Soccer may be the most popular sport in the world

Yes,

1.NFL – 67,508 (2009 season)
2.MLB – 30,213 (2009 season)
3.MLS – 18,452 (2010 season, as of 04/11/2010)
4.NBA – 17,110 (2009/10 season)
5.NHL – 17,004 (2009/10 season)

and no.

1.Bundesliga (GER): 42,790
2.English Premier League (ENG): 34,088
3.La Liga (ESP): 28,971
4.Serie A (ITA): 23,899
5.Ligue 1 (FRA): 20,119
6.Eredivisie (NED): 19,319
7.MLS (USA): 18,452
8.Championship (ENG): 18,113
9.Scottish Premier League (SCO): 15,128
10.Bundesliga 2 (GER): 15,056

 

More stuff happens in those 10 seconds than 10 minutes in a soccer game.

 

You're either watching the wrong soccer or you're not watching right. Its like watching the Blazers offense for one game and making the statement that basketball is boring because everyone just stands around. If you watch the best teams, they are constantly moving, making runs, passing, giving support. As the ball moves up/down or across the field the players need to move in order to keep their shape.

 

Players moving as the ball goes from one end to the other over and over again without anything of note happening isn't exciting to me. I know soccer has good passes and good 1 on 1 plays just like basketball does, but they rarely score. It's just boring to me. Maybe basketball has ruined soccer for me.

 

I understand that it can be boring to some people. I don't like watching baseball on TV (or in person either really), but some people find it fascinating. My point was more your "more happens in that 10 seconds" comment. Regardless of whether you, or anyone else finds soccer boring, saying that nothing happens is like a British person saying the NFL is nothing but people running into each other (which I'm sure they do say). Just as you don't appreciate the build up to a highlight pass or shot (your nothing of note), I'm sure plenty of soccer fans don't appreciate a good block or defensive scheme. Both are VERY important, and if you know what you're looking for, very entertaining, but to someone not in tune with the game, seem pointless and boring as some of you have put it.

 

Honestly I was having this problem the other night. All summer all I did was watch and play soccer. Now that NBA has started back up, I honestly feel a bit bored. I hate that every single time a player is touched their is a foul. Its ridiculous when a player is in the air and you lightly touch his back with one finger and it's a foul. Their was a foul the other night when Baron was just driving and whoever was guarding him was just driving next to him, with their bodies touching. I understand that in basketball that is a foul, but its crazy that their is so many fouls called for just touching, not even effecting the play. That, and I absolutely hate timeouts, and all other types of game stoppers.

 

The brits play rugby. I doubt, very much, that they say that as rugby is something that can be pretty popular in some areas in the UK.

 

Maybe if defenders had to hop on one leg all the time, or make the goal the entire width of the field?

It still couldn't challenge more exicting spectator sports such as bowling or curling...

 

Not really a great comparison. Rugby is much more fluid than football, but even if that is true, replace England with Spain, Italy, Holland, France, Germany (sans army bases), Portugal....and my point is still valid. People outside of the US, Canada and possibly England/Australia (Ausie rules football), don't understand our love of football.

 

I agree its boring. I've given it plenty of time to try and excite me, I've been to tons of Timbers games...

The sport doesn't intrigue me and the diehard fans are very annoying.

Hey guys, "lets throw smoke bombs on the field"....

 

You think baseball is a sport, therefore your opinion doesn't count.

 

Most MLS teams are playing in soccer specific stadiums currently. Consider the numbers:

BMO Field (Toronto FC) - 22,100
Columbus Crew Stadium - 20,455
Community America Ballpark (Kansas City) - 10,385
Gillette Stadium (New England) - 68,756 (no soccer capacity listed, roughly 2/3rds of the stadium is closed)
Red Bull Arena - 25,198
RFK Stadium (DC United) - 45,596
PPL Park (Philadelphia) - 18,500
Toyota Park (Chicago) - 20,000
Buck Shaw Stadium (San Jose) - 10,300
Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Colorado) - 18,086
Home Depot Center (LA Galaxy/Chivas USA) - 27,000
Pizza Hut Park (FC Dallas) - 21,193
Qwest Field (Seattle) - 35,000
Rio Tinto Stadium (Salt Lake) - 20,008
Robertson Stadium (Houston) - 32,000

I realize that still leaves a number of empty seats, but its no where near the number you're referencing. Also, consider that Seattle sells out the 35k and DC United, Houston, and the LA clubs shut off parts of the stadium so their capacities aren't as far as away from the MLS average as it appears. I don't know the degree to which they do shut off sections as I do with New England as I haven't been there for home matches.