Comments on: German Quagmire http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:00:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rob G http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-159189 Rob G Wed, 14 Jun 2006 17:32:49 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-159189 The U.S. did look a bit under the weather. Maybe they needed some ∗ liver oil. The U.S. did look a bit under the weather. Maybe they needed some ∗ liver oil.

]]> By: ajay http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-159154 ajay Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:27:25 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-159154 "Today’s result shows diplomatic good wishes won’t do it, so that leaves the other two standard policy tools for strategic foreign intervention..." Five, actually. Let Sir Humphrey explain - the context is learning that a visiting African leader is set to give a rather inflammatory speech: "Well, Minister, we have the usual six options. One, do nothing. Two, issue a statement deploring the speech. Three, make an official protest. Four, cut off aid. Five, cut off trade relations. Six, declare war. "But if we do nothing we implicitly agree with the speech. If we issue a statement we just look foolish. If we make an official protest it will be ignored. We can't cut off aid because we don't give him any. If we cut off trade relations he will be unable to negotiate the oil rig contract. And, if we declare war, it might just look as though we were over-reacting." “Today’s result shows diplomatic good wishes won’t do it, so that leaves the other two standard policy tools for strategic foreign intervention…”

Five, actually. Let Sir Humphrey explain – the context is learning that a visiting African leader is set to give a rather inflammatory speech:

“Well, Minister, we have the usual six options. One, do nothing. Two, issue a statement deploring the speech. Three, make an official protest. Four, cut off aid. Five, cut off trade relations. Six, declare war.
“But if we do nothing we implicitly agree with the speech. If we issue a statement we just look foolish. If we make an official protest it will be ignored. We can’t cut off aid because we don’t give him any. If we cut off trade relations he will be unable to negotiate the oil rig contract. And, if we declare war, it might just look as though we were over-reacting.”

]]> By: The Continental Op http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-159098 The Continental Op Wed, 14 Jun 2006 03:57:00 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-159098 Is it safe for me to admit that I am totally rooting for my Czechs to win the World Cup, and that I was thrilled with the whupping they dished out to Team USA? And can the pundits now please stop talking about how overrated the Czech team are? Is it safe for me to admit that I am totally rooting for my Czechs to win the World Cup, and that I was thrilled with the whupping they dished out to Team USA? And can the pundits now please stop talking about how overrated the Czech team are?

]]> By: Seth Edenbaum http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-159094 Seth Edenbaum Wed, 14 Jun 2006 03:30:43 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-159094 "European socialism" It's called "Social Democracy" I think. “European socialism”

It’s called “Social Democracy” I think.

]]> By: Cala http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-159068 Cala Tue, 13 Jun 2006 22:35:04 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-159068 Oh, come on. It's not as though soccer exists in a wonderful advert-less paradise but gets stomped! upon! by American capitalism while European socialism holds hands. Ad styles are different, certainly, but the 'culture as an aspect of capitalism' argument just doesn't hold up given 'Samsung' and other advertisers emblazoned on team's chests. We'd just have to market it more like NASCAR: plaster ads on everything. Oh, come on. It’s not as though soccer exists in a wonderful advert-less paradise but gets stomped! upon! by American capitalism while European socialism holds hands. Ad styles are different, certainly, but the ‘culture as an aspect of capitalism’ argument just doesn’t hold up given ‘Samsung’ and other advertisers emblazoned on team’s chests.

We’d just have to market it more like NASCAR: plaster ads on everything.

]]> By: Seth Edenbaum http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-158984 Seth Edenbaum Tue, 13 Jun 2006 17:32:08 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-158984 "People watch golf, figureskating, and poker on TV, fer cryin’ out loud." Soccer is constant play. The only way to have ads is to scroll them accross the screen or give them a box in the corner. Lots of people watch the superbowl for the multimillion dollar commerical/mini-film/rock videos. The difference between capitalism as an aspect of culture and culture as an aspect of capitalism. “People watch golf, figureskating, and poker on TV, fer cryin’ out loud.”

Soccer is constant play. The only way to have ads is to scroll them accross the screen or give them a box in the corner. Lots of people watch the superbowl for the multimillion dollar commerical/mini-film/rock videos.

The difference between capitalism as an aspect of culture and culture as an aspect of capitalism.

]]> By: Bro. Bartleby http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-158978 Bro. Bartleby Tue, 13 Jun 2006 17:05:23 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-158978 Somehow Bro. Clarence got hold of a soccer ball, and for the past two days has been kicking it between his two feet (must be a soccer term for that?) as he makes his way to and fro, most of the brothers are ignoring him, although Bro. Juniper did sneak up from behind and was able to swipe at the ball with his sandaled foot, but a quick move by Bro. Clarence left Bro. Juniper on him hindside with photocopies of the Nag Hammadi manuscript scattered everywhere. Somehow Bro. Clarence got hold of a soccer ball, and for the past two days has been kicking it between his two feet (must be a soccer term for that?) as he makes his way to and fro, most of the brothers are ignoring him, although Bro. Juniper did sneak up from behind and was able to swipe at the ball with his sandaled foot, but a quick move by Bro. Clarence left Bro. Juniper on him hindside with photocopies of the Nag Hammadi manuscript scattered everywhere.

]]> By: Grand Moff Texan http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-158957 Grand Moff Texan Tue, 13 Jun 2006 14:47:43 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-158957 The problem with soccer's popularity in the US is that it doesn't fit well into our TV format. Too hard to advertise. People watch golf, figureskating, and poker on TV, fer cryin' out loud. . The problem with soccer’s popularity in the US is that it doesn’t fit well into our TV format. Too hard to advertise.

