Comments for PZ's Place http://www.ericpz.com Many wonder what's going on in my head...most wonder if anything is going on, here's a place to find out. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:37:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 Comment on How much is enough? by Nathan http://www.ericpz.com/soccer/how-much-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-1818 Nathan Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:37:12 +0000 http://www.ericpz.com/?p=3042#comment-1818 My prediction: the EPL will expand over to the US and put a team somewhere on the East Coast (most likely NYC). My prediction: the EPL will expand over to the US and put a team somewhere on the East Coast (most likely NYC).

]]> Comment on Stop telling me what to think by Kevin Mulvey http://www.ericpz.com/soccer/stop-telling-me-what-to-think/comment-page-1/#comment-1800 Kevin Mulvey Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:52:49 +0000 http://www.ericpz.com/?p=3050#comment-1800 You're so right about Cohen. The attacks on him were so viscious and also racially motivated....one of the e-mails read out on the last broadcast was "Scousers 1 Yids 0". The small-mindedness of people attacking his right to speak freely and provocatively on an admittedly controversial topic has cost two pioneeers their livelihood and has cost North American fans their richest and their only daily source of football news. I have to have music or even public radio or the dreaded CNN on my Sirius now...and I had plenty of other sources for those. I don't agree about Beckham. Yes he did raise the profile of the game here and yes it needed raising and yes he can still play....but it's all about opinions, innit, and that's why the Cohen saga is so sad !! Great article! You’re so right about Cohen. The attacks on him were so viscious and also racially motivated….one of the e-mails read out on the last broadcast was “Scousers 1 Yids 0″. The small-mindedness of people attacking his right to speak freely and provocatively on an admittedly controversial topic has cost two pioneeers their livelihood and has cost North American fans their richest and their only daily source of football news. I have to have music or even public radio or the dreaded CNN on my Sirius now…and I had plenty of other sources for those.
I don’t agree about Beckham. Yes he did raise the profile of the game here and yes it needed raising and yes he can still play….but it’s all about opinions, innit, and that’s why the Cohen saga is so sad !!

Great article!

]]> Comment on Stop telling me what to think by mj http://www.ericpz.com/soccer/stop-telling-me-what-to-think/comment-page-1/#comment-1799 mj Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:46:43 +0000 http://www.ericpz.com/?p=3050#comment-1799 1 - i agree ... we call it soccer ... when i'm in the uk i call it football ... and will usually refer to it as football with you and a few others ... but it's still soccer ... and it's soccer in australia too ... 2 - beckham's not a complete waste ... but the sad thing is ... more young girls play soccer here than all other sports COMBINED (and i know it's at the top or one of for boys) ... it's called AYSO ... but there's nothing really after it ... other sports are encouraged for the girls and their choices are usually limited ... but i should get back to what i was gonna say ... beckham sparked an interest in some people who only knew the name and not the game ... but it reminded me of 1995 ... after the world cup ... there are more people who recognize it ... but it's still not and will never be a top 3 sport here ... let's just accept this ... 3 - we can list too many tragedies involving football/soccer ... there are about 6 that come to mind immediately for me ... some even from central and south america and not just europe ... but people make STUPID comments all the time ... and there is such a desperation to be pc in society that expressing an opinion and not backing down will lead to your dismissal ... oh well ... couple of things ... i can't stand cohen and that other clown or their completely ludicrous call in or the radio show ... nor 95% of the fsc commentators ... i don't mind jeremy st. louis and that other guy that i can't think of his name right now (no not christian) ... but the ONLY guy on fsc that has a clue is bobby mcmahon ... and max bretos needs to STFU ... sucks i can't watch the champions league in hd anymore ... espn you SUCK !!! espn you do NOT suck ... because you now have the early sat morning and some monday/weds matches and you scored a deal the day before the epl started ... THANK YOU ... and you have the same sky commentators, and not your own ... which brings me to that ... espn ... YOU SUCK again ... 1/2 your studio and commentators are alright ... but the other half ... please no ... i will rant another time ... but here's a short list of the worst 1 - marcelo balboa - you were an AWESOME player for us ... but please do NOT EVER, FUCKING NEVER AGAIN comment on a match ... i beg you ... and i think i won't ever have to listen to you again because you're working for telemundo/mun2 ... and any match on telemundo i'm gonna ALWAYS listen to andreas cantor and whomever else IN SPANISH because they care about the game and actually are enthused about it .. 2 - john harkes - just stay in the studio and comment there ... no live matches for you ... you have some good things to say there ... 3 - that guy, i can't remember his name, who did the euro coverage last year ... the one you set up as your lead guy ... 4 - rob stone ... you just suck ... please do those other sports and not soccer/football ... here's a few i like 1 - shaka hislop ... he played the game ... he was a great keeper and has a clue ... 2 - alexei lalas ... but please stay in the studio ... 3 - even though i think i'll get some flack for this ... i like derek rae ... tommy smyth ... jp dellacamera ... they CARE about the game and you can hear it when they talk ... i have a huge list on either side ... but this is just my 2¢ ... no change needed ... thanks for the forum ... from the one true united fan you know to the only person i know who supports ipswich town ... 1 – i agree … we call it soccer … when i’m in the uk i call it football … and will usually refer to it as football with you and a few others … but it’s still soccer … and it’s soccer in australia too …

