Unbelievable | 1:04 a.m. March 16, 2008
Good article, Brad Rock. Your jokes about the team and the sport are way funny. They make you sound smart, too. You should stop writing all other types of articles and focus all your effort on ones like this because they are so witty, entertaining and accurate. You must know a ton about soccer. Or you might be just like all of the other negative, ignorant people that jump on the "Soccer is boring" bandwagon and go out of your way to advocate for the demise of a sport and team that many people support and enjoy.
RSL1 | 1:17 a.m. March 16, 2008
What is the point of this article? If you knew little about soccer before this article you would be even more misinformed after.

Real answers to questions would be more interesting than common anti soccer jokes.

For example:
Why do people wear scarves to games? Answer: It is common in English soccer. Fans wear scarves with their team name and colors and then wave them at the game. Waving team flags, streamers, and banners is also common.

Why does someone beat a drum during the game? Answer: Also a common tradition in foreign soccer (especially Mexican and South American). Fans also chant and sing songs at the games. Soccer fans in English soccer often chant and sing during the entire game.

Perhaps you are pandering to the anti soccer crowd. If that's the case why waste your time trying to be clever. Just say anything remotely negative and you will send them into waves of giddiness.

Like this: Soccer is so boring.

See I just brought untold happiness to dozens of Utahns who read soccer articles and comments everday in hopes of finding any anti-soccer tidbit.
Bitterness | 9:16 a.m. March 16, 2008
What a mean and nasty article.
Comments continue below
Good work | 10:13 a.m. March 16, 2008
Good work Brad Rock. I loved the article. What I think is funny about people that defend the boringness of soccer is that they never defend the game. It is always about what other countries are doing. If the USA does not want to embrace soccer, so what? We are the greatest country on earth. We are the leaders we don't need to do what the rest of the world does.
scads | 11:40 a.m. March 16, 2008
I can't believe you get paid to write this stuff, try going back to school and taking a journalism course.

There is so much wrong with RSL in the community and you couldn't find one funny line to write down. Pathetic.
re: Unbelieveable | 12:22 p.m. March 16, 2008
There is no "soccer is boring bandwagon." Soccer is boring. Why do you think one of the most ingenious parodies of American life, The Simpsons, ridicules it into oblivion? They know it has no chance here.
Why Bother? | 12:29 p.m. March 16, 2008
This article seems rather pointless. You have made it abundantly clear in past articles that you are anti-soccer, so why do you keep writing about it? You don't have to like it, we get that, but do you have to mock the game - and those who are working hard to make a success of it in Utah? I'm not saying RSL should get a free pass in the media, but how is mocking scarfs real journalism? Why can't soccer haters just let it go, you don't have to like it - there are plenty of sports I don't like but I don't make fun of them or the people who enjoy those sports, or try to brand it an illegitimate sport. But since you are a sports "journalist" you could at least be informed and unbiased - but if that is not possible at least leave the jokes to someone who is actually funny (sorry, don't mean to get personal, but there really is no humor here).
Skill | 1:18 p.m. March 16, 2008
Brad Rock,
You have proven to me the need to never read another of your articles. It is your right to write them and my right to now read the Tribune over the D news if this is the best you can produce. I may dislike baseball and find it very boring,however, I have nothing against those that enjoy it and I don't go around making stupid comments about it. As for you Brad, good luck this year I have no need to read another of your articles regardless of the sport.
Thrill seekers | 1:30 p.m. March 16, 2008
Let's make fun of soccer (the most popular sport in the world) as boring. Then we can go watch a thrill a second baseball game. I mean the excitement of watching 3 hours of people playing catch is just such a rush. I really like it when the pitcher keeps stepping off the mound to look at the guy on 1st base. I wish it would go on forever (oh wait it does). Let's face it the most exciting thing about baseball is eating the hot dog at the park. Then there's golf (no explanation needed), tennis, NASCAR, bowling. If baseball can be a popular spectator sport then anything can be a popular spectator sport. Soccer is now just a part of our culture get over it and go back to your baseball game. I think the pitcher is finally going to throw a pitch. Nope, my mistake. He is looking off the runner again.
Looking around | 2:19 p.m. March 16, 2008
>>There is no "soccer is boring bandwagon." Soccer is boring. Why do you think one of the most ingenious parodies of American life, The Simpsons, ridicules it into oblivion? They know it has no chance here.<<
--------------------------

