As was suggested in a previous blog, I would be a non-conformist if I watched soccer and lived in the US.  Check and Check.  Guess I am a non-conformist.  Now being a fan of soccer I always feel like it needs to be defended here in the US.  The main criticism that I always hear is that it's boring and there isn't enough scoring.  I hope to dispell that notion that low score = boring. 

     Let me start by examining the oposite, high scoring games.  To me, the most boring game to watch is basketball.  Two teams running up and down the court each scoring at least 80 points a game.  I fail to see the excitement in that.  If the game ends 86-84 is it any less exciting than a game that ends 40-38 or 24-22.  Obviously the quanity of points put up increases the chance for more astounding plays,  but I'm not one so easily wowed by quanity, I'll take quality any day over sheer quanity.  The ease in which points are put up by players diminishes the importance of each basket, sure when you win by one or two and make the arguement that every basket counted in that game, but in reality, the only baskets that count are in the last few minutes of the game making 3 1/2 quarters of the game almost meaningless (notice i said almost). 

     Now to switch sports, Baseball.  Pheww this is a tough one, enough people complain about just how boring the game is.  Yeah, alright, I'll stand down a bit on baseball, I personally love the game and scoring in baseball, well, is hard to compaire here.  Generally most real low scoring baseball games (under 4 runs for either team) can be a bit boring to the casual observer and let's face it, in 162 game schedule, you're gonna get some snoozers.  Higher scores in baseball do add excitement for the A.D.D. laden fans who have no appreciation for the game and the small nuiances and strategies that are baseball's bread and butter.  Most American League teams, (minus the Angels) have played limited strategy baseball, when is the last time you've seen an american leaguer bunt (again, minus the Angels players). You'd really have to think about it.  Most play swing for the fences.  There are some National League teams that play that style of ball as well, but they are few and far between (The Phils are a closet American League team).  Low scores work for baseball, as long as you have an attention span that is just longer than a Squirrels.

     Now I'm sure the sport most are thinking about when they say soccer games at 1-0 are boring is football.  And sure there is nothing more boring than a 6-3 football game.  Football needs scoring to keep it interesting.  Nobody wants to keep seeing the punters come on the field because you know that means no points this time either.  I'll agree, football needs points to be exciting, sure some lower scoring games can be exciting. and sometimes those are the best games the games we all remember.  Which leads me into why 1-0 does not equal boring.

     How many people have made the arguement that soccer is boring because of the low scores yet never actually watched a game of soccer all the way through in their life.  This is what those soccer nay-sayers don't understand, in soccer (and in life) a lot of the game and excitement is the journey, not the end result.  I don't think that many understand the kind of skill and strategy involved in the game.  Is every 0-0, 1-0 game exciting, by no means.  But many astounding games are, there is the ever increasing build up, pressure, intensity.  In soccer there are very few meaningless goals.  Everything that happens is important to outcome of the game.  If anyone who doubts the excitement of a low scoring game even a 0-0 game, practice by watching the NHL.  Where the most exciting game of the year was 0-0 game between the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers.  Bottom line, More points doesn't equal more excitment.