Soccer.

[javert]

When I got to be an adult is when the wussy parents wanted their kids to participate is sports but wanted the least amount of injury risk...hence the popularity has grown here.

I'm not sure the injury part is really true. My impression is that hockey players last way longer than soccer players, who'll feel happy to be playing in their mid 30s. It's probably more about the kind of injuries. Soccer players tend to wear down their knees and ankles and those kinds of injuries can end a career. But maybe it's true for kids, I'm not sure...

An American friend of mine said that in terms of the number of people who play the sport, soccer has gotten pretty big in the states, but nobody follows it, so you don't hear much about it.

[javert]

I do agree that there are many showboats and crybabies that play the sport and probably more than play other sports, but you'll find that in all sports

This was also the knock on many of the first russian hockey players who first came over--they were flashy but not tough. But look at the NHL now.

[Rsmacker]

Luckly these days the hooligans are minority everywhere in Europe, it was horrible though a couple of decades ago.

English footie fans are always well-behaved gentlemen, with a sporting attitude.

Don't trust them Scotch fuckers though, they'll break your goalposts.

They made us play Rugby at school. The Head Games Pervert, when he wasn't ogling our pretty pink arses in the shower, maintained that Soccer was a game that involved no skill, so instead forced us to run around like wildmen, clattering the other teams in a battle of brute force and ignorance. Thick twat.

[Jacksonguy666]

Yeah I would say at my highschool at least, soccer players have the most and worst injuries. And hockey and football are both big here. Our team mates end up destroying their legs. LIke all kinds of knee leg and ankle injuries. I'm lucky I haven't gotten seriously injured. I have broken a toe, and a finger all in the game...

[AEK-Jackson Fan]

I played goalkeeper for over 20 years. I have to say, I love playing the game, but typically cannot stand to watch a match these days. I can understand why many people believe the sport is boring, but it is far from not being a physical game. You have to have incredible conditioning to essentially be running the entire 90 minutes. And while many of you feel that soccer players are pansies, I challenge you to hit the pitch. Soccer can be a very dirty game...the shit that I've seen guys do challenging for the ball is unreal. The injuries that I've seen are horrendous...compound fractures...lower legs and ankles turned to jelly. Many tackles are just as intense as a hit you'd take playing football or hockey. I do agree that there are many showboats and crybabies that play the sport and probably more than play other sports, but you'll find that in all sports--there is probably a larger population of professional soccer players than any other international sport though too. So if you don't like the sport, don't watch it...but if you haven't played the sport at a somewhat high level, don't rag on its physicality or the people who play it.

Thank You! I was planning on saying the same thing. And it's been proven that soccer requires far better physical conditioning than sports like baseball (obviously) American football, and hockey.

I've also really messed up my knee playing soccer. Two years ago I dislocated it and just two months ago the knee cap came out again (I'm only 17 and hope to be playing for many more years if my body can keep up). It can be very physically demanding on the body.

And to Endrik. That's awesome! Do you know the guys name? (if you dont want to say it that's fine). While I never followed basketball much before I moved to Greece I love AEK basket, not as much as football, but I still try to go to as many games as possible. Do you remember when he was playing? There were times when AEK was the best team in Europe (for basket, I mean).

Technically, they aren't part of the same organization. Soccer is separate and basketball is the same organization as AEK volleyball, handball, cycling, and even chess. However, that's only technically. They are all AEK though, all have the same history and represent the same groups of people (mostly those with ancestors from Asia Minor such as myself).

[Jacksonguy666]

Also, technically UP THE IRONS (the common maiden slogan) is actually a name from a soccer team. I wanna say West Ham because that's steves team. But I bet you guys didn't know that!

[Endrik]

And to Endrik. That's awesome! Do you know the guys name? (if you dont want to say it that's fine). While I never followed basketball much before I moved to Greece I love AEK basket, not as much as football, but I still try to go to as many games as possible. Do you remember when he was playing? There were times when AEK was the best team in Europe (for basket, I mean).

Technically, they aren't part of the same organization. Soccer is separate and basketball is the same organization as AEK volleyball, handball, cycling, and even chess. However, that's only technically. They are all AEK though, all have the same history and represent the same groups of people (mostly those with ancestors from Asia Minor such as myself).

His name is Martin Müürsepp, he played there when AEK was at the top, early 00's. They won the Saporta Cup. I'm lucky to know him, very cool dude, he was our best player but lately he's been struggling with injuries and whatnot.

btw. what part of Asia Minor your roots are from? I've only been in Lycia and Doris area and Hierapolis.

[AEK-Jackson Fan]

Very cool! He must have been a great player. Unfortunately I wasn't following AEK as much back then but I will look him up. Yeah, the 00's were a good time for AEK in Europe and here in Greece. We are slowly improving again so hopefully we can get back up to the top.

This is the island where my roots, as far back as I know, are from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Av%C5%9Fa

When it was Greek, it was known as Afissia (which is why my village here in Greece is known as Nea Afissia or Sarti which is the more popular name). I wish very badly to someday go back there and to visit Turkey in general including areas such as Hierapolis. Places Ive read about so many times but have never had the chance yet to see them

[atomic charvel guy]

Not one mention of the mighty Manchester United? What the fukk is wrong with all of you? i don't like soccer and even I know about them, they'r ethe Yankees of soccer man-lol

[Endrik]

yep, ManU is the Yankees of soccer, unless you are from Manchester only idiots cheer for them

[Endrik]

Very cool! He must have been a great player. Unfortunately I wasn't following AEK as much back then but I will look him up. Yeah, the 00's were a good time for AEK in Europe and here in Greece. We are slowly improving again so hopefully we can get back up to the top.

This is the island where my roots, as far back as I know, are from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Av%C5%9Fa

When it was Greek, it was known as Afissia (which is why my village here in Greece is known as Nea Afissia or Sarti which is the more popular name). I wish very badly to someday go back there and to visit Turkey in general including areas such as Hierapolis. Places Ive read about so many times but have never had the chance yet to see them

Yep he was an awesome player. Before AEK he was briefly in Thessaloniki after he quit NBA. But after AEK he went to Russia which became the strongest basketball league in the world after NBA as a lot of mob money went into the clubs and all kinds of great foreign players were brought in. He played there many years and was on top constantly, either in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place teams. One year he was even the MVP in the finals. During his prime he was probably the best European 1-on-1 player, he could keep the superstars down to zero and make great scores himself. But he was mostly a great team-player.

Avsa looks like a great place, I've never been to Marmara Sea before, someday I have to explore that region.

[atomic charvel guy]

yep, ManU is the Yankees of soccer, unless you are from Manchester only idiots cheer for them

your behavior, even for you, is ratty outrageous you bastard, that
was a nice shot, i salute you. "now go get your fukkin' shinebox" (goodfellas)

[Top Jimmy B]

Not a soccer fan, never have been, never will. Ninety minutes of watching dudes jog and maybe, possibly, score one fuckin goal? No thanks, I'd rather watch the Boston Marathon - at least there's some trim in that. Park my lame ass in front of a good hockey game, or better yet, yank style football and I'm good.

[AEK-Jackson Fan]

While I enjoy hockey, I could never sit and watch an American football game. I have no problem with the sport, but it's so boring to watch for me.

[Endrik]

your behavior, even for you, is ratty outrageous you bastard, that
was a nice shot, i salute you. "now go get your fukkin' shinebox" (goodfellas)

but fruity I know you agree with me on one thing... bandwagoners suck yack balls... and there's a lot of motherfucking bandwagoners when it comes to ManU