No chance, eh? You lose.
GoRSL | 2:27 p.m. March 16, 2008
What a waste. Just when the DesNews starts to up its stock with great RSL coverage by James Edward, they allow Brad Rock to tank it with his ridiculous and ignorant attempts to analyze a sport, culture and community interaction. All in the name of fanning the flames of the haters. I echo the comments of the above that this article was pointless and unnecessary and reaffirms that the soccer crowd has nowhere to turn for objective coverage in the local media.
What? | 2:38 p.m. March 16, 2008
I still can't believe the editors approved to put this article in the paper. What a waste of time! Come on there has got to be something better to write. At least just say you don't like soccer (like we don't already know) and don't try to be funny about it b/c that was a stupid article.
poor article | 2:57 p.m. March 16, 2008
ive got to say i was pretty surprised to find out that you are an actual 'sports writer'. i thought you were just another one of those 'i don't like soccer and im really misinformed about it anyway' journalists (well, i guess i was right about that one). c'mon, you call yourself a sports writer? maybe i should take it up too because i'm pretty sure i could write better than that.
again? | 3:01 p.m. March 16, 2008
one more person beating their drum about their dislike of soccer. there's plenty of things i dislike (like brad rock right now), would i be a better person and serve society if i harrased them and wrote negative articles about them?
Anonymous | 3:21 p.m. March 16, 2008
is tennis the most popular sport in america? does everybody love to watch a round of golf? is baseball incredibly exciting? do the jazz always have a great season? No, but people still like those sports. just because you don't like something doesn't mean you should put it down. write something worthwhile brad.
Re: thrill seekers | 5:41 p.m. March 16, 2008
Like it's so exciting to watch guys kicking a ball back and forth at midfield with the occasional shot wide of the goal, unless they acting like they are hurt to get a yellow card on the opposing team. Using your formula, I guess people can't stand football since there are 40 seconds in between each play and 3 to 8 seconds of action.
journalism | 6:47 p.m. March 16, 2008
some love soccer, some hate it, just as with any sport. just like journalist, too -- very few are good, most (rock included) are pretty bad. i'm amazed at what passes for news / reporting anymore... nothing to see here (again, thanks mr. rock), move along folks.
Pathetic | 7:19 p.m. March 16, 2008
what kind of paper is this to allow reporting like this, I think I'm done with the DN until they change their act.
re: pathetic | 8:01 p.m. March 16, 2008
Its an opinion column, not a reported story. There is a big difference.
IDIOT | 8:47 p.m. March 16, 2008
brad rock must be the most ignorant person around. The D news should go to Sandy and find a jr high school interested in journalism to replace him. There would be more facts, funnier jokes, and maybe a decent article.
wow | 8:49 p.m. March 16, 2008
What a waste of time.... Utah doesnt deserve a soccer team.
re: re: Unbelievable | 8:47 p.m. March 16, 2008
There is no "soccer is boring bandwagon." Soccer is boring. Why do you think one of the most ingenious parodies of American life, The Simpsons, ridicules it into oblivion? They know it has no chance here.

Two points:
1. You just proved his point about the bandwagon. You are on the same bandwagon. You think that soccer is boring because you know little about it, which is fine. What makes you a part of the band wagon is that you actively are trying to get others to abandon their enjoyment for the game.

2. You're right about the Simpsons. If they indeed do make fun of soccer, then it has no chance. The Simpsons is a great guage for what is/will be successful in America. I'm still trying to figure out why Homer thinks that it is the Mormons when those two martians show up on his doorstep. Is he on to something with that statement as well?
Ethan | 8:56 p.m. March 16, 2008
I love the fantasy that there is such a difference between Sandy and SLC. LOL Only in Utah.
Carlos | 10:23 p.m. March 16, 2008
I don't mind soccer criticisms, but this article is just plain dumb. Honestly, does anybody think this article was actually written by a high school newspaper editor and co-opted for the dnews.
salUTE | 12:06 a.m. March 17, 2008
I am a soccer fan. Having said that, I'm still completely confused about how or why ANYONE EVER thought that locating this stadium in this location was a good idea.

I'm equally confused about how or why ANYONE EVER thought that anything written by Brad Rock was worth reading.

Yah, Yah, I can hear you asking, "you read this didn't you?". Well I'm ashamed to admit that I did read at least part of it - in sort of the same way that I glance at a rollover accident in Parley's Canyon...
Luis | 1:12 a.m. March 17, 2008
Brad Rock behaving like a big time whiny writer. I can't believe they call this journalism. The only issue that I have with this type of articles is that they are made for the sole purpose of selling papers. Have you gone that low Brad?

