Soccer already is plenty popular in the US. In 2010, MLS averaged 16,675 fans per game. Compare that to the NHL's 17,122 or the NBA's 17,319 in 2010-11. Soccer has always been a popular youth sport (see: "Soccer mom"), and with the ever-changing demographics of this country there are more and more immigrants whose first love is soccer. Because of the advances that soccer has made in this country, I don't think that popularity is really the question that needs asking. Instead, it's about awareness.
As sad as it seems, people still get caught up in the same things about soccer. "Everybody flops like a bunch of sissies," "This offsides (sic) rule is dumb, I don't understand it," "It's so slow" These things come up all the time with the average sports fan (or columnist or host), but if they were simply aware of the game and how it's played these could be eliminated. Problem with flopping? Look at every sport save golf, and there's people simulating to gain an edge. You tolerate basketball, don't you? Don't understand offside? Take five minutes to educate yourself. It's not that hard of a law to understand (although it can be tricky to interpret). Bored? Soccer doesn't stop. Take some time to appreciate the game and you will see that something is happening even when no one is scoring.
This is not to say that everyone needs to become a master tactician so that soccer can be appreciated in America. People still have questions about hockey, yet it's acceptable to talk about it national, and more than ok in a lot of hockey markets to talk about it locally. That's where soccer needs to make inroads next. There are a lot of people that care about the game, and if they can bring it up in their watercooler talk without everybody giving them blank stares (as we've been able to do these last two summers) then I think I will be happy at where soccer is in America.
The fact that the four letter network has regularly included soccer highlights in their Top 10 Plays and broadcast MLS games nearly every week (as well as games overseas) and that Fox shows the Champions League Final on broadcast television are encouraging signs. But they need to back up their actions by talking about it, so that it's not taboo in sports talk.
I'm not asking for you to love the game (although I'd be delighted if you did), just to understand and accept it.
in my opinion, the next step for america to progress to the next stages of gaining respect domestically, the youth programs and farm systems at home need to diversify and teach more than just the typical american system of playing. at the same time, the mls still needs to progress so that we dont lose our better players to euro leagues, and can build a reputation for having world class superstars(in their prime, not this beckham and henry and pele shit), although i realize the publicity probably helps.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: I agree that that is the next step as far as making the soccer BETTER in America, but all that will do is possibly draw in the soccer fans right now that currently dismiss MLS all together. MLS will never be EPL, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A or even Ligue 1. But what we can strive to be is closer to the Argentine Primera Division or maybe even Eredivisie. But what I'm pushing for in this is for the sport itself, not any one type of brand or league of soccer. Just the acceptance of soccer in America.
ReplyDeleteI dont think america will fully accept soccer until a championship is won so eurofags will have less to talk about. And i think if some world championships are won and we become consistent contenders on the world stage, that will lead to more of our best athletes choosing to play soccer instead of sports like football. And I think if we can get Americas best athletes actually playing soccer for a living, that we would eventually be able to be mentioned in same sentence as the euro premier leagues, because we have a great breeding ground for athletes, just have to get the minds on soccer...heh maybe a lockout could help there. *crosses fingers* I mean imagine if a beast of a man as ochocinco woulda spent all the time he did running routes and catching footballs on shooting, finishing, and dribbling a soccer ball
ReplyDeleteIt's something that's commonly brought up (Americans having great athletes) but that's not really the problem that our soccer players have. We already pretty good athletes playing the sport, it's the technical skill and creativity/soccer know-how that Americans have been lacking. It's tempting to have our great athletes of other sports playing soccer, but that's not our problem. The kids are already playing soccer, it's the development of those kids that we're lacking.
ReplyDeletethats one thing our womens has over mens, they arent afraid to take people on with the dribble, and are more creative, then again they have a euro coach and her offspring isnt taking the spot of potentially more effective/creative latin-american midfielders. Also soccer is acceptable as a college sport for women across nation, thanks title 9 or 5 or 7 whater it is
ReplyDeletewell, i guess theres more than one thing, but as far as playstyles go
ReplyDeleteHey hey hey....let's not get into the nepotism argument here. Michael Bradley has consistently been one of the best players on the national team. If we're getting into race, to be honest we don't have any "creative latin-american midfielders", at least not at Bradley's midfield spot. Alejandro Bedoya is the only player in the pool right now that kind of fits that description, and he's not consistently good. Nor does he play Bradley's holding midfield position. Jermaine Jones, Maurice Edu, and Bradley are fighting for those two spots. Bradley needs to get some consistent club time in order to keep up with Jones and Edu, who have been playing well and catching up to him, but he's not in there because he's coach's son. It's because he's a damn good soccer player.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to reveal yourself if you don't want to, but I do like to know who I'm talking to
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