Why, in America, immigrants don't cheer for the U.S. soccer team

SF Chronicle ^ | 6-4-02 | Gustavo Arellano

[The Vast Right Wing]

America, Love It Or Leave It.

[Chi-townChief]

Where's the Barf Alert?

[hole_n_one]

"Lots of Americans don't even like soccer and probably won't pay attention to the Cup

If I had a choice between watching soccer and watching something else, I'd rather watch my cat hack up a furball.

[Shermy]

"Buchanan and Lalas should relax. Soccer, for many immigrants such as 25- year-old Salvadoran Javier Sagastizado of Santa Ana, is enjoyed not only as a game but also as a kind of proxy for sociopolitical anxieties. That is, by rooting for their home countries -- or rooting against the United States -- immigrants have an outlet to express both frustration with their new home and pride in their old country. "...

"Though not from Mexico, Sagastizado is well aware of the Mexican team's strengths, and of Mexico's troubled history with the United States. From the 1848 Mexican-American War to today's border battles over water, Mexico is often on the losing side of U.S.-Mexican conflicts. The Tricolores can offer a much-needed national victory over the northern giant. "...

"It'd be nice for a Latin American country to beat the United States. It would be like payback."

"These desires to see the United States lose do not signify immigrant hatred toward America. "

___

This writer is internally inconsistent. Pushing a story, he ignores the deceptive reponses. No problem, he probably thinks the same, as shown by this pathetic apologia. Currently our schools and culture teach the "immigrants" not to integrate and accept America, so it shouldn't be a surprise he wrote this piece, being a product of that system.

[germanicus]

Just because I want the United States to lose doesn't mean I want the country itself to suffer," Sagastizado says.

Don't worry, Mr. Sagastizado. This country won't suffer after a loss of a stupid soccer game. We're suffering from unchecked mass (illegal) immigration. And that's a game we can't afford to lose.

[Teacher317]

That is, by rooting for their home countries -- or rooting against the United States -- immigrants have an outlet to express both frustration with their new home and pride in their old country.

If it's so dissatisfactory here, and the home-country fills you with such pride, then please exercise the FReedoms you enjoy here, and exit through the nearest convenient border crossing.

Actually, I think this is just the author's take, and not a true representation of the thoughts of the soccer fans. I was born and raised on Long Island, and moved to Dallas later in life. While it was risky to my health in the classroom (mostly joking), I did root for the Giants over the 'boys. It had to do with the team I was raised with, not with an opinion of where I currently lived. Most people are fans of a praticular team because of their family, the favorites of their youth, and the proximity of the team (their first game attended, etc). It has little to do with regional preferences outside of the sport.

[boomop1]

What's soccer?

[elbucko]

"It would be like payback."

Payback for what?

Look Javier, if you think the US somehow "owes" you for something, no one is going to hinder your return to wherever you came from.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Hello? Maybe it's because the U.S. soccer team totally stinks...

[Polybius]

Cuban Americans always root for the USA, especially when the opponent is Cuba.

Then again, most Cuban Americans won't be rooting for the U.S. soccer team. That would entail sitting through a soccer game without falling asleep. There are limits to patriotism.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Unfortunately, Americans do not put much importance or money behind soccer; it just isn't a big money maker like basketball, football, hockey, or baseball. Perhaps if the U.S. had a better soccer team, more people would root for them.

[Mike Fieschko]

This article overanalyses the question of 'why does someone move and keep rooting for the team he rooted for before moving?'

If I move out of Jersey, I'm going to keep rooting for the Yankees.

[hole_n_one]

Hello? Maybe it's because the U.S. soccer team totally stinks...

Do you care to qualify that comment?..........

[Cato the Censor]

Glad to see the "Queen of Steroids", Serena Williams, is wearing the Cameroon colors and waving their flag at the French Open in support of her "homeboys".

[FreedominJesusChrist]

People take sports way too seriously anyway, with this writer being a prime example.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

I wasn't talking about women's soccer and that was a couple years ago anyway.

[Mr. Burns]

Absolutely. Anyone caught cheering for a team other than the USA should be immediately deported.

[WhiteGuy]

When in Rome.......

As Americans, we think soccer is a bit of a joke....

these foreigners are just following suit

[discostu]

What a schmuck. Americans tend to route for their home town team no matter where they go from there, why should immigrants be any different? Nothing very exciting in it that's jsut how people are. Your hometown (country) team represents your roots, the foundation your life is built on.

And sometimes you just pick teams for the hell of it. Some of my favorite teams are from places I've never even been to, I like the way they play the game, the way the organization is run. To try to pin this on anything having to do with patriotism or politics is just silly.