amazim
28 April 2000, 18:12
Get Ice-Hockey out of Finland
The Reasons Why
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It is quite easy to recognise that the advent of supporting ice-hockey is an easy way out for Finnish people. With ice-hockey, the sports fans sa tír seo can watch a game without ever having the danger of getting wet, i.e. on the airmchair or the barstool, can easily buy their teams shirt, and can observe all the events as they happen from their armchair.
All of this is a deterrent. The soccer league of Finland is a grossly underachieving product. The fact that ice-hockey is so popular here has proven one of the main factors in explaining why more people do not support the soccer league. Not only that, but the inevitably superior quality of Finnish ice-hockey in the very small ice-hockey world can create a damaging mentality in the minds of Finnish supporters.
Unjustified and unfounded comparisons are made between the ice-hockey league and the soccer league which has further negative effects. After a soccer league game I attended last year, which happened to be broadcast live on national TV, a few ice-hockey minded "supporters" who watched the game on television were grunting about the poor quality of the game. This amazed me as I argued that it was a decent game. To end the argument, I proposed that the aforementioned ice-hockey minded "supporters" read the match report in a daily paper the following day. In the paper I
purchased, the game was described, by a soccer journalist, as "a thriller". This bore testament to my perception that constant watching of ice-hockey can decree that Finnish fans cannot appreciate a domestic soccer game.
What can you do? You can constantly and continuosly criticise ice-hockey fans about their allegiance. The truth is the only arms necessary. Since I, and other soccer fans have started to voice our opinions, many fans have been converted, and others have lost interest in the ice-hockey league. Ignorance can prove counter productive. There are many ways in which you can promote the soccer league over the ice-hockey league. Here are my stances, I am sure you have your own ideas also.
1 Never discuss ice-hockey at all. When it is necessary, do not do so in a positive manner.
2 Suggest to ice-hockey league fans that they are can never call themselves a dedicated supporter of Finland national soccer team if they have never seen some domestic soccer league club in the flesh.
3 Continue to promote all positives aspects of the soccer league.
4 Keep berating about the unwarranted allegiance towards the ice-hockey league by many Finnish media folk.
All of this will work in time. People may criticise me for these opinions and if so, I respect your views. We must witness the death of ice-hockey in this country. Otherwise, Finnish soccer will continue to underachieve. Above all, the Finnish FA MUST recognise this.
The Reasons Why
------------------
It is quite easy to recognise that the advent of supporting ice-hockey is an easy way out for Finnish people. With ice-hockey, the sports fans sa tír seo can watch a game without ever having the danger of getting wet, i.e. on the airmchair or the barstool, can easily buy their teams shirt, and can observe all the events as they happen from their armchair.
All of this is a deterrent. The soccer league of Finland is a grossly underachieving product. The fact that ice-hockey is so popular here has proven one of the main factors in explaining why more people do not support the soccer league. Not only that, but the inevitably superior quality of Finnish ice-hockey in the very small ice-hockey world can create a damaging mentality in the minds of Finnish supporters.
Unjustified and unfounded comparisons are made between the ice-hockey league and the soccer league which has further negative effects. After a soccer league game I attended last year, which happened to be broadcast live on national TV, a few ice-hockey minded "supporters" who watched the game on television were grunting about the poor quality of the game. This amazed me as I argued that it was a decent game. To end the argument, I proposed that the aforementioned ice-hockey minded "supporters" read the match report in a daily paper the following day. In the paper I
purchased, the game was described, by a soccer journalist, as "a thriller". This bore testament to my perception that constant watching of ice-hockey can decree that Finnish fans cannot appreciate a domestic soccer game.
What can you do? You can constantly and continuosly criticise ice-hockey fans about their allegiance. The truth is the only arms necessary. Since I, and other soccer fans have started to voice our opinions, many fans have been converted, and others have lost interest in the ice-hockey league. Ignorance can prove counter productive. There are many ways in which you can promote the soccer league over the ice-hockey league. Here are my stances, I am sure you have your own ideas also.
1 Never discuss ice-hockey at all. When it is necessary, do not do so in a positive manner.
2 Suggest to ice-hockey league fans that they are can never call themselves a dedicated supporter of Finland national soccer team if they have never seen some domestic soccer league club in the flesh.
3 Continue to promote all positives aspects of the soccer league.
4 Keep berating about the unwarranted allegiance towards the ice-hockey league by many Finnish media folk.
All of this will work in time. People may criticise me for these opinions and if so, I respect your views. We must witness the death of ice-hockey in this country. Otherwise, Finnish soccer will continue to underachieve. Above all, the Finnish FA MUST recognise this.