2 – beckham’s not a complete waste … but the sad thing is … more young girls play soccer here than all other sports COMBINED (and i know it’s at the top or one of for boys) … it’s called AYSO … but there’s nothing really after it … other sports are encouraged for the girls and their choices are usually limited … but i should get back to what i was gonna say …

beckham sparked an interest in some people who only knew the name and not the game … but it reminded me of 1995 … after the world cup … there are more people who recognize it … but it’s still not and will never be a top 3 sport here … let’s just accept this …

3 – we can list too many tragedies involving football/soccer … there are about 6 that come to mind immediately for me … some even from central and south america and not just europe … but people make STUPID comments all the time … and there is such a desperation to be pc in society that expressing an opinion and not backing down will lead to your dismissal … oh well …

couple of things …

i can’t stand cohen and that other clown or their completely ludicrous call in or the radio show … nor 95% of the fsc commentators … i don’t mind jeremy st. louis and that other guy that i can’t think of his name right now (no not christian) … but the ONLY guy on fsc that has a clue is bobby mcmahon … and max bretos needs to STFU …

sucks i can’t watch the champions league in hd anymore … espn you SUCK !!!

espn you do NOT suck … because you now have the early sat morning and some monday/weds matches and you scored a deal the day before the epl started … THANK YOU …

and you have the same sky commentators, and not your own … which brings me to that … espn … YOU SUCK again … 1/2 your studio and commentators are alright … but the other half … please no … i will rant another time … but here’s a short list of the worst

1 – marcelo balboa – you were an AWESOME player for us … but please do NOT EVER, FUCKING NEVER AGAIN comment on a match … i beg you … and i think i won’t ever have to listen to you again because you’re working for telemundo/mun2 … and any match on telemundo i’m gonna ALWAYS listen to andreas cantor and whomever else IN SPANISH because they care about the game and actually are enthused about it ..

2 – john harkes – just stay in the studio and comment there … no live matches for you … you have some good things to say there …

3 – that guy, i can’t remember his name, who did the euro coverage last year … the one you set up as your lead guy …

4 – rob stone … you just suck … please do those other sports and not soccer/football …

here’s a few i like

1 – shaka hislop … he played the game … he was a great keeper and has a clue …

2 – alexei lalas … but please stay in the studio …

3 – even though i think i’ll get some flack for this … i like derek rae … tommy smyth … jp dellacamera … they CARE about the game and you can hear it when they talk …

i have a huge list on either side … but this is just my 2¢ … no change needed …

thanks for the forum … from the one true united fan you know to the only person i know who supports ipswich town …

]]> Comment on How much is enough? by rw http://www.ericpz.com/soccer/how-much-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-1798 rw Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:37:09 +0000 http://www.ericpz.com/?p=3042#comment-1798 First off, the MLS versus EPL ratings comparison isn't really all that important. And it isn't the negative thing that it may seem on the face of it. Because ultimately what's good for soccer in the US is good for MLS. Just like interest in the national team drives interest in MLS. Interest in foreign leagues is good for the game, and will eventually lead to more interest in MLS. But, second, you're spot on in regards to how MLS should be "marketed". Sure the Galaxy got a lot of attention and screaming girls in the seats when they brought in Beckham. But ultimately the big star idea is not a recipe for long term success. Building local die-hard support is. I'm from Portland, and it's exciting to see the Timbers continuing to do just that. The Timbers attendance in this record-setting season has been great, but it wasn't that much different last year when we finished last (ouch. hard for me to even say that). The team is a part of the city's identity. If you tie the two together -- growing interest in foreign leagues and teams with strong local identities and grassroots support -- ultimately the guy watching EPL games on TV will discover that he might be able to get a similar experience in his own city. True, at this point, it's obviously not on the same level. But he can go to a game, sit with the rowdy fans, stand and sing -- and eventually he starts to live and die with his local team. And then starts watching more MLS games from other markets on TV because the team he loves is in the same league. First off, the MLS versus EPL ratings comparison isn’t really all that important. And it isn’t the negative thing that it may seem on the face of it. Because ultimately what’s good for soccer in the US is good for MLS. Just like interest in the national team drives interest in MLS. Interest in foreign leagues is good for the game, and will eventually lead to more interest in MLS.

