Soccer is hard to watch for the novice fan

How can over a billion people be wrong, I asked myself.

I really need to give this World Cup a chance. After all, the USA team is quite good and is making a Cinderella run at the trophy.

This is the sport that the whole world follows and seems to love.

I kept trying to get excited about the games. After all, I am a huge sports' fan and tune in to watch most things sports related.

However, I had a hard time getting excited about World Cup soccer, except perhaps, when the United States team was playing.

What is wrong with me?

Well, after reading articles about soccer and continuing to watch parts of games and highlights of games on ESPN, I decided that it was not my problem, but soccer's.

It really is a boring game played by great athletes in top physical condition. The exciting parts of games are few and far between.

I started to think about what soccer could do to spice things up a bit, and even though I know soccer will continue with its less than exciting rules, I have come up with some changes to make it more watchable for the average sports fan.

First of all, what is it with the substitutions? Why can't more subs be used throughout the game. Get players in and out like they do in hockey.

These soccer players run and run and run, and by the time the game reaches 90 minutes, they have nothing or very little left.

If a team is behind, the players are just too tired to make a run.

Have three or four lines like they have in hockey and shuffle fresh guys in and tired guys out.

Also, what is the deal with the yellow and red cards? Why not penalize a team by taking a player away for five minutes or so. Or, give more penalty kicks for a severe foul.

These players are almost encouraged to take fake falls and look hurt so the other team's player might get a red card. This is ridiculous.

Maybe soccer could get rid of the offsides rule, or modify it a little to encourage more shots on goal.

These players have so few shots on goal because they are trying to hard to make the perfect shot. If players were allowed to go offsides and take chances, more goals would be scored, or at least more shots could be taken.

I admit, I am not a real student of soccer rules, so forgive me about my naivete on the subject, but something has to be done to get the offenses going.

Two more rules I would get rid of.

Why not stop the time clock when play has stopped for a minute? Why do the referees have so much power to add what they want to the clock? Just end the game at the 90 minute mark with the clock stopping when needed.

Furthermore, how can these guys battle for all that time, end the game in a tie and then take penalty kicks to decide the outcome? Keep playing until the sudden death goal is scored.

This could happen if more substitutions were allowed during the game.

Obviously, this is one sports fan's opinion. With all the people that love the game, rule changes are highly unlikely.

On another note, I think that the world takes this game way too seriously. The riots and fights in the stands are simply unbelievable after a loss in just a regular game. I know the Oakland Raider fans have this same reputation, so this may not be a good observation.

I guess I will just have to give soccer another chance. Maybe I will wake up and enjoy the game that the rest of the world loves.

However, I think the only way that will happen is if the USA team gets much better and is involved in a World Cup final.

So, go USA!!!