By David Fleenor

It is no big surprise that Jim Rome is once again bashing soccer after the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea but he could have tried to get the details down before starting his latest tirade.

The ESPN radio personality stated how ‘shocking’ it was that the Champions League final ended tied but apparently did not catch the match stating that it was also ‘shocking’ that ‘it was a scoreless tie!’

Jim if you took a moment to watch the game you might start to get it.  Despite the 1-1 final scoreline, the game was an interesting back and forth encounter.  After Manchester United took the early lead, Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech made two brilliant saves to keep the Blues from having them.

After leveling the game Avram Grant’s side grabbed the momentum and knocked two potential winners off the woodwork (a silly name soccer fans use for the post or crossbar of the goal going back to when goals were still made from you guessed it, wood).

CLICK HERE to read Rome’s comments in their entirety.

In defense of Rome and his dislike of a championship match being decided on PK’s, many soccer fans also cringe when matches go to penalties to determine the winner but certainly PK’s do involve some level of skill and technique by kickers and goalkeepers.

But resolving game in this manner is just one way professionalism has changed the game.  It was not too long ago when some major championships, like the upcoming UEFA European Championship this summer, resulted in a winner and if the game was tied the full game was replayed.  In 1968 for instance Italy and the Soviet Union final ended 1-1 and the game was played two days later with Italy winning.

But soccer fans can take heart and appreciate Rome’s honesty when he closes by saying, “soccer fan”, let me save the trouble…I know, I just don’t get it. You’re right! I don’t! That’s my point! That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I don’t get it. And, I hope I never do!”

HAVE YOUR SAY…
Is Rome just being Rome again?  Or to the anti-soccer sentiments come because he and the other Clones worried that soccer is becoming one of the top sports in the U.S.?  Send your emails to Soccer 365 by CLICKING HERE.

Reader Feedback

Rome is a two faced idiot.  Back in 2002 during the US’s run to the quarter-finals of the competition he was starting to talk up football.  Then he started bashing it afterwards (again).  Personally I can’t stand that guy so I just ignore him, which means I give him the exact amount of time he is worth....  0.

Shawn W

Jim Rome rants and raves that he "just doesn't get it (Soccer)" because he is a simple minded buffoon, he (and others like him) needs to have a simple and clear cut answer (a winner and a loser) to wrap his little pin head around.  An appreciation of grey areas is the domain of people who have the emotional intelligence to derive pleasure from well played draws and the imagination of the players, athleticism, near misses and a hundred other aspects of the game and not just the result. Stick with american football Jim, we won't miss you, otherwise your head might explode.

Joe S
Oakland, CA

Didn't this little gnome as I affectionately refer to this so called sports commentator get knocked around because he was running his mouth to an NFL Quarterback?  I don't have a problem with this guy if he thinks throwball and boringball are the best sports in the world, I would prefer that he not mention the beautiful game at all.  If he truly doesn't get it then why even bring the sport up on his shows.  I think he ought to just stick to Travelocity commercials and leave us weirdo soccer types along.   

Lance A

Rome needs to have some kids...then he’ll start learning the game from the ground up!!  Soccer is the fastest growing sport in America….Rome is one generation away from being routed out of his sports casting job!!  Or he will become a “lover” instead of a “hater”!!

Tom W
A “born again” soccer lover!!

It absolutely amazes me that anyone even listens to a sports talker with no credibility.  Why is it important for him to “get it”?  Does anyone care?  Having a personal opinion on a sport is a subjective matter, but showing one’s own stupidity is not.  This is a perfect example of the saying “a closed mouth gathers no foot”. 

Whether these so called “experts” like football or not means nothing to me.  I like it, that’s all that matters. 

“and, I hope I never do”.  No, not when you can’t even get the score right.  And the rest of the world will go on with their love affair with the sport “you don’t get”.

How irrelevant,

Mark F

Rome is worried that no one cares about the NBA and Major League baseball anymore. Soccer is coming on.

Michael S

Hello Soccer Lovers and other Sports Lovers,
 
Rome has a right to his opinions. Just like I have a right to my opinion about him. He is just a big s**t talker who has never stepped up to bat a homer, run 100 yard touchdown, kick a 60 yard field goal, run 2:06 marathon or score the winning goal in a world cup final. Jim Rome is a joke and he will always be a joke because he simply a shit talker who has never kicked ass and take no names in the arena of sports. So F---- him and just keep on enjoying all sports and especially the king of sports SOCCER.
 
Thank You and God Bless Jim Jones. Oh I mean Jim Rome.
 
Cony K

I've often wondered what would happen when Jim Rome's son gets to the age where he might choose the sport that he & his friends want to play. Can you imagine what might happen to Romey's ego if the kid chooses soccer, or is JR so over the top with his self righteousness that he might forbid the little tyke from playing the game that he might love?
 
Can't you see Rome at a U-8 game wearing sunglasses & a hat trying not to be seen when, with his son's team close to victory near the end of the game, the ball bounces out of bounds at his feet? What does he do, it's a dilemma for his ego, does he give the ball to the other team for a throw in, or kick it away as any self respecting soccer dad would do? How about mom, does Romey forbid her from buying a van to help schlep the team to practices & games ... I can just hear it "keep the 7 series BMW, because that's the image I must have for MY family". What about when young JR gets kicked in the achilles by some huge defensive stopper and is lying on the ground writhing in pain ... does Romey yell at his kid to stop acting & get up like a man?
 
We all eat humble pie sometime, and Jim Rome's could just well come from finally "getting" soccer via his kids.

Kurtz

How does this guy watch an NBA game where score goes potentially into the 100's if he can't count to 1?

I take it you were a desk jockey at school. With Literature, journalism and "you guessed it" NO MATH!!
 
Idiots like that should keep their mouths shut instead of advertising their ignorance.
 
Shame on you Jim.
I guess he was the smartest and most popular.......... in remedial class.
 
All my love,
Jaime S

Rome, the capital city of Italy, the world cup champions of football.

Theo O.

Haha, as much as I hate Jim Rome, I think his comparison to a championship game being decided on penalty kicks was right on. As a soccer fan, I don't question it but it sort of is dumb to have a game as big as the Champions League final to be decided on penalty kicks. 

Imagine a Champions League final going into quadruple overtime! 

Interesting thought.

Geoffrey M

I know a lot of my friends from college are now interested in soccer since the 2006 world cup.  Plus all my friends who have traveled to Europe are interested as well.  Their is no doubt soccer is the most entertaining sport on Earth because of the atmosphere.  The atmosphere at games is what makes the games.  USA's MLS will never be like a European countries league because this country is too big.  No one is going to travel with the team.  This is what makes the Europe clubs so great.  But, I think ESPN will put in a bid to cover premiership games in time to come and the anti-soccer bashing will stop. 

ROME is an a**hole.  Just don't pay attention to him. 

Kevin M
Syracuse, NY
 
PS- I was an American football player before.