Nike and Google launch Joga.com

hpcanswers writes "Given the increasing popularity of social-networking sites among the young and affluent, Nike has introduced a new site dedicated to the world's most popular sport: soccer. While Nike provides the content (via its army of sponsored athletes, among others), Google provides the technical expertise. Orkut has been very popular in soccer-crazed Brazil, so Google may be able to make a brand extension here. Joga.com is currently invite only, though a form at the bottom of the home page takes requests for invitations." I actually found the launch of a site like this interesting not because of the content, but because of the trend in "private label" sites. It's a Shake'n'Bake Social Network, and you helped make it.

Comments

Mes Ami slashdotter

[Mantorp]

For too long, ve let liars and cheaters make a fool of ze site. Enough! I am ere to remind ze world zat zis site is about skills, heart, Honor, joy, team spirit. Mes amis I need your help, togetzer we can make it beeutiful again. Beeutiful! Watch zis space.

Oh, and check out the latest FIFA rankings, USA is ranked shockingly high!

Re:Mes Ami slashdotter

[rogueuk]

With regard to the USA ranking, it helps that the USA has played 5 friendlies already this year since most of the team is in the MLS off-season while most other associations are in the middle of their league play so friendlies are much harder to coordinate.

I like that commercial with Cantona, but am I must admit I wonder if he was thinking of skills, heart, HHHHonor, joy, and team spirit when he drop kicked that fan during the Crystal Palace game in 95.

Re:Mes Ami slashdotter

[Conanymous Award]

"...heart, Honor..."

Your French sucks, mon ami. The letter H is silent in spoken French, it practically doesn't exist. The French, if anybody, would pronounce honor without the H.

Oh, BTW: the word itself comes to English from French. ;P

Re:Mes Ami slashdotter

[br0ck]

How is the text of the commercial used to launch Joga in a thread about Joga even slightly offtopic?

Soccer is eXtreme!!

[BadAnalogyGuy]

Yo! Check out tha brand new site JOGA, muthafuckaz! Peep Nike's ultracool lineup and vote for your favorite Air Jordan!

Yeah! Keep it real bruthaz!

This looks like a perfect place..

[digitaldc]

...to post an essay about Nike's exploitation of cheap labour in far-Eastern countries.

Soccer sucks! QWZX

[Anonymous Coward]

Soccer is PROVABLY a bad sport. One of the primary essences of a sport is the offensive / defensive balance. Soccer is completely out of balance; the defense is far too strong. When a 2-0 score is a blowout, then you know the sport is out of balance.

More proof: tiebreakers. How the hell can you do penalty kicks to decide a game? It should be decides on the field, using some subset of rules. But since defense is so out of balance, they know they can't do it that way.

Do you know why Soccer doesn't catch on in the US? It's because we have so many sport choices. We know that soccer sucks, because we have sports to compare them to. Most other countries have very few choices for professional sports. People is Europe think we just haven't been exposed to soccer, but almost every child here plays soccer. We know soccer. We just know that it's a bad sport.

The solution? I've always thought that widening the goals posts would do a lot for the sport. I'd say the "natural" score for soccer should be around 20 goals. It shouldn't be the case that if someone gets a two goal lead, then the game is over.

Unfortunately, I doubt they'll ever fix the game. Soccer has potential; it doesn't have to suck. But there's too much history and momentum to fix it. Ah well.

Re:Should we invoke the "Do No Evil" clause here?

[Tommac2005]

PLEASE mod this guy up! XD

Re:Please name the sport correctly

[offput]

Why was this modded as informative? funny maybe, and that's a tenuous maybe...

;You FAIL it

[Anonymous Coward]

Charn3l House.