Hopefully someone can help me with this question I have. Mass, you will probably have the best insight into this matter.
My question is in regards to the USA Soccer Team and the World Cup. First let me say that I am not a soccer fan but do support the USA in everything we do so I was supporting them in this event. The most I know about soccer is that I played goalie for 1 or 2 years when I was just a little guy. Actually... I guess I just watched soccer from the net.
My question is, "why do we struggle so much against the other countries in soccer?"
I know the common, most given answer, is that the other countries have better players. They have been playing soccer longer. It's more popular in other countries. Other countries' pay players more to play in their leagues. Etc. Etc. Etc.
The US has some of the best athletes and pro teams in the world. Football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, and the olympics. We excel at them all and rank atop the best , if not the best in each.
Why not soccer?
1) I assume that in the World Cup you have to play for the country you are from? This eliminates the possibility of "stacking teams" with all-star pros. I'm sure some teams have their fare share of pros on their teams but we aren't talking about a Yankees like "stacking."
2) I'm certain the US team has elite soccer athletes and pros on their team as well. I can imagine that all the teams, including the US, have the same aged players on their teams. I think it's fair to say that all the players involved started at a early age and have played competitively ever since. Practicing year around and playing in pro and semi-pro leagues.
3) Soccer is not as popular in the US but it is still very popular with those who play it. I'm sure our players are the best at what they do and are great athletes.
We have the best in the world in all our major sports and some not so major sports. Why not soccer?
Help me understand this.
The Buck
I think there are a couple simple reasons.
ReplyDelete1. Football, Basketball and Baseball. These are our sports. These are the pasttimes of Americans. All three are so popular that soccer cannot compete in popularity and because of that, it cannot compete in participation. The best athletes in our country do not play soccer. Until that changes, neither will our competiveness in the world arena.
2. We dont have a professional league that even comes close to the other professional leagues around the world. The MLS is a friggin joke, not even a minor league level for the other leagues like the English Premier League. Look at the NBA, NFL and MLB. These are the best leagues in the world for their sport, and they are in the US. We can't compete.
3. We are too diversified. If you look at the powerhouses of the soccer world (Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Spain) soccer is THE sporting focus for them. Their best athletes play soccer.
I think its a combination of these things. The US is definitely improving, simply because there has been a lot of emphasis put on how far behind they have been. I don't really see the US team getting much closer than they are now, but we will see.
I have really enjoyed watching these World Cup games! I never tune in to watch a MLS game, but these games are good and I also enjoy watching English Premier League games when shown. With that said, let me add on to what Mass stated.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a senior in high school our starting quarterback on the SC football team was Billy Savage. Billy was also a starting baseball player and started as a catcher, shortstop and center fielder. Billy, a great athlete, got a full ride to college on a baseball scholarship and was a low draft pick of the Pirates. One day in gym class we were required to play soccer. Now back then "we" football players wouldn't think of playing any soccer. It was for the less "manly". Well, in our gym class were about 5-6 starting senior soccer players and it just so happened they all wanted to be on 1 team and the football players in the class decided to be on the other. Mix in the rest of the gym class. I'll never forget it. At one point Billy got the ball on our side of the field, dribbled and ran through the other team like a hot knife through butter and scored what seemed like an effortless goal. Point is: the US' best athletes do not play soccer. Still today you could look at the running backs and receivers on Central's football team and they would immediately improve the soccer team if they played.
If you saw the US v Ghana match one thing stuck out for me. Landen Donovan, our best player, looked like an average athlete. His shirt loosely fitting. Take another look at the Ghana players. I noticed how ripped they were. Their shirts were tight and muscles bulged. They looked like NFL running backs and defensive backs. And, their speed was every bit as good as an NFL player.
Why is it this way? $$$$$$ millions to sign an NFL, NBA, or MLB contract. No $ in the MLS or any number of indoor soccer leagues. In Europe, the Premier League players are heralded as national heros and paid accordingly. Beckham is as well known for his endorsements and modeling as his play.
