Posted on 07/02/2014 7:49:10 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Soccer doesn’t express the American ethos as powerfully as our other popular sports: We are a country of pioneers, and we like to see extraordinary effort rewarded... with points.
Has the time finally come to slap a Do Not Resuscitate bracelet on soccer’s prospects for popularity in America?
If it were up to me, the answer would be no, because soccer players are among the strongest, fittest, most strategic athletes in the world. But, for various reasons, the sport itself does not seem destined for the popularity that supporters have been predicting for the last decade. I’m reminded of the end of Man of La Mancha, when Don Quixote lies dying, but is suddenly inspired to rise once more and proclaim, “Onward to glory I go!” And then he drops dead. Soccer has been proclaiming this impending U.S. glory for years, and while there are signs of life in the body, the prognosis is not good.
This dire diagnosis probably seems crazy in the face of the current World Cup TV ratings success. Between Univision and ESPN, 25 million viewers tuned in to watch the U.S. play Portugal last Sunday. Compare that to 15.5 million viewers that the NBA finals averaged this year, or the 14.9 million averaged in last year’s baseball World Series. Worse, the NHL playoffs averaged only 5 million viewers. Only NFL football consistently beats soccer’s best rating.
The problem with those statistics is that it’s like using the ratings of bobsledding during the Winter Olympics to declare a new renaissance for bobsledding in America. The World Cup, like the Olympics, happens every four years, so the rarity factor alone will account for inflated ratings.
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
The only people who worry about the popularity of soccer in America are Americans.
Dude, you don’t understand demographics, and you don’t understand a growing hate for the hip hop thug culture the NBA allows. As the MLS becomes more popular, you can kiss the NBA goodbye.
I think more people will be following Barclays Premier League....You are already seeing more and more Americans getting into Fantasy Soccer, just as Fantasy Football was a huge boon for the NFL.
Certainly soccer has its celebrated stars, from Pele to Beckham, but those skills seem muted on TV where we’re often looking at small figures on a large field and therefore these feats appear less impressive than they really are.
Soccer would be fine if we had American Rules Soccer.
Quarters, haltime, cheerleaders, more penalty kicks, higher scoring games, cheerleaders, and so on.
Did I mention cheerleaders? Lots of them.
The lack of scoring in soccer is frustrating both for fans and players; yet, it results in games of great tension. Allowing more scoring would drastically change the nature of the game. And who knows whether for the better. I don’t think the game will go beyond having a rooting interest in America’ team in the foreseeable future.
RE: Lew Alcindor
Does he take offense at being called that? I remember Muhammad Ali getting mad when he was called by his “slave name”, Cassius Clay.
Boxer, Ernie Terrell called him Cassius Clay.
When they fought, Ali taunted Terrell, hitting him with sharp jabs and shouting between punches, “What’s my name, Uncle Tom... what’s my name?” But Ali was unable to knock out Terrell, winning a unanimous 15-round decision.
RE: The lack of scoring in soccer is frustrating both for fans and players
OK, so do away with the goal keeper...
I believe Roger Murdock has put his finger on it.
I thought his reasoning was sound.
Soccer americas next great sport.. and it always will be.
Exactly, you have to keep focus because that big moment can happen anytime.
In a 56-49 football game, so what if somebody scores a touchdown, you know the other team is going to take it down and score as well. Like basketball, you might as well just skip everything except for the final two minutes.
There is a lot to be said for cheaper tickets and fewer teams playing fewer games.
Eventually, soccer will be the number 1 sport. More immigrants(legal and illegal) and no replenishment of whites will ensure that.
I’m sorry son. You must have me confused with someone else.
The problem is the MLS will never be a top-tiered professional soccer league. Just like European basketball leagues, the best players are going to want to play in the NBA, just like the best soccer players are going to want to play in Europe.
Even within Europe many domestic leagues suffer, because their countries’ best players want to play in England, Spain or Germany.
Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes.
I don’t think soccer will thrive as a spectator sport in the US, and I find it curious that it is so popular around the world.
For one thing, there is not much scoring, which turns many Americans off. In addition, many soccer games end ties, which Americans don’t like, particularly if the score is 0-0—all that effort and nothing to show for it. By contrast, baseball games never end in ties.
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