Now that David Beckham played...

[BustaJ2632]

I agree that it will take an American phenom for soccer to ever really be successful, but even then, I don't think it will happen in the foreseeable future. Say "watch good soccer, don't watch the MLS" all you want, but what good does that do? I'm a guy in Baltimore and I'm supposed to be enthralled with a sport being played by Brazillians vs. French dudes? Even if a Baltimorean becomes the star of some Premiership team, I still won't identify it because it's a team sport, and the team as a whole doesn't represent me.

And therein lies the problem. Obviously MLS is a far inferior product to the European leagues, so any American player that does develop will want to go over there when he gets good enough. But if the game is going to grow, the American league has to get better. Bringing guys like David Beckham (or Pele back in the day) will cause a short-term splash, but we as Americans don't care about those guys as players that much, and not nearly enough of them will come over to bring the league up as a whole.

So it's a catch-22.

And with that said, Sean is exactly right. Why does it matter if America ever adopts soccer? Europe, for the most part, never embraced baseball or our football. And this, IMO, is why there is such a juvenile backlash against soccer in this country. The soccer fans I know personally basically act like I'm uninformed American trash because I don't like it.

Meanwhile, soccer is not even close to the only sport that is struggling to make it on the mainstream sports scene in America. NASCAR fans that I know, golf fans that I know, and hockey fans that I know don't care whether other people like the sport or not. Yes, they'd like it to grow in popularity, but really they are happy just enjoying the sport for themselves. If soccer fans would stop going on and on about how beautiful it is and how ignorant or slow-witted people who don't like it are and just enjoy the game themselves, they'd save themselves a lot of trouble.

[bretholmes4]

Much worse things are said about soccer from fans of other sports than fans of soccer say about those who don't like it. If you don't want to watch it or understand it, that's fine it will be your loss in entertainment value. What I loathe however are fat idiot football guys in a bar; guys that have never played football or soccer and their opinions consist of "this f'n stupid." "little pansies" etc...and on a equal measure there's a large contingent of foreigners who think all football is is running 3 feet falling down and getting back up.

My contention however is that soccer's marketing, reach, and appeal can reach American walls. Not only can it but it will...despite the fact that we have a AA league, the rest of the world knows that America is the key to huge money in their own country and as long as we are still a super power than other countries will try to will us into their sports. It worked on me. I love the EPL and the other leagues. I think our production of football and even baseball has made their production much more enjoyable to watch.

I still contest though that once the "Lance Armstrong" or "Michael Phelps" of soccer comes along and is playing overseas with America's name you will see the sport become much more front and center.

[NewMarketSean]

I agree that it will take an American phenom for soccer to ever really be successful, but even then, I don't think it will happen in the foreseeable future. Say "watch good soccer, don't watch the MLS" all you want, but what good does that do? I'm a guy in Baltimore and I'm supposed to be enthralled with a sport being played by Brazillians vs. French dudes? Even if a Baltimorean becomes the star of some Premiership team, I still won't identify it because it's a team sport, and the team as a whole doesn't represent me.

And therein lies the problem. Obviously MLS is a far inferior product to the European leagues, so any American player that does develop will want to go over there when he gets good enough. But if the game is going to grow, the American league has to get better. Bringing guys like David Beckham (or Pele back in the day) will cause a short-term splash, but we as Americans don't care about those guys as players that much, and not nearly enough of them will come over to bring the league up as a whole.

So it's a catch-22.

And with that said, Sean is exactly right. Why does it matter if America ever adopts soccer? Europe, for the most part, never embraced baseball or our football. And this, IMO, is why there is such a juvenile backlash against soccer in this country. The soccer fans I know personally basically act like I'm uninformed American trash because I don't like it.

Meanwhile, soccer is not even close to the only sport that is struggling to make it on the mainstream sports scene in America. NASCAR fans that I know, golf fans that I know, and hockey fans that I know don't care whether other people like the sport or not. Yes, they'd like it to grow in popularity, but really they are happy just enjoying the sport for themselves. If soccer fans would stop going on and on about how beautiful it is and how ignorant or slow-witted people who don't like it are and just enjoy the game themselves, they'd save themselves a lot of trouble.

Bingo. Why would I care if England beats Spain? I don't even watch the World Cup when "my team" is playing.

[bretholmes4]

Bingo. Why would I care if England beats Spain? I don't even watch the World Cup when "my team" is playing.

