- 05:33 PM
- 11/23/24
squealy, the sad fact is we (the nation as a whole) doesn't get upset is because we (generally speaking) don't care. We get upset about not winning international championships of things we DO care about. For instance, Basketball. The world started catching up so we started using NBA players. I think you'll see a far more competitive senior team in a decade. Our youth organization AYSO has to do one thing though. It has to bring the game to the inner city. PC, code word for blacks and some latinos. Our best basketball players, and a lot of our gridiron/am. football players come from these areas. Also, we need a soccer toe hold in the talent rich but american football dominated south. In every other part of the world soccer is a workingmans or poor mans sport. In America its a suburban sport of the middle class. AYSO is trying to build a presense in the inner city but its nascent. If we had a youth league in say the top 5 metro areas (NY, LA, Philly, Chicago, Houston) I guarantee you, we'd see a half a dozen 'Freddy Adus' from all those 8, 9 and 10 year olds. Even the best suburban players aren't playing soccer. Its changing. Lastly, I think to help it along, the U.S. mens team needs a 'Miracle on Ice' type of performance. Ice Hockey wasn't that big in the '70s, only in northern cities with a strong NHL presense (Boston, Detroit, Chicago), then we won '80 Olympics and now the U.S. is usually no worse than 2nd or 3rd in international comps. A semi or final for the U.S. mens team in soccer could do the trick.
posted by AmericanGooner at 02:44 PM on June 13, 2005
Its always 'fun' to English and others to poke fun at America and our proclivities. Its safe. We're the worlds #1 super power so its like making fun of the kid who has everything. I took it as tongue in cheek and not vile hatred. But all I can say in response is at least dominate the sports 'we make up'. The English invented soccer/football and don't dominate. Cricket as well and don't dominate it and Rugby as well (their last WC aside) haven't really dominated the sport as well recently. We invented baseball, american football and basketball (although Naismith was Canadian) and we dominate them. The embarassing thing is inventing a sport and not dominating it.
posted by AmericanGooner at 02:27 PM on June 12, 2005
Being a Philly native I can't disagree too much and its even a badge of pride of sorts like Raiders fans. Its a tough, working class, gritty city and the fans reflect it. All the fans act up. Phillies fans in baseball. I recall seeing fights in the rest rooms as a kid. Sixers games as well. I have seen Celtics fans beaten up and cars with Mass. lic. plates smashed in. Remember, we booed Santa Claus and pelted him with snow balls. Booed 'favorite son' Kobe when he got the MVP at the all star game we hosted and booed Desitny Child's half time performance. Its just who we are, the eagles fans are even called 'boo birds'. First (and possibly only) stadium to have a jail inside it.
posted by AmericanGooner at 02:21 PM on June 12, 2005
The Argies are a world soccer power in youth as well as seniors. Its a huge win. Wynne impressed me as well. Don't discredit the accomplishments of the youth, its a great foundation for the future. Also, taking nothing away from them, frankly, America's best youth are playing basketball, American football, baseball, ice hockey and track & field. If as little as 10% of our best athletes played soccer instead of the other sports we'd get close to dominating. Great job!
posted by AmericanGooner at 02:18 PM on June 12, 2005
Elvis Costello is a Liverpool fan.
I was about to call him a glory-hunter but he's been a scouser loving LFC fan long enough. No doubt though he started out as a glory hunter when LFC actually had a good side.