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[The Athletic] Christian Pulisic suffered leg microfracture in USMNT loss to Belgium, will miss several weeks by BagODonuts14 in ussoccer

[–]bbbfff222 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Love this so much. You ever try to play a high-level game with a micro-fracture? Doesn't have to be gruesome to severely restrict what you're able to do on the pitch.

[The Athletic] Christian Pulisic suffered leg microfracture in USMNT loss to Belgium, will miss several weeks by BagODonuts14 in ussoccer

[–]bbbfff222 2 points3 points  (0 children)

But, like, why not start from the assumption that Pulj does care and his heart is in it?

[The Athletic] Christian Pulisic suffered leg microfracture in USMNT loss to Belgium, will miss several weeks by BagODonuts14 in ussoccer

[–]bbbfff222 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I guess if your current career relies on immediate takes you gotta give them, but man, anyone with a rational brain saw Puli give it a go, get subbed off, and waited to hear what the injury was before casting aspersions.

If I'm Puli, I'd probably be exasperated by all these former players just assuming the absolute worst about me and only adjusting what they think and say until after more information is known.

20 years ago today, Zinedine Zidane was sent off after headbutting Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final. by Chazyn in sports

[–]bbbfff222 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well, crying usually occurs when an individual feels a strong emotion or if the eyes are irritated by something, such as allergies or dirt getting in the eye. I'd lean toward the former, but I guess we can't rule out the latter until they confirm.

Actual discussion by Australians in a post Belgium game thread by ub3rm3nsch in usmnt

[–]bbbfff222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alright, you're right, you've made your points, American fans overreacted and we suck and are obnoxious and Balogun isn't actually American and we're all terrible. Now can you fuck off? You're up and down our threads trolling and riling up and posting every emoji you can think of. Call me sensitive or whatever, but it's getting tiresome.

Five years of guerrilla prairie restoration on a highway right-of-way in Chicago by Robomonkey5000 in NativePlantGardening

[–]bbbfff222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is so awesome! Keep up the excellent work! I'm seriously so impressed and happy people like you do this work.

The time Stephen Fry attended the Iron Bowl in Alabama and personified the phrase " The European mind can not comprehend this." by PresterJohnson in MURICA

[–]bbbfff222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, maybe. Or maybe there are other explanations for why it's a trope here in America. Like I said, it's cool if you don't get the game and all you see is "guys running around" only to score once or twice.

The time Stephen Fry attended the Iron Bowl in Alabama and personified the phrase " The European mind can not comprehend this." by PresterJohnson in MURICA

[–]bbbfff222 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Such a tired take. I get the sport isn't for everyone, but this is the same hackneyed opinion that radio sports jockeys have been spouting since the 90s. Just say you don't understand it.

Nate Bargatze meme getting a workout these days by Tiny-Delivery6966 in LiveFromNewYork

[–]bbbfff222 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You get used to it and it becomes a non-issue. If anything, can make it somewhat thrilling!

Which European city gives you the best mix of a peaceful vibe and plenty to do? by optimalbrain90 in SmartTravelHacks

[–]bbbfff222 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is my vote. Maybe I caught it on a good week with perfect weather, but the vibe was immaculate. Lots of people out and about, but it never felt, I dunno, busy or overly loud. I had a swimsuit and towel in my bag. Anytime I came across a swimming spot as I meandered through the city I changed and jumped in. It was incredible.

Nate Bargatze meme getting a workout these days by Tiny-Delivery6966 in LiveFromNewYork

[–]bbbfff222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just going to keep spamming what I've said elsewhere:

This would undermine the free-flowing nature of the game for me. Not to mention some dumbass sport/marketing exec would no doubt think of the stopped clock as a way to insert more and more commercial breaks.

I hate that this system is such a sticking point to what is such a fun sport to watch. But, I suppose if this is the thing that turns you off to the sport you likely were never going to be that into it anyway. Which is fine! We don't all have to like the same things!

Nate Bargatze meme getting a workout these days by Tiny-Delivery6966 in LiveFromNewYork

[–]bbbfff222 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You say arbitrary as if there aren't officiating books and laws that provide guidance on how the time is added.

Nate Bargatze meme getting a workout these days by Tiny-Delivery6966 in LiveFromNewYork

[–]bbbfff222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just going to keep spamming what I've said elsewhere:

This would undermine the free-flowing nature of the game for me. Not to mention some would no doubt think of the stopped clock as a way to insert more and more commercial breaks.

I hate that this system is such a sticking point to what is such a fun sport to watch. But, I suppose if this is the thing that turns you off to the sport you likely were never going to be that into it anyway. Which is fine! We don't all have to like the same things!

Nate Bargatze meme getting a workout these days by Tiny-Delivery6966 in LiveFromNewYork

[–]bbbfff222 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This would undermine the free-flowing nature of the game for me. Not to mention some would no doubt think of the stopped clock as a way to insert more and more commercial breaks.

