

Tom:
I wouldnt be looking at scoring, I'd be looking at shots and SOG.

You are probably right on scoring, but I saw less time spent in the midfield passing {yes, we all like the build-up, but it can get tedious at times} and about the right amount of long passing. IOW,, just a pretty good balance.

Anecdotal

Johnny Bench, to Mike Golic "Someone lip read the Italian Guy saying to Zidane, 'I hear you are wearing Prada' "
- And, yes, Bench pronounced Zidane correctly.

ABC ratings... 12 million watched; looks like the final game matched or beat every other televised sport final other than Superbowl.

 

Re: RE: World Cup and US interest - Actually surprising resu

This is fantastic news. I am glad to hear about this. Perhaps interest in the game is growing more than we think.