People watch golf, figureskating, and poker on TV, fer cryin’ out loud.
.

]]> By: Rob G http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-158949 Rob G Tue, 13 Jun 2006 13:57:06 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-158949 foolishmortal, I don't think Leeds merits an exclamation mark (unless you were being sarcastic). And I write that as a born and bred Leeds fan. I wouldn't be too concerned about the US team. They just need a Serbian coach, next time one of their roving band is available. foolishmortal, I don’t think Leeds merits an exclamation mark (unless you were being sarcastic). And I write that as a born and bred Leeds fan.

I wouldn’t be too concerned about the US team. They just need a Serbian coach, next time one of their roving band is available.

]]> By: shpx.ohfu http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-158944 shpx.ohfu Tue, 13 Jun 2006 13:34:52 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-158944 <i>They even got a pregame pep talk from President Bush</i> Sadim does it again. They even got a pregame pep talk from President Bush

Sadim does it again.

]]> By: dale http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-158916 dale Tue, 13 Jun 2006 10:25:42 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-158916 and on a further note, we (south africa) tends to appoint most of our national coaching team en masse from within the ranks of local leaugue coaches and assistants. which helps carry over that bush-league flavour we like so much. you might be doing the same. and on a further note, we (south africa) tends to appoint most of our national coaching team en masse from within the ranks of local leaugue coaches and assistants. which helps carry over that bush-league flavour we like so much. you might be doing the same.

]]> By: dale http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-158914 dale Tue, 13 Jun 2006 10:21:01 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-158914 the us won't be able to compete with the other nations meaningfully until US leagues become as competitive as those of other nations. while i appreciate that some US players are playing in other leagues, most aren't. what you saw was the difference between top competitors and other competitors, and you can't buy that - it's pace, attack, ruthlessness and guile in motion and there's no substitute. i come from south africa, and we have the same problem. while here, the sport is massively supported, the infrastructure is more corrupt/inept (depending on the extent of your charity) than even italy. the nett result is that the actual standard and intensity of play in the year-round leagues is pretty low, lacksadaisical (sp?)and otherwise pressure-free. (my brother goes so far as to call it cargo-cult football, and to an extent he's right.) this gets shown up every 4 years. the US seems to be in a similar predicament. which is odd. when you think of the large mexican-american and hispanic population, the basis of an intital audience exists, and certainly the cash to pump into the game exists. so maybe there's a disconnect betwen the potential audience and the current leagues or something. further note: this... "it looked like they were trying to protect a 1-0 deficit" ...is really funny. the us won’t be able to compete with the other nations meaningfully until US leagues become as competitive as those of other nations. while i appreciate that some US players are playing in other leagues, most aren’t. what you saw was the difference between top competitors and other competitors, and you can’t buy that – it’s pace, attack, ruthlessness and guile in motion and there’s no substitute.

i come from south africa, and we have the same problem. while here, the sport is massively supported, the infrastructure is more corrupt/inept (depending on the extent of your charity) than even italy. the nett result is that the actual standard and intensity of play in the year-round leagues is pretty low, lacksadaisical (sp?)and otherwise pressure-free. (my brother goes so far as to call it cargo-cult football, and to an extent he’s right.)

this gets shown up every 4 years.

the US seems to be in a similar predicament. which is odd. when you think of the large mexican-american and hispanic population, the basis of an intital audience exists, and certainly the cash to pump into the game exists. so maybe there’s a disconnect betwen the potential audience and the current leagues or something.

further note:

this…

“it looked like they were trying to protect a 1-0 deficit”

…is really funny.

]]> By: Jacob Christensen » Soccer Politics http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-158900 Jacob Christensen » Soccer Politics Tue, 13 Jun 2006 05:18:27 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-158900 [...] Kieran Healy of Crooked Timber has finally found a tv set which will receive World Cup games and won’t rule out airstrikes on Italy - and rightly so: A country with a tradition for destructive soccer really deserves that - while Eugene Robertson of the Washington Post warns against invading Iran just for the moment. [...] [...] Kieran Healy of Crooked Timber has finally found a tv set which will receive World Cup games and won’t rule out airstrikes on Italy – and rightly so: A country with a tradition for destructive soccer really deserves that – while Eugene Robertson of the Washington Post warns against invading Iran just for the moment. [...]

]]> By: eb http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-158899 eb Tue, 13 Jun 2006 05:09:16 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-158899 <em>Could someone please explain the US gameplan today? Was there one?</em> Judging by their use of possession, it looked like they were trying to protect a 1-0 deficit. Could someone please explain the US gameplan today? Was there one?

Judging by their use of possession, it looked like they were trying to protect a 1-0 deficit.

]]> By: Randy Paul http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/german-quagmire/comment-page-1/#comment-158891 Randy Paul Tue, 13 Jun 2006 02:33:24 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/06/12/kiss-of-death/#comment-158891 Note to Bruce Arena: there's a technique called marking. Have your players use it next time. Also, remember: who controls the midfield wins the game. The best hope for the US v Italy is the fact that the game is taking place in Kaiserslautern, which is full of Americans and where I fell in love with the sport. Note to Bruce Arena: there’s a technique called marking. Have your players use it next time. Also, remember: who controls the midfield wins the game.

The best hope for the US v Italy is the fact that the game is taking place in Kaiserslautern, which is full of Americans and where I fell in love with the sport.

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