Twitter gets behind World Cup as rest of America fiddles

While the US has its annual World Series competition representing oh, two countries, the rest of the planet looks forward to the World Cup. An event so magnificent it can only be held once every four years for fear of causing economic collapse as businesses shut down to watch their nation's sons play soccer football. Twitter gets it, and has launched a special site that aggregates tweets on a global and per match basis allowing you to voyeuristically share in the human drama via a real-time twitter feed. All without risk of getting punched in the eye. Twitter's also making it easy to connect with players and teams, at least those of whom have not been restricted from using the service, right Holland? Check it out as the first match between host South Africa and Mexico begins shortly.

[juanvaldez Posted Jun 11th 2010 11:34AM]

@DefPoet Since when, and how the, hell did Canada invent basketball? It was invented in Massachusetts, something I already "knew", please cite a reference if you want to propose something contrary to conventional wisdom.

First professional game was played in Canada (news to me), but that's like your China example, with a twist since it didn't start/get invented there, all over again.

[d0mth0ma5 Posted Jun 11th 2010 11:51AM]

@juanvaldez http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Naismith - New thing of the day (it was mine a couple of years ago, cheers QI)

[juanvaldez Posted Jun 15th 2010 3:47AM]

@d0mth0ma5 I read the comment wrong, "not by a Canadian" but by "Canada", still it was invented in America by an American citizen. I stand by my point.

[Dorf Posted Jun 11th 2010 10:09AM]

Dodgeball owns all other sports.

[mcung13 Posted Jun 11th 2010 10:32AM]

Come on. Let the poor people from U.S. of A. be in peace, they love their own "handegg" and they are good at it (mainly, because no other country plays it). Anyway Go Argentina!

[GreatLoner Posted Jun 11th 2010 11:28AM]

@mcung13
Yeah enjoy your diveball. Where the players flop more than Vlade Divac.

[GreatLoner Posted Jun 11th 2010 11:26AM]

First of all, the World Series isn't until the fall. Second of all, the only thing going on in the U.S. is the NBA Finals and the now concluded Stanley Cup Finals, better and more exciting sports than Soccer. Soccer hasn't gained higher traction in the last fifty years here in the states and will likely remain as unpopular for the foreseeable future.

I have a solution, you Euro's don't want to watch our sports? Fine, don't make us try and watch yours. America did fine on it's own a century ago, and can do it again.

[Floptickle Posted Jun 11th 2010 12:11PM]

@GreatLoner

Actually lots of europeans watch the NFL as well as the NBA, including me, a mere dane.

@All

I love this "our sport is better than your sport" thread. Kept me entertained for half an hour ^^

GO DENMARK!

[juanvaldez Posted Jun 11th 2010 11:30AM]

What two countries is that Engadget? The U.S. and the Dominican? Surely you can't be referring to Canada, just cause we play there doesn't mean they participate...BURN!

[Booksmart Devil Posted Jun 11th 2010 11:53AM]

Aliez Les Bleus!

[butcherchop Posted Jun 11th 2010 12:01PM]

Mexico!! USA!! Mexico!! USA!! Mexico!! USA!! Mexico!! USA!!

[CDice Posted Jun 11th 2010 12:53PM]

1. American football is named because it, along with association football, and rugby football, came from the same sport. The foot part lost its meaning in the new world, but the name stayed the same. Deal with it.

2. Yes, we call it Soccer. And the Italians call it Calcio (which means kickball i think). The Japanese call it sakka (derived from soccer). Guess what? People with different languages call it in their own language. Not to mention Soccer was used as a word for football back in england. And last time I checked, we Americans could call anything whatever we want (thanks Webster).

And if you still have a problem with it, watch this 'educational' vid-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdrhKf6yADs :)

3. Yes, American football, basketball, and baseball (yes it sucks) are OUR sports and are really only paid attention to in the US and Canada. Still, we support four major sports (possibly five if MLS takes off) all on our own (and, um, Canada), so I can understand why y'all are jealous. :)

4. An American football player (lineman, linebacker) would destroy a rugby player. If you never played gridiron, you should really keep your mouth shut. The pads are there for a reason, or else we would have players dying each week. Two totally different sports, so stop comparing them.

5. I love soccer. US over England 2-1 (after Rooney gets a red card of course). :)

6. The world series is only played by the champion of the american and national leagues. Why is it called the world series if it doesn't involve the world? Probably because it was named in a time when the best medicine you could get had herbs as it's main ingredients.

7. The World Cup is definitely bigger/better than the Superbowl (unless the Titans get in this year). Men lie, Women lie, Numbers don't. ;)

8. I still love gridiron though.

[rbj Posted Jun 11th 2010 1:35PM]

It's called soccer here, it's called soccer in South Africa. Soccer is an English slang term for Association Football used there for almost 70 years. If you insist we should call it anything else you are a Limey who is afraid of the rise of US Soccer or an American Idiot.

[enoughcongress Posted Jun 11th 2010 3:06PM]

SOCCER sucks...doesn't matter what you call it.