As much as I love the grit of the US team I think that Germany was overly kind to us yesterday. They seemed to call off the dogs after their goal and had this been the 1st game of group play they may have beat us by 2 or 3 goals. That said, Howard and the US defense was stellar.
The German connection that the US has paid off a bit.
I enjoy when the World Cup happens every four years. I follow it, and even when the US is out of it, I still follow it (although maybe not quite as closely).
But what amuses me is how the World Cup brings out the soccer haters in social media and various sports columns. Complain about it, gripe about it, and list the various ways soccer sucks compared to {enter big-time American sport here}. I get they don't like it, but they broadcast it constantly.
I have no desire to watch cars and horses race around in circles, and golf would put me to sleep. But I don't mind when the Kentucky Derby or US Open rolls around. I just let it be.
I think part of it stems from ethnocentrism: Americans aren't very good at futbol, it has a very "foreign" look to it, the announcers have funny accents, etc. Hence, people dismiss it and treat it like the plague.
I would fall into the category of someone who simply wasn't at all interested in the World Cup. But I also didn't complain, gripe and find reasons why it sucked, I just chose not to really pay much attention. The only problem with that was that the coverage is so overwhelming at times that its all we heard about. The one thing that kinda killed me was listening to ESPN radio on satellite every day and suddenly at 11:55 this funny music would start and then it would go to a soccer match all afternoon long. For me, soccer on TV is boring enough so I just chose not to watch it. But soccer on the radio, I tried for about 10 minutes a couple times and it was mind numbing.
I guess I am thankful that I am busy enough most days and nights that I just didn't have to worry about it. I got the ESPN updates on my phone so I knew what was happening while I played a round of golf last night. That's enough for me.
I also agree with you on the horses, racing and golf. I don't have a ton of interest in those either. But when the Kentucky Derby comes on (and then the Preakness and Belmont) my wife and I are watching. The Masters and other majors will keep my attention, especially if there are big names or its close. And I actually went to my first Indy 500 this spring, which was a ton of fun, even though I only knew 3 drivers on the track.
I think as with everything, there should be a balance in our emotions about this stuff. Some people suddenly came out of the woodwork and the most ardent US Soccer fan on the planet. Others, like you said treat it like the plague and second rate. To each their own, I personally think it was somewhere in the middle. Would have been great to see the US advance further, but I'm also not bummed that they didn't.
(07-02-2014 10:02 AM)Nacho Wrote: they estimated that by the next 25 years, soccer will be much more popular.
It's possible but people having been saying that here for over 40 years already (Pele and the NY Stars, first incarnation of major league Soccer in USA). Usually every four years.
Most colleges have had Soccer teams, youth Soccer (including HS) has been going for same period time.
And not much has changed.
The Metric System was going to take over too once.
(This post was last modified: 07-02-2014 10:33 AM by MajorHoople.)
The baby boomers don't grasp soccer. Every place they show crowds watching games it's a younger crowd. So are MLS games.
Kids played it, it's a boys and girls game and they "get it". In time we will produce "that star" who will demand respect from the International community along with a supporting cast who will compete. Altidore doesn't get hurt this year and Jurgens vision would have been seen more clearly with Bradley playing where he belongs and a couple of strikers who could impact a game. We lacked the depth but that'll come.
I know that the youth programs have really started to boom in our country. All of my nieces and nephews and several of my friends kids are traveling all over the place to play in huge tournaments every week.
However, I don't see it ever really taking off and becoming a major sport in our country. With NFL, MLB and NBA already having gobbled up so much of the sports fans attention. Plus, college athletic and the other fringe sports that we mentioned above. There are so many other established choices that have already grabbed interest. And the paydays are so huge that these are where young kids aspire to grow up and play.
I actually see soccer in other countries the same as football and basketball in our country. In those places, soccer is a passion. Plus all you need is a ball and a little open space. Doesn't cost much if you come from poverty. Football and basketball are often played in the streets and also don't cost much in our country. I think they will always be a way out of many of our less fortunate. How many times do we see stories of a kid making it our of the projects and bad situation? I don't see this changing in our country. I just think that football and basketball are going to continue to be that avenue. Mainly because kids know that there is a potential pay day there. I don't think we see the potential pay day for professional soccer plays the same.
Just a cultural thing. For 99% of the world, soccer is that cultural sport that gets them all fired up and is a passion. Here in the US, I would say that football is that sport (unique to our country), plus as I stated above, we have so many other options where kids and see the games and dream of playing them.
(07-03-2014 06:21 AM)MajorHoople Wrote: For which MLS team does Howard play again?
I don't care about the MLS - European basketball players come to the United States as its the best basketball league in the world, Asian baseball players come to the MLB because it is the best baseball team in the world. If the United States ever wants to win the world cup they have to have talent like Howard that can travel overseas and play in the best futbol leagues in the world. The MLS blows donkey dick.
Kind of contradicts your previous Freakanomics post, hmmm cheese boy?
(07-02-2014 09:28 PM)DesertBronco Wrote: In time we will produce "that star" who will demand respect from the International community
Timmy Howard is a star who meets these expectations. If not for him it coulda been worse than it was. But then again the US seems to be good at producing goalies... we need a goal scorer. OH WAIT TIMMY HOWARD SCORES GOALS!
Altidore is the closest we have right now. In a few years we may have more talent that is "Premier League" capable. Also. The caliber of MLS is picking up big time, and the fan base in the Pacific NW loves their soccer at a level that nobody else does in the US. It's happening.
After writing my post this morning, I heard several discussions on ESPN radio about the potential growth in popularity of soccer. One thing that was brought up that I hadn't thought of is the increased "browning" of the United States. Meaning a increased Latino influence. Where these people come from soccer is life. So as the Latino population continues to grow in the US, that cultural influence of being soccer crazed will most likely continue to grow with it.
As a side note to that, the younger generations of these families are going to grow up and develop playing soccer in the US and the next wave of young talent will be coming.
Also sounds like ESPN and Fox are on board with a new deal for the MLS. More exposure is going to create more interest, no doubt. Personally, the NHL is also irrelevant to me. A big reason for that is the fact that the network television doesn't carry games until the playoffs. While I don't think soccer is ever going to take over for the now 3 major sports in the US. I do think that there is a good chance that with increased television exposure, resulting in more money for better players to come here to play, that it has a chance to surpass NHL, NASCAR, PGA etc in the next 8-10 years. Especially, if they are able to find some marketable players that can become household names (honestly, the only name I knew 3 weeks ago was Landon Donovan and he didn't play).
If the MLS and US Soccer is smart, they will do everything they can to piggy back on the current spike in interest for soccer. Not sure what that means, but now is the time to try. I really wont add any to my interest or lack thereof, but who knows if it will the next generation.