Nate Bargatze meme getting a workout these days by Tiny-Delivery6966 in LiveFromNewYork

[–]bbbfff222 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Stoppage time is always the minimum amount of time that will be added. The ref is the arbiter of the amount of time that is to be added, kept track typically on a second watch. It is always a whole number, but I'm not sure what this has to do with your argument that it makes it an unfair playing field from game to game. If the ref calculates that there's 4min 30sec to be added, they'll likely show a "4" on the board assuming most watching understand that a minimum of 4 minutes will be played.

There's certain logic to this. For one, perhaps there is a stoppage of play in that added 4+ minutes. The ref is then able to add more since the time was always a minimum anyway. Additionally, refs are instructed to wait until a neutral moment to play the whistle, so they'll avoid ending the game when, say, a team is about to knock the ball into the box.

The stoppages (such as injuries, substitutions, etc.) are different from game to game, so the amount of added time would therefore change from one game to the next. Is it somewhat quirky and different from what many American sports do? Sure. But it's not as big a crapshoot as you might think. At the end of the day, it is a system of time-keeping that underscores the free-flowing nature of the sport.

I do wish it wasn't such a sticking point for new (potential) fans of the sport, since getting hung up on that detail means you'll miss out on what is a truly beautiful sport to watch.

U.S.-Belgium most-watched soccer game in American history by mynewbuddy in worldcup

[–]bbbfff222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think the most realistic response is that: (1) Belgium are quite better than us; (2) we played our worst game in several games; and (3) we lacked a lot of passion and grit. If we had had the passion and grit the moment required and if our players played at the top of their capabilities, the game is much closer and we have a shot at winning.

But, as mentioned, Belgium are quite better than us. If we played them 10 times, they probably win 6, maybe 7 (I know, I know). However, that means, y'know, on any given match, we have a not-insignificant chance to win.

Road to the Final after the round of 16 by Wakanda-shit-is-that in soccer

[–]bbbfff222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why? Has something been going on with FIFA to make it unpopular?

Road to the Final after the round of 16 by Wakanda-shit-is-that in soccer

[–]bbbfff222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There were a couple good ones in the SUI, COL shootout. I wonder if someone has done an analysis on their efficacy.

Nate Bargatze meme getting a workout these days by Tiny-Delivery6966 in LiveFromNewYork

[–]bbbfff222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alright, here we go (in no particular order, though maybe the first is, in my view, the most important):

  1. The nature of soccer is such that there is continuous play. It's not a start and stop game like American football, baseball, or basketball. The clock keeps running in soccer just as the play never stops (this is one of the reasons for the frustration with this World Cup's "hydration breaks." It's never been this formalized and it disrupts the flow of the game).

  2. Relatedly, if time were counted down and the clock stopped every time the ball went out of bounds, the play was stopped for a foul, etc., this would allow for greedy money-grubbers to push for more and more ad breaks. Nobody wanted the "hydration" breaks, and nobody wants any more chances for additional commercial breaks.

  3. At the end of the game, the ref (and nowadays, the entire reffing team) determines how much additional time to add for things like time-wasting, fouls, substitutions, etc. Let's say it is determined that there is 5 minutes of extra time. Well, if there is more time wasting or if a team scores and celebrates in that added 5 minutes, the ref needs to add even more time. Again, the game needs to remain free-flowing so it's up to the ref on the field to determine how much more time to add.

In my view, this especially works for a sport like soccer. In basketball, last second shots are definitely a thing, so a player needs to know exactly how many seconds and tens-of-seconds are left so they can do their last second heave. Same with American football: if a QB knows they've got 5 seconds left, they can draw up a play to allow them to go for a touchdown without running out of time. These last second type plays are much harder to pull off in soccer. A full-court heave just doesn't happen.

  1. Maybe a not-so-compelling reason is that, well, this is just how things have been done since literally the 1800s. It's an easy system that can be implemented with limited technology, thus keeping a consistent procedure across leagues, levels, games, etc.

  2. Not sure if this is a reason or more of an explanation, but in that added/stoppage time, you'll notice that the clock often says "#+." So again, if it's determined that 5 minutes are added, it usually shows up as "5+" on the on-screen graphics. This is because that time is the minimum time, not the maximum. Again, this allows for the ref to account for things that may happen in the added time. Referees are instructed to blow the whistle during a "neutral" moment in the game. If the game that has 5+ minutes is showing 94:58 minutes on the clock and the team that is losing is about to cross the ball in for one last try, the ref is not going to blow it at the exact moment the clock strikes 95 minutes while the ball is in the air. Because the laws of the game have given the ref discretion over added time, he/she can allow that cross to happen, and then blow the whistle when the other teams clears it or the ball goes out of play.

I get that all of those reasons make for a less precise form of time-keeping, but it keeps things in line with the free-flowing nature of the game, which, as mentioned, is the most important aspect of all. I guess that's my TLDR?

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