Time for me to get off Soccer Fan

I have, on not infrequent occasions, jumped on soccer fan during my writings here. I mock their riots (and, in all seriousness, what other sport actually has a name for misbehaving fans? "Hooliganism" is probably included on some resumes...then again, we DO have football's Raiderfan...so maybe...), their "stars" (it saddens me that I know the name of Mr. Posh Spice), and more.

But I have a newfound respect for soccer. No matter how many riots they hold, how many fans they squeeze (literally) through chain link fences, how many penises they tattoo on supporters of rival teams, no matter how many players are traded for rerouting pipe lines, pigs, or oil contracts,* soccer has fallen in my estimation of crazy sports fans.

I know this is tragic for them. But they just aren't as crazy as they used to be. After all, what means more, what demonstrates more passion, what totally illustrates the pure love of sport and passion for it more: killing people in a riot at the world cup (or some random low-level league) or selling your kidney to attend the Cricket World Cup?