11/23/24
February 16, 2011
If EPL Clubs Were U.S. Sports Teams: ThePostGame offers a guide for fans of U.S. pro sports who'd like to adopt the Premier League but don't know who to follow, comparing each soccer club to the U.S. franchise it most closely matches. "We've sorted out the closest American comparisons for each of the 20 English clubs," it states. Detroit Lions fans will be at home supporting Wigan Athletic. "Both franchises are excellent at hanging around while achieving very little."
Nutpicking, Mr B.
Do people generally get behind an equivalent kind of team when they look at a new sport? I know that when I picked an Aussie rules team, I went with the 'not quite enough glory to be "faded glory"' outfit that is Richmond for good reason.
Chelsea / Red Sox is such a bad fit, though. I know a couple of Spurs fans who became Red Sox fanatics, and I think that works better.
posted by etagloh at 03:38 PM on February 16, 2011
Fun exercise, and good explanations of the pairings. That said, I think the author focuses too much on results (e.g., Blackburn last won in the mid-90's and so do the Houston Rockets) and not enough on the make-up and character of the fan bases, the character of the cities in which the teams are based, and other pertinent factors.
posted by holden at 04:29 PM on February 16, 2011
When I went to England a few years ago I bought a Arsenal jersey. Clearly I should have invested in Everton or Wigan Athletic.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 07:25 PM on February 16, 2011
"Again, this is just not fair to compare the NFL and the MLB teams with those unknown soccer teams. Everybody know the Yankees and the Jets, but I seriously doubt that many people know what the heck Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs are."
This has to be a parody, ie, someone pulling our leg or "taking the piss" as the Brits say.
posted by dave2007 at 08:27 PM on February 16, 2011
Whether it is or it isn't, it's pretty damn funny.
posted by tahoemoj at 08:45 PM on February 16, 2011
I cannot believe there is someone on the net who frequents sports sites who hasn't heard of Manchester United.
I hate comparisons like this. If for no other reason than in five years a bunch of them may not even BE in the Prem, leaving a lot of fans over HERE out in the cold for seeing them. I mean Southampton went from mid table chancers to fucking league one in a few years.
Can't say that about US leagues. In fact the whole LACK of promotion and relegation is a bit depressing really. Be nice if the bottom teams had something at stake. I mean beyond the humiliation:)
posted by Drood at 08:52 PM on February 16, 2011
This is like Facebook spam I used to see. "Which Care Bear are you? Your friend Skippy is sneezy bear. Take our quiz and find out which one you are."
posted by Aardhart at 09:38 PM on February 16, 2011
I know that when I picked an Aussie rules team, I went with the 'not quite enough glory to be "faded glory"' outfit that is Richmond for good reason.
Oh dear. That didn't work out for you at all, did it?
posted by owlhouse at 04:07 AM on February 17, 2011
Bit hard on the Baggies, mind.
posted by owlhouse at 04:10 AM on February 17, 2011
When I went shopping for a Premiership team a few years ago, I wanted one good enough to stay in the league and threaten the top 4 but not so good that it was bandwagon jumping. I settled on Tottenham because I liked their style of play, which was epitomized by Edgar Davids.
They also had nice uniforms, a trend they've sadly abandoned.
posted by rcade at 08:43 AM on February 17, 2011
I'm a Tampa Bay Bucs fan, so I have to hate ManU. This article didn't help me pick a team. I also think you have to factor in who is going to be on television in your area.
posted by bperk at 09:47 AM on February 17, 2011
Bulgaria to world: who are the Mets?
posted by jjzucal at 11:00 AM on February 17, 2011
When I went shopping for a Premiership team a few years ago, I wanted one good enough to stay in the league and threaten the top 4
After World Cup 2006 and the Spofi Campfire, I settled on Everton because I wanted to recapture that feeling I had with the Red Sox of having the stepped-on underdogs finally overcome the odds and win it all.
I forgot how much it sucks to be the stepped-on underdogs.
posted by yerfatma at 01:40 PM on February 17, 2011
Oh dear. That didn't work out for you at all, did it?
Actually, it has: you appreciate the victories more when they're rare and hard-fought, and the only way is up. There's no fun in becoming a Collingwood or Geelong supporter from afar.
posted by etagloh at 04:45 PM on February 17, 2011
Don't remember how I actually started liking Tottenham, but I am quite glad I jumped on that bandwagon well before the Champions League football started. Glad I was settled before I saw this, else I'd be a fan of the Arse, which would be tragic.
posted by boredom_08 at 11:37 PM on February 17, 2011
From the comments :
"Again, this is just not fair to compare the NFL and the MLB teams with those unknown soccer teams. Everybody know the Yankees and the Jets, but I seriously doubt that many people know what the heck Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs are."