Got to agree with Mr F's comments about the inner cities.
When growing up with such sports, it becomes second nature and common to play in that manner (the breaks every ten second I mean). I do recall a conversation some years back when we were talking soccer over here with some work-mates. These guys were true blue Americans, who had never really given soccer a second thought, and one comment I found a little naive at first was when one mentioned that the nil-nil draw that had just taken place must have been one of the most boring games ever. I took time to convince him that in real football it's not always about how many goals you score (or points as they believed it was called), but the game play itself, but it was all to no avail. They just couldn't get over the lack of goals.
That got me to thinking about American sports in a totally different way. It IS all about the points scored, and that, together with the mandatory advertisement breaks required to have the game on TV, is the reason for the (excessive??) breaks we see in virtually all American-sourced games.
The point I am trying to make is that this is as much a culture thing as Bangers-and-Mash versus Pumpkin Pie is, a difference in upbringing only, and as such, each sport does need to be respected.
Good luck with the soccer-to-Harlem project Mr F, support you all the way on that one mate. One day the USA will have a team that they can honestly claim IS one for the world stage, without the derisory comments from their own fellow Americans - but hopefully not this year!
