Scot Beard, Sports, Sports Columnists
 By  Scot Beard Published 
7:58 am Wednesday, June 16, 2010

I’m trying to like soccer

This is a year soccer fans around the world have been waiting for — the World Cup is here.

Unlike Major League Baseball’s World Series, the World Cup actually features teams from around the world.

Multiple teams from every continent, except Antarctica, are battling for the right to be called the best soccer team on the planet.

Soccer is the most popular game throughout most of the world. South American’s are nuts about the game. Europeans are even more bonkers.

People in the United States are not so crazy about the game — myself included.

Heading into this World Cup, which like the Olympics is held once every four years, I decided I would give soccer one more chance to impress me.

So far the results are not good.

I had trouble sleeping last Thursday night, so I was awake when the first game of the tournament began at 6:30 a.m. I watched about 10 minutes before I fell asleep.

The same thing happened Tuesday morning.

I tried to watch the much-hyped United States vs. England match. I missed the first 10 minutes, so I missed the English goal. I watched the rest of the first half and saw the U.S. goal, which was probably the worst goal I have ever seen.

I lost interest 10 minutes into the second half and changed the channel.

The world might love soccer, but I cannot get excited about it. I do not enjoy watching teams play to 0-0 ties when the goal is the size of a house.

The goal in hockey is four feet tall and six feet wide and those games end with multiple goals by both squads.

I am trying to like soccer, but the “beautiful game” is still pretty boring to me.

Also on Franklin County Times
Roommate facing manslaughter charge
News, Russellville
Griffin Traylor 
June 19, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A Phil Campbell woman is facing manslaughter and drug charges after she admitted to Franklin County Sheriff’s investigators she injecte...
Baker unseats Murray for Franklin Co. District 1 seat
Franklin County, News, Z - News Main
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
June 17, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — District 1 residents in Franklin County will have a new commissioner in November after Curtis Baker defeated incumbent Grayson Murray i...
Attempted murder is added to shooting charges
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
June 17, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A Tuscumbia man now faces an attempted murder charge in addition to the 23 other criminal charges he faces after admitting to shooting ...
County receives $5K for 250th events
Main, News, Russellville
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
June 17, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County will receive $5,000 in funding for events related to celebrating America’s 250th birthday. The Alabama USA Semiquincent...
New sign honors Keeton’s community service
Main, News, Red Bay, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
June 17, 2026
RED BAY — The quarter- mile Hoyt Keeton Walking Trail now has a new sign. Keeton family members, city officials and community supporters recently gath...
Franklin had 13% of advocacy center cases
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
June 17, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Andrea’s Arbor in Franklin County accounted for 13% of cases recorded in 2025 by Cramer Children’s Advocacy Center. Andrea’s Arbor is a...
UNA ups tuition $300 for undergrads
News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
June 17, 2026
FLORENCE — The University of North Alabama Board of Trustees is considering a tuition and fee schedule Friday that will increase undergraduate costs b...
EAST FRANKLIN ATHLETIC EVENT
High School Sports, Sports
June 17, 2026
ALL PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED/EAST FRANKLIN JUNIOR HIGH 10 For 10 Club Boys A-Team basketball awards Boys B-Team basketball awards Cheerleader awards Girls b...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *