Boxing in Olympics.

Soccer's a perfectly acceptable name for the sport of association football anywhere - it's just more commonly known as "football" throughout most of the world. My point was just that "soccer" is just short for "association football", rather than a totally different name.

 

That's a good question, though I can see where you're coming from with offering younger boxers a chance at a medal.

It's not really the best of the best competing now is it? In my opinion it's cheapening the Olympic medal in certain fields as boxing and any others where we find athletes chosen because of age, or skill level (being too good?lol)

I cannot say whether it is better for Boxing in general the way they do it now, but I can say that it is for cheapening Boxing in the Olympics.

 

You'd be surprised! I last visited the States 2 years ago, and the increase in folk walking around with MLS jerseys on and the increase in coverage and discussion on TV was tenfold. It'll never overtake American football, basketball, baseball etc, but I think in another decade the MLS will be of a better standard than it is now, and won't be looked down on as much by European fans.

I think the Canucks help. I have relatives in Toronto and their fans are really passionate about their team, as are the other Canadian sides' fans.

 

Im just a little upset at the girls soccer. The Candian Women were ranked 6th...SIXTH IN THE WORLD!!!! A Canadian soccer / football team, to my knowledge, has never been ranked so high internationally. I actually love the sport, and defend it all the time here, but I'm just a bit emotional at the dreadful showing of our girls. But our captain played with a face shield over a broken nose like a true Canadian with heart and never give up attitude. We may not be the best, but we never say die!

 

Too bad Toronto FC is a terrible team. I think they are 3-20 or something. They just lost 5-0 the other night

 

The USA do produce many good young players - the problem they have had for a while now is the same as many other countries have in graduating them from "good prospects" to "top-class players". Part of that can be attributed to the general standard of player in the MLS not being quite there yet. Unlike most of the world the MLS has a salary cap, so no American team could do a Man City and suddenly begin to buy in world class players - meaning the MLS has to slowly but surely develop players, and some of those players will then end up moving abroad.

I think it'll be some time before the MLS reaches a high standard, but I think in the next decade it will continue to improve and will - eventually - be better than most European leagues outside of the English, Spanish, Italian, German, French and Dutch. It's already on a par with the SPL in my opinion - that's not saying much, granted.

 

True, but if the standard of the league continues to improve then the fans and facilities will be an asset in attracting players. Toronto is still a relatively new 'franchise', isn't it?

 

I made this point when discussing boxing with a guy in the office recently. Obviously a lot of kids that would have become boxers in the past have went into other sports - such as American football - in recent years, and the offer of a decent education via a scholarship certainly helps. I think a high-school and college boxing program would help counter that - and could also be an opportunity to teach young boxers at an early age the importance of dealing with their own affairs, contracts etc.

I am aware there would be negative aspects too, of course.