Basketball vs Soccer--rivalry poll...

I'm curious to get your response to this question...

I love soccer, but I rarely watch it except for the World Cup. And to your point 7587. Aren't US and Mexico both going to make the World Cup, so does this game really matter?

Well, Mexico did just slip out of its qualifying group on (I think) goal difference. You never can tell with World Cup qualifying; the pressure is so high it can get to a team. Every time around somebody somewhere that should have made it is left out.

Also, Duke and UNC always play at least twice a season, and they both play in the ACC, so that rivalry game is just one of many big games over the season. The US and Mexico are far and away the two superpowers of CONCACAF, so when they meet it is sort of to see who's best on the continent.

But as far as the general American public goes... I'd say the hoops game is a bit more relevant in that soccer, flat out, isn't as popular. The Mexican side of the battle for North America takes the rivalry a LOT more seriously than anyone up here (probably because it's really the only sport they are consistently competitive with the US in AND the fact that they haven't won up here in 8 years)
That said, I prefer soccer, but I just have to be realistic...

I don't see anything in how the question was phrased that restricts the audience to Americans.

If you want to ask which game will have better attendance at the game and in the total TV audience, the contest between National teams wins hands down.

Purplegeezer wrote:I don't see anything in how the question was phrased that restricts the audience to Americans.

If you want to ask which game will have better attendance at the game and in the total TV audience, the contest between National teams wins hands down.

Well by the nature that the stadiums for soccer are inherently bigger, of course attendance is going to be higher...

DaTruRochin wrote:

Purplegeezer wrote:I don't see anything in how the question was phrased that restricts the audience to Americans.

If you want to ask which game will have better attendance at the game and in the total TV audience, the contest between National teams wins hands down.

Well by the nature that the stadiums for soccer are inherently bigger, of course attendance is going to be higher...

And the TV audience? Remember, I'm talking TOTAL.

Oh ok FINE... Haha globally yes... But nationally... Not so much.

Globally, the big game tomorrow will be Argentina - France. Les Bleus against the AlbiCeleste. It'll draw more than the other two combined.

ESPN2 11:45AM - long lunch?

But another reason UNC- Duke won't be the top draw is that there are other basketball games around the country people would rather watch.

And who could turn away from the cage fighting?

up7587 wrote:In the Carolina region, UNC-Duke isn't even the biggest sporting event people will focus on this week. That would be the Daytona 500!

Shudder.

For my heart and eyes, the US. vs. Mexico is the bigger rivalry. I remember it feeling so heated when I was living in Mexico watching games that after one of Donovan's goals, I seriously thought about telling people I was a Canadian to prevent from having beer bottles thrown at my head.

UNC vs. Duke is regional like NY vs. Boston in baseball. Some of the country just isn't as vested in it. Daytona isn't really for me personally... Argentina vs. Brazil is much more of a rivalry than vs. France...but, you're right that will be a good game. I'm going to a potluck to watch the US vs. Mexico with some of my Spanish-speaking friends, and I guess the Chivas are also playing later in the evening too...

Anyway, it should be a nice day of sports...

Purplegeezer wrote:Globally, the big game tomorrow will be Argentina - France. Les Bleus against the AlbiCeleste. It'll draw more than the other two combined.

ESPN2 11:45AM - long lunch?

Now since it's a friendly, what kinds of teams will turn up? Will they have their first-choice players available, or, like England against Germany, will some of the top guys not be around?