Whay if TO played striker instead of wide reciever? You think any Ghana player would cross the middle if Ray Lewis played defense for the US? What about Lebron James? If he had grown up playing soccer with that physical built and talent?
Now I'm pulling for Argentina or Germany.
I am by no means a soccer fan and far from ever being one. With that said, I did watch bits and pieces of the game Saturday because I wanted to see the US team advance. No matter what the Commish says, I do root for my country. Having suffered through abour a half hour of total watching time, I have a few questions.
ReplyDelete1. What is the deal with the flopping. I thought the NBA was bad, but some of these guys make Vlade Divac look good.
2. What's up with the cards. How come if you get 2 yellow cards, you then have to miss a game.
3. What is the deal with stoppage time. How come I listen to announcers and they have no clue how much time is left. Could you imagine in the NFL if they had to 2 minuteish drill going on at the end of a half.
4. I talked to the Commish on this one this morning. How come when Ghana scored in Overtime, it wasn't game over. I yurned the channel cause I thought it was over and was shocked when I changed back they were still playing. The Commish argued it was an issue of fairness, but both teams have the ball there and an oppurtunity to score so I don't buy that.
5. And finally, whats the deal with the officials. Every game there seems to be brutal calls, and when asked about replay, FIFA responds no, not anytime soon. Their reasoning, they like all the drama these calls have brought to their sport as it has made things more interesting. Sorry, but with bad calls in seemingly every game, why would anybody want to watch that?
1. Flopping is cheezy. It really takes away from the game, and makes tough athletes look like pussies. I hate it too. There has been a concerted effort to card players who intentionally flop, but it is somewhat hard to determine.
ReplyDelete2. 2 yellow cards in one game equal a red. Just the rules of soccer. Think of it as 2 technical fouls in basketball.
3. I don't really understand why they do it this way either. I am guessing because the one main ref keeps the official time, so it is easier to communicate the extra time once per half then to communicate to the clock person every time there is a stoppage in play.
4. World Cup extra time format. Two 15 minute halves of extra time, score after the 30 minutes determines the winner. If still tied, penalty kicks. I used to think they did a golden goal time period as well, but I guess not.
5. Officiating sucks. Can't argue that. The fact that FIFA is so mum on technology upgrades just shows their arrogance and unwillingness to improve the game. At least goal line technology should be utilized just like in hockey. Those replays are super quick and take little away from the game.
Hope that answers your questions Frank, and thanks for donating two more play toys for Gizmo (actually we have the baseball and Dora ball in a safe spot).
No Problem, I got plenty more toys that I would love to donate to Gizmo.
ReplyDeleteGoing back to number 2, I nderstand about the 2 cards in one game, but if I am not mistakin there was a US player that got his second card of the tourny and if they won, he would miss the next game. That is what I could not understand, kind of seems a little harsh to me especially with all the Vlade's out there flopping around.
The Buck i understand your question and after talking to you i am not sure this answer will do but here we go.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else has said, most Americans dont play. All over the world kids wake up play all day everyday. American kids wake up and play soccer, but on tuesday they are at a AAU baseball game, then they are at football camp for a week. We do have the best athletes in the world and in almost every sport i could think of, even the most random ones America has one of if not the best player in the world from that sport. Its just none of them play soccer. Like Mass said, could you imagine if T.O., Lebron, Ed Reed any of these guys played soccer allday, i think it would be a different story.
Its like asking why their arent many Black golfers, or American born black baseball players, or straight figure skaters. For whatever the reason we just dont push the sport and until then we will be right around the top 20 in the world.
As for the other topics, i had heard that they were looking for flopping and were going to give yellow cards for it, i wish they actually did what they said they were going to do. I dont remember one card for flopping even when you saw guys fall 5 feet from someone. And if you leave the field on a stretcher you should have to sit in the lockerroom until the game is over, not stand right up and come back in. Soccer is starting to remind me of the NBA, the officials have way to much affect on the game, and the people in charge are complete idiots who think bad news if good for their league.