The same reason you watch someone in Malaysia scale the tallest building with no cables and the same reason watch someone set any record or do anything great that just- because its watching someone excel at something.

[NewMarketSean]

The same reason you watch someone in Malaysia scale the tallest building with no cables and the same reason watch someone set any record or do anything great that just- because its watching someone excel at something.

You do have a point, but it doesn't relate to soccer. I could watch that Japanese guy eat hot dogs all day.

[BustaJ2632]

The same reason you watch someone in Malaysia scale the tallest building with no cables and the same reason watch someone set any record or do anything great that just- because its watching someone excel at something.

Why would we watch anyone excel at something if we don't care or identify with that person or that team? Do you know people who actually make a point to sit down and watch someone in Malaysia scale the tallest building with no cables? I mean I have tried not to pay attention to this "Who's Now" thing on ESPN, but I didn't think I was that out of it...

It's sports. For people to watch, they have to care. And Americans don't care about how well people in Europe or South America play soccer and never will. If we have our own star players in our own league, we will probably start to care. But like I said, it's a catch-22 and I honestly don't see it happening anytime soon.

I can appreciate that there are some great soccer players out there, but I would walk right past David Beckham on the street and not have a clue who I just passed. And if Brazil wins the World Cup, no matter how well they played, what do I care? But Kelly Gregg or Corey Patterson, I'd be excited to see.

[BustaJ2632]

Much worse things are said about soccer from fans of other sports than fans of soccer say about those who don't like it. If you don't want to watch it or understand it, that's fine it will be your loss in entertainment value. What I loathe however are fat idiot football guys in a bar; guys that have never played football or soccer and their opinions consist of "this f'n stupid." "little pansies" etc...and on a equal measure there's a large contingent of foreigners who think all football is is running 3 feet falling down and getting back up.

My contention however is that soccer's marketing, reach, and appeal can reach American walls. Not only can it but it will...despite the fact that we have a AA league, the rest of the world knows that America is the key to huge money in their own country and as long as we are still a super power than other countries will try to will us into their sports. It worked on me. I love the EPL and the other leagues. I think our production of football and even baseball has made their production much more enjoyable to watch.

I still contest though that once the "Lance Armstrong" or "Michael Phelps" of soccer comes along and is playing overseas with America's name you will see the sport become much more front and center.

Exactly how front-and-center is the Tour de France this year? There needs to be American stars on American teams before soccer becomes more than a fad, which is essentially all the Tour de France has amounted to.

[NewMarketSean]

Also, why would America care if John Adams was playing for Real Madrid?

[bretholmes4]

Why would we watch anyone excel at something if we don't care or identify with that person or that team? Do you know people who actually make a point to sit down and watch someone in Malaysia scale the tallest building with no cables? I mean I have tried not to pay attention to this "Who's Now" thing on ESPN, but I didn't think I was that out of it...

It's sports. For people to watch, they have to care. And Americans don't care about how well people in Europe or South America play soccer and never will. If we have our own star players in our own league, we will probably start to care. But like I said, it's a catch-22 and I honestly don't see it happening anytime soon.

I can appreciate that there are some great soccer players out there, but I would walk right past David Beckham on the street and not have a clue who I just passed. And if Brazil wins the World Cup, no matter how well they played, what do I care? But Kelly Gregg or Corey Patterson, I'd be excited to see.

There won't be American stars playing here because we don't have the best league. The only way we can get that sort of quality in America is if we start to produce a plethora of players that start to play overseas and then are available to come back before their careers evaporate - which is sort of what they are doing with BEckham...he's so well known around the world that he might as well be American by now.

Anyway - I think eventually the EPL will move into a slot equal to hockey, nascar, and golf here - - most people I know tend to follow that league more now than they did last year and the year before that... I'd say within 2 years ESPN will be carrying the Monday night or Sunday soccer game on one of their channels.

[bretholmes4]

Also, why would America care if John Adams was playing for Real Madrid?

The same reason Japan cares that Ichiro plays for the Mariners or Dice K for the Red Sox. It will not be on that scale but you have no idea what the reach and draw is for these countries - if an American star plays for Madrid ...his marketing draw will not only reach our stores and tv's it will flood them. Remember kids and highschool kids still play alot of soccer...that's their demographic and it's a strong one.

[RayFink1e]

The reason american soccer is behind is because we dont get all the athletes to play. Its not losing athletes like Reggie Bush that hurt, its all the great athletes who couldnt make it cause they were to small or some other knock on them.