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This is just ridiculous. The main skill of soccer is NOT endurance. It's a prerequisite to play the game. You're absolutely correct - being a good marathoner does not make one a good soccer player. Being a good soccer player, however, would tend to make it more probable that someone could finish a marathon. As far as a lack of skill in soccer - foolishness. When you can pop a ball 60 yards, with bend and spin in the wind, and have it land within a couple of feet of where you intended - which is to a player who is running (so you have to lead them)...and when that player can take it out of the air with a single touch - while still running - and not have it carom off to god knows where...but have it stay at his feet while he's in stride....and then have that player manipulate the ball within the context of the shapes that both teams are laid out in....then you have very skilled people at work. When you see a group of people connect a series of one-touch passes to pull another team out of position and/or to remain possession...I'm sorry, but it takes a lot of skill. If you don't believe me, go out and try it with people who ARE skilled at soccer, and see how frustrated you become. As far as the players faking in order to get fouls called, I personally think it's another level of skill - mental skill. Many will disagree with me, but I've always considered messing with the refs head and/or trying to get him on your side is another dimension to the game. What matters at the end is the score, and in organized play, how many cards your team carries. If you can get your team a strategic advantage by having a player from the other team removed, then congratulations. Yes, it sucks when it happens, but it's not as easy as you might think. The refs know that players are trying to fuck with them, so you have to be very good or put the other team in a position where the ref has no choice but to give you the call. Just like in cards, I consider skillful cheating to be an integral part of soccer. You have to adapt to a particular referee's predispositions - essentially, the rules of the game change slightly every time you step on the field.
As for lacrosse, I have very little appreciation for it because it's not big down here in the South - but I do think it takes a lot of skill to play. So now its apples to oranges to bananas.
Another interesting thing about soccer is how little you need to play. A ball. That's it. A main reason why its so universally played - anyone can learn to play soccer, because you don't need gloves and bats.
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