For the record, look at the big makeover, and all the new players Deuchar, Borcher, Joy, Cordoba, Olave, Kovalenko. We have the best goalie tandem in MLS with Rimando and Seitz (Tim Howards backup). Questions are like what can we expect differently in RSL's game play? What other entertainment venues will be part of the construction by RSL (stores and other things will be built around). Issues like Real Samba affecting the neighborhood, or Garth Lagerway's experience.

There is a lot of good questions to be asked, and I expected to read something worthwhile. Rather, just the same old writer and his quota. Brad, perhaps you shouldn't write about RSL, or soccer in general, it seems to me that you are not qualified.

Very dissapointing.
dave johnson | 6:15 a.m. March 17, 2008
the humor was cutting edge...like reading the joke about the chicken who crossed the road
pate | 6:40 a.m. March 17, 2008
Wow, what a pathetic, pandering little article. With James Edwards' new RSL blog, I thought DesNews had turned a corner and was actually going to start reporting on RSL and local soccer instead of rehashing old cliches about how 'boring' socer is. If I never read another article by Mr. Rock, it'll be too soon.
Scooter | 8:27 a.m. March 17, 2008
I put off cutting my toenails for this spot of journalism, boy, what a waste of my time, I'm going back to my toenails.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, I'll blame it on you again.
Lame | 9:12 a.m. March 17, 2008
This article was lame. Sorry Mr Rock. I usually like your Rock On articles, but to label this article as a Q&A was misleading. It should have been titled "Rock On...The RSL Edition." I was looking frward to an informative article when I saw the title, but instead was stuck reading more anti-soccer diatribe. Lame.
stone age rock | 11:02 a.m. March 17, 2008
Typical soccer hater article, why are you so threatened by soccer? If you simply don't understand the "beautiful game", why not take a little time and try to figure out why the entire world embraces it. Most likely though you are afraid of competition for those who will become soccer fans.
bobcat | 12:14 p.m. March 17, 2008
Congratulations on a job badly done! This was one of the worst articles I have ever read in a newspaper. Ever. Brad Rock, you should go play 90 minutes of soccer, pushing yourself as hard as you can the entire time, and then go back and re-write this article. Let's see if your opinion will change a little bit. Soccer athletes are some of the strongest, most fit athletes in the world. I'd love to see a football player or even a basketball player compete against a soccer player. It's not easy playing flat out for two 45 minute halves with no time outs! GO RSL!!!
Roro | 12:58 p.m. March 17, 2008
That was almost funny.
Brad's world | 1:29 p.m. March 17, 2008
I missed Brad's point... Something about how no one likes soccer and scarfs and drums and how Sandy is in it's own world. The views seemed very narrow to me. Could Brad be in his own world?
lost respect | 1:44 p.m. March 17, 2008
Ive never read an article so disprectful in my entire life. Its one thing to attack how a team plays or moves they made in player transactions. But the way you attacked the fans of this sport was pathetic! Never again will I read anything from you.
Always poor writing | 2:01 p.m. March 17, 2008
It dosent matter if it's suppose to be funny or not it's a stupid waste of ink, like Brad Rock!
shame | 2:18 p.m. March 17, 2008
brad rock is a black eye to the dnews. i have read high school newspapers more informative and better written. maybe you should have written a satire on all sports instead of choosing to single out a sport that you are too ignorant to try and grasp.
Drew | 3:32 p.m. March 17, 2008
The worst part of the whole thing is that this was printed in an RSL preview portion of the printed paper. The only people that are going to read that are RSL and soccer fans.

Do you really think that they are going to be happy about that?

Big mistake by Rock and the editor.
CantonaLeRoi | 5:02 p.m. March 17, 2008
Hey B.Rock,
We all get that you don't like soccer, but why is it that you can't ever drop your agenda to smear what many people enjoy? You're like an ex-spouse who can't stop talking about how horrible your ex is. I know you both know people like that. I know that if I was the DN Editor that is exactly the vibe I'd like to have hitting the pages of my paper! One step away from being a tabloid! Nice work. I just canceled my subscription.
I love soccer. I don't expect everyone to appreciate soccer. I know it won't ever be bigger than MLB, NFL (National Throwball League), NBA but whoever said it was going to be? If its so bad, ignore it. I ignore NASCAR. Are you really that threatened by it? You're similar to the the youth 'throwball' coaches out there who have your pee-wees take laps and run through a soccer practice to show how macho you are... funny thing is that all the youth soccer players I knew ended up being the starters on the high school 'throwball' team. I wonder where they got their great footwork?
Anonymous | 5:05 p.m. March 17, 2008
"Question: But isn't soccer supposed to someday dominate sports in this country?
Answer: Don't be ridiculous. That would be like having a German win the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award."