But, second, you’re spot on in regards to how MLS should be “marketed”. Sure the Galaxy got a lot of attention and screaming girls in the seats when they brought in Beckham. But ultimately the big star idea is not a recipe for long term success. Building local die-hard support is. I’m from Portland, and it’s exciting to see the Timbers continuing to do just that. The Timbers attendance in this record-setting season has been great, but it wasn’t that much different last year when we finished last (ouch. hard for me to even say that). The team is a part of the city’s identity.

If you tie the two together — growing interest in foreign leagues and teams with strong local identities and grassroots support — ultimately the guy watching EPL games on TV will discover that he might be able to get a similar experience in his own city. True, at this point, it’s obviously not on the same level. But he can go to a game, sit with the rowdy fans, stand and sing — and eventually he starts to live and die with his local team. And then starts watching more MLS games from other markets on TV because the team he loves is in the same league.

]]> Comment on Is TV starting to like Soccer? by ericpz http://www.ericpz.com/soccer/is-tv-starting-to-like-soccer/comment-page-1/#comment-1785 ericpz Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:48:28 +0000 http://www.ericpz.com/?p=2996#comment-1785 Excellent. It doesn't happen often but it's nice when I'm on the right track. ;) Excellent. It doesn’t happen often but it’s nice when I’m on the right track. ;)

]]> Comment on Is TV starting to like Soccer? by Tom http://www.ericpz.com/soccer/is-tv-starting-to-like-soccer/comment-page-1/#comment-1784 Tom Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:36:08 +0000 http://www.ericpz.com/?p=2996#comment-1784 I just checked the ESPN International schedule, and it looks like they didn't show the U.S.-Mexico game there either, which only reinforces your point, I think. I just checked the ESPN International schedule, and it looks like they didn’t show the U.S.-Mexico game there either, which only reinforces your point, I think.

]]> Comment on Is TV starting to like Soccer? by ericpz http://www.ericpz.com/soccer/is-tv-starting-to-like-soccer/comment-page-1/#comment-1782 ericpz Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:10:12 +0000 http://www.ericpz.com/?p=2996#comment-1782 12 years ago, was when ESPN first started to carry rights to some matches. Heck, for all I know USSF had the rights and then bought time on ESPN. Either way, the fact that ESPN sees money to be made on soccer which isn't just the World Cup is yet another step. To send a crew to Mexico City for a match they will only get to broadcast in countries other than the two playing...It's another baby step but it's relevant....which is why I brought it up. Would ESPN have thought there was money to be made on the USA/Mexico soccer property even 8 years ago? 12 years ago, was when ESPN first started to carry rights to some matches. Heck, for all I know USSF had the rights and then bought time on ESPN. Either way, the fact that ESPN sees money to be made on soccer which isn’t just the World Cup is yet another step. To send a crew to Mexico City for a match they will only get to broadcast in countries other than the two playing…It’s another baby step but it’s relevant….which is why I brought it up. Would ESPN have thought there was money to be made on the USA/Mexico soccer property even 8 years ago?

]]> Comment on Is TV starting to like Soccer? by KT http://www.ericpz.com/soccer/is-tv-starting-to-like-soccer/comment-page-1/#comment-1779 KT Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:46:46 +0000 http://www.ericpz.com/?p=2996#comment-1779 If it was the US at Honduras and, for some reason, ESPN didn't have the rights to that game, do you think they'd go through the trouble of pre-and-postgame shows? It's because it's Mexico. It can make some money for them. That's all ESPN cares about. There are certain soccer properties that can make money. USA/Mexico is one of them. If it was the US at Honduras and, for some reason, ESPN didn’t have the rights to that game, do you think they’d go through the trouble of pre-and-postgame shows?

It’s because it’s Mexico. It can make some money for them. That’s all ESPN cares about. There are certain soccer properties that can make money. USA/Mexico is one of them.

]]> Comment on Thank You Sir Bobby by Kevin http://www.ericpz.com/soccer/thank-you-sir-bobby/comment-page-1/#comment-1765 Kevin Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:03:43 +0000 http://www.ericpz.com/?p=2982#comment-1765 Good memories. Thanks. Incredible that neither Newcastle nor England have approached the heights he took them to since they dismissed him. Because he left us by mutual consent, may his karma reign uon us !! Good memories. Thanks. Incredible that neither Newcastle nor England have approached the heights he took them to since they dismissed him.
Because he left us by mutual consent, may his karma reign uon us !!

]]> Comment on BeckhamGate by ericpz http://www.ericpz.com/soccer/beckhamgate/comment-page-1/#comment-1755 ericpz Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:15:45 +0000 http://www.ericpz.com/?p=2826#comment-1755 C'mon...he'll be in Italy long before MLS Cup Final. However, along those lines, who will have a full-time contract in Europe first, Beckham or Donovan? C’mon…he’ll be in Italy long before MLS Cup Final. However, along those lines, who will have a full-time contract in Europe first, Beckham or Donovan?

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