I love this thread.
I can't get into the Premier League simply because, well, I don't want to root for a front-runner out of the blue and I can't find any qualities of the other teams I can sink my teeth into. Portsmouth would be the ideal one since I love maritime history but fuck I couldn't care less. I will watch Premiership games but have no real interest, except of course for Man U to lose.
I pay most attention to the Bundesliga. My wife's from Germany, they are a top power, the league isn't too big, the fans are crazy, and the time difference isn't killer. In particular I look at FSV Mainz 05, which is where my wife grew up and her family is from that region and I can't root for Frankfurt, though it's a bit like rooting for the Houston Astros. I always look at FC Bayern Munich's results because I love Munich, but I feel like a front-runner a bit. I can look past it though since I have a family connection of sorts.
To me, the hardest part of following the sport internationally is all the different cups/championships. It seems to an outsider there are so many different "playoff" systems (COPA, Champions League, UEFA, Confederates Cup, etc.) that I don't have any idea what to pay attention to or what to ignore. Bayern for example can be playing a Bundesliga match with all scrubs while they have an upcoming Champions League match. It makes no real sense to me.
Qualifications, how many teams from each league, who plays who, etc. is so incredibly confusing. Add in the (really awesome and I wish MLB did this) continuous relegation aspect it's just not as easy to follow as American sports.
I can't get into the Premier League simply because, well, I don't want to root for a front-runner out of the blue and I can't find any qualities of the other teams I can sink my teeth into. Portsmouth would be the ideal one since I love maritime history but fuck I couldn't care less. I will watch Premiership games but have no real interest, except of course for Man U to lose.
I pay most attention to the Bundesliga. My wife's from Germany, they are a top power, the league isn't too big, the fans are crazy, and the time difference isn't killer. In particular I look at FSV Mainz 05, which is where my wife grew up and her family is from that region and I can't root for Frankfurt, though it's a bit like rooting for the Houston Astros. I always look at FC Bayern Munich's results because I love Munich, but I feel like a front-runner a bit. I can look past it though since I have a family connection of sorts.
To me, the hardest part of following the sport internationally is all the different cups/championships. It seems to an outsider there are so many different "playoff" systems (COPA, Champions League, UEFA, Confederates Cup, etc.) that I don't have any idea what to pay attention to or what to ignore. Bayern for example can be playing a Bundesliga match with all scrubs while they have an upcoming Champions League match. It makes no real sense to me.
Qualifications, how many teams from each league, who plays who, etc. is so incredibly confusing. Add in the (really awesome and I wish MLB did this) continuous relegation aspect it's just not as easy to follow as American sports.