World Cup 2006

**russ.will** · **06-11-06, 03:49 PM**

Well it's big news across the whole world. Even bigger news for the UK as it's the first time we've been able to watch a sporting event live in HD. And it rocks.

But, this is aimed squarely at our American friends:

1) Are you watching it? The World Cup gets world wide viewing fiquers that look like telephone numbers with international dialling codes attached. Yet football (yes, football NOT soccer) is still a minority sport for you. You're in this competition and have made great strides in your recent appearances. What's the interest level like.

2) If you are watching it:

a) How are you coping with a sport that doesn't stop for 45 minutes?

b) Does the American psyche grasp a sport where drawing, ie not winning can be good enough?

c) Can you understand the off side rule? This is to weed out the fakers.

This is obviously tongue in cheek, but I'm interested all the same.

Russell

**Sonnie** · **06-11-06, 05:26 PM**

What channel is this on?

I've never been much of one to watch soccer myself. I don't watch a lot of football either... other than college football, which I do enjoy.

I watch more NASCAR than anything else being from redneck hillbilly country. I believe it's the largest spectator sport in the world... but there are a lot of people who find it boring. I find baseball and golf boring.

**Phil M** · **06-11-06, 05:59 PM**

Quote:

Sonnie wrote:

What channel is this on?

I've never been much of one to watch soccer myself. I don't watch a lot of football either... other than college football, which I do enjoy.

I watch more NASCAR than anything else being from redneck hillbilly country. I believe it's the largest spectator sport in the world... but there are a lot of people who find it boring. I find baseball and golf boring.

ABC HD
ESPN
ESPN2

I took some screen shots today and will try and upload them.

**JCD** · **06-12-06, 09:40 PM**

Ugh, the US are NOT off to a good start.

Sish.. I was really hoping they'd do well, but with the loss today..

JCD

**Fincave** · **06-13-06, 03:05 AM**

OT: I would love to be able to see the games in HD, can only imagine that it is pretty spectacular. Have not managed to see a single game yet but today is a free day and so will definitely watch all three games!

ps. As a Saffer I do understand the offside rule! I also get that drawing is sometimes good enough, even if it takes five days to pull off a draw!

**Phil M** · **06-13-06, 01:06 PM**

I promised some screen shots - thanks to Bob's help with the downrezing.
It's difficult to photograph a 94 inch screen, but hopefully it gives an idea.
The source was OTA antenna fed through a Dish HD DVR.

**russ.will** · **06-13-06, 05:07 PM**

Quote:

JCD wrote:

Ugh, the US are NOT off to a good start.

Sish.. I was really hoping they'd do well, but with the loss today..

JCD

Yeah Ok, it was a good beating, but bear in mind the Czech Republic are ranked No2 for the tournament. But just remember they put 5 past you in Italia '90, so there's been progress. Talking of which, it's Italy next.

Russell

**russ.will** · **06-17-06, 03:32 PM**

I tell you what. You guys might not have got off to a good start, but you should see how you're doing at the moment. 1-1 and Italy down to 10 men. This has all the makings of a cracking World Cup upset. Come on, join the rest of the world, it really is the greatest sporting event in the world (after the Olympics).

**russ.will** · **06-17-06, 06:08 PM**

1-1. 10 men v 9. Harsh decisions from the Uraguayan Ref. This match had a bit of everything and you're still in the tournament. It all hangs on the final group matches. Top viewing for the neutral.

Russell

**Phil M** · **06-19-06, 08:09 AM**

Russell, I watched a recording of the USA Italy game (great in HD - to keep the thread on topic). The US coach was crying wolf yesterday, in what little press coverage the game got, about the send offs (we was robbed!), I thought the decisions were excellent. I read somewhere that FIFA had decided that the latin style of foul and dive was not good for the flow of the game and spectator enjoyment, and preferred the British free flowing game (after all we did invent it). Consequently FIFA had decided to come down hard on the 'latin' style game and yellow/red card any of this style, if its true it seems to be working. As a kid I was goggle eyed watching the first color World Cup from Mexico in 1970!

Completely off topic one of the satellites providers in the US, there are two, has a 24X7 music concert channel in HD. One of the programs they show is the BBC Jools Holland (forget the name but its the BBC show) its recorded in HD format and looks great. Hopefully you will see this soon.

**russ.will** · **06-19-06, 04:56 PM**

Until July, it's only the WC 2006 games that are being broadcast. Otherwise the Beeb are running a permanent HD trailer at the. Later with Jools Holland does look and sound excellent. Keep an eye out for Planet Earth 2, Galapagos and Bleak House. These 3 are the two genres that the BBC are completely untouchable at - wildlife and period costume drama. Planet Earth 2 is Attenborough at his best. Staggering quality camera work finally in a medium that shows the true quality of the BBC. All in DD5.1 too.

I still think some of the cards against the USA were a bit soft though.

Russell

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