I'm researching the origin of soccer for a magazine article and I finally answered a question I've thought about for years. Why is European football called soccer in the United States?
The English played two types football: rugby football which allowed hand and foot play, nicknamed rugger and association football which prohibited hand play, named assoc. When soccer started gaining popularity in the US during the 1960's, gridiron football (National Football League) was already in existence. Therefore, the US adopted the English nickname, assoc, which eventually turned into soccer because it's easier to pronounce.
What is something you're currently mulling over? Or something you've pondered in the past?
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8 comments:
Hey, I didn't know that about why soccer is called soccer! That is so cool. I love finding out stuff like this.
We're pondering the Dog Question over here...
Me too!
The dog is sooo cute.. I wouldn't be able to resist. :)
How interesting! Is it sad that I played soccer for 13 years and I didn't know the origin of the name?
I've been wondering what the world would be like with no sense of smell. I have a friend who was born without a sense of smell and I just can't fathom it.
I've always wondered about that, too. Cool to know! Oh god, what haven't I been pondering. I do always ponder how we got words for certain things. Though today I was pondering why can't something be done through the UN or something about China killing all the cats because they are supposedly disease carriers. Sorry that is a depressing ponder.
Hi, Stephanie K.
I didn't know that about the cats. That's sad. :(
Hi, Stephanie,
Hmmm.. No sense of smell. I wonder if food tastes weird.
I thought the same but the friend was born without the sense so she's never known what it tasted like with smell!
Interesting. Thanks for sharing, Stephanie.
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