Rock... go do a google search for the 2006/2007 NBA MVP... guess what? It's a GERMAN, Dirk Nowitzki! Ever heard of the guy? Yeah he tends to tear up the Jazz whenever he comes to town.
Soccer fan... | 7:37 p.m. March 17, 2008
Yes, you, the only one. Soccer is dead and walking, so why not let us laugh it into the ground. Thanks Brad
Nazdar | 11:43 p.m. March 17, 2008
brad rock must have a sad life. He makes a living by making fun of people and things. I for one love taking my scarf to the games and waiving it around. It adds to the experience for me.
interesting | 1:39 a.m. March 18, 2008
I find in interesting that the D news tells us that our comments need to not be "abusive,offensive, off-topic, or misrepresentative" yet they publish a article which is exactly just that, how about you moitor your own dumb writers before you tell us readers what is right or not right. Wake up Deseret, and learn some class. That starts with who you have write for you.
4foosball | 8:59 a.m. March 18, 2008
Dear Brad,

Thanks for making me see the light. The sport I grew up playing, watching, and loving is a joke. Today after work I will go home and throw away my jerseys, my scarves, and cancel my Fox Soccer Channel subscription. Thank God for people like you, who through there incessant need to tell people what they should like, have changed my opinion for me again. By the way, can you tell me again where to find that "Do It Yourself Homemade Torture Kit" that you use on your kids when they disagree with you?

Thanks again for your direction, I wouldn't know what to do everyday without your guidance. To think I enjoyed a sport for 34 years before you came along and set me straight. Your my saviour!

Sincerely,
Lost in Sandy (until now)
Bubba | 10:31 a.m. March 18, 2008
I am now ending my subscription to the Deseret News. Brad Rock is the sports equivalent of an ignorant racist.
Threatened? | 11:42 a.m. March 18, 2008
Every time I hear or read articles like this, it just seems like people are threatened that soccer is gaining momentum. I don't think soccer will ever be the most popular sport in America, but it will be a part of the mainstream in the future. Americans have a hard time with soccer because we don't have the best league and best national team in the world.

Isn't it strange that the championship for Major League Baseball is called "The World Series." Last time I checked, there are only teams from one country represented in the series. It's a general attitude in mainstream sports here that the best in America is the best in the world. That's what makes soccer great. It is played everywhere and there are great teams everywhere. These teams from different countries actually get together and play against each other in big tournaments instead of declaring themselves "world champions" when they win a domestic league.

Don't hate the beautiful game, embrace it. If you can't do that, find a three year old and challenge him or her to a game of table tennis. When you beat him, declare yourself world champion.
wowawewow | 2:01 p.m. March 18, 2008
Brad Rock seems to have upset 46 people. I think he can be funny, but the things that make him funny are when he really knows something about the sport before he attacks it in a light hearted manner. A lot of these commenters seem to have been utterly offended by this article. You think that living in America for their whole lives they would have gotten used to ignorant people having a forum for their opinions, like this comment board.

1. Brad Rock is ignorant about soccer. It is obvious in how he writes about it.

2. Brad Rock should not write about soccer.

3. People make mistakes, including editors and sports writers.

4. The Deseret News should show a little bit more caution in what they print. They are after all a conservative newspaper with normally great articles and opinions.

5. That being said, everyone has their own opinion even if it is based on others negative views and ignorance. The way to stop this chain is to not let it continue. That is where the Deseret News failed.

6. The simpsons is not a standard of cultural success.
Wade | 2:18 p.m. March 18, 2008
Brad, you continue to embarrass yourself with such unprofessional articles.
wilson | 7:47 p.m. March 18, 2008
I enjoy soccer very much. I love watching it (I stayed up through the night just to watch stats from the Women's World Cup last year), and would even play more soccer if i could run for more than 5 minutes. Real Salt Lake is possibly my favorite team, and i hope very much that they'll have a better season this year. And i thought this article was hilarious. The first review i read was the one stating "Brad Brock seems to have upset 46 people". I'm interested in hearing all these people complain, and will keep reading the reviews. Maybe i'll even check out some more of Brad's columns. I find people are too offended nowadays. If you don't like the article, don't read it. Thanks for the humor, Brad.
bob | 8:02 p.m. March 18, 2008
I like soccer, but, seriously, you guys are way too sensitive.

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