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

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

[Rightwing Canuck]

I played soccer. It's mindless. Not an ounce of strategy. If all I wanted was to be bored to tears watching men in great physical shape..... I'd go to the Ballet.

No strategy? Then you must've played American soccer.

[Horatio Bunce]

I realize soccer isn't the most exciting game to watch if you don't understand it. My dad would hardly come to any of my games to watch me play because he just didn't understand it.

However, the example with the goalie is a big plus for the hand-eye cordination that is supposedly lacking in the game. I would like to see you stop an 80 mph shot from less than 18 yds away.

[discostu]

Ever hear of somebody moving from one US city to another and transfering their loyalty to their new hometown's teams?

Only people I've known that have ever done that hated their hometown team when they lived there. I just don't see it as a big deal. There's nothing wrong with a person being proud of where their from for 3 hours.

[Hot Tabasco]

This can't be right. Baseball is the world's most boring sport, yet it makes money

Agreed and agreed but it is still right! Soccer is boring, and unless they find a way to make it more appealing to the action oriented sports fan here in the U.S. it will remain a childs game relegated to the playgrounds as child care centers for the soccer moms.

BTW, your Hasek photo belongs on the Stanley Cup/Red Wings thread! (See ya over there if I can find it). Cheap shot hosier!! Ain't no canuck team in this year's playoffs........ROFLMAO!

[bok]

This is yet another example of newly arrived spanish speakers coming to this country for what can you give me, being too lazy to assimilate into american society. Anyone who isn't concerned about this most minute issue as soccer (football) should look at the wider issue. These people are the replacement for the boomer generation. Well if they don't give two rips about a U.S. national team, then i suspect they don't give a d*** about the country as a whole. PLEASE get out of the U.S. and move to latin america! I don't know if it was confirmed but i read mexican residents of the united states threw bottles of p*** at the U.S. national team.

[bok]

Does this concern you? I didn't think so, this is about illegal/legal immigration in the united states of american not assimilating.

[bok]

American America.

[Joe Hadenuf]

The most exciting thing about soccer is watching the fans riot.

[GhengisCoque]

"It would be like payback."

Payback for what?

The last time they met the United States beat Mexico. They have been looking for serious "payback" ever since.

The people who mock the sport for it's no hands rule are being silly. It makes the game 1,000 times more challenging to restrict the use of hands. Why are basketball players required to dribble? Why does the offensive line in football have to remian motionless until the ball is snapped? Why is there a 3-second key rule or a 24 second shot clock? Every sport has rules that make that sport unique and difficult.

Also, why should we expect immigrants to root for the U.S. National Team when American citizens don't?

p.s. This article sucked and I was at the game when our boys were booed in their own neighborhood. I hope the U.S meets Mexico in the next round and beats the crap out of them.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

"I played soccer. It's mindless."

Well, you must have been stuck on defense.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

"This is the essential difference between many of today's immigrants and those of yesteryear. Early immigrants (including my father and mother) came to become Americans, embracing all that signifies. It would have been unthinkable for them to root against our national team, although as a wise poster pointed out, we can withstand a defeat in soccer. How many immigrants of questionable loyalty we can absorb is a more troubling question."

You must not be familiar with the ethnic ghettos and ordinances within many large American cities that have been in existence for a little over 100 years now. Of course many immigrants came to be Americans, but it took until the 3rd and 4th generations for them to fully assimilate into American culture. I am not worried about the legal Mexican immigrants that come here, we should of course require them to take English courses, but one quick look at history will tell us that assimilation takes around two generations, not 2 years.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

""All around" would most defintintely include all things related to hand and eye athleticism, and it certainly would include hand and eye athleticism, coordination, and dexterity to Westerners."

Soccer has requires all of these qualities, especially when one is not allowed to touch the ball. I do not see dexterity to Westerners as being an actual trait of being an all around "good athlete."

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Of course I would like to add that it is important to require all non-English speaking immigrants to take English classes, not only is it better for everyone else, it will also help them get better paying jobs.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Okay, then name another sport for which you think owns the best all around athletes.

By the way, the Amish and the Mennonites are not the same.

[Rightwing Canuck]

BTW, your Hasek photo belongs on the Stanley Cup/Red Wings thread! (See ya over there if I can find it). Cheap shot hosier!! Ain't no canuck team in this year's playoffs........ROFLMAO!

What Hasek photo? What are you talking about?

[Rightwing Canuck]

Does this concern you? I didn't think so, this is about illegal/legal immigration in the united states of american not assimilating.

Gee, a little defensive, aren't we? Can't stand to hear an argument?

And as for this whole, "Don't cheer for us? Get out!" line, it's absurd. I was born in Canada and have lived here all my life, yet I cheer for the Italian National Team and I follow the Italian Serie A. If Canada made it to the World Cup I would be pleased, but I'd still cheer for Italy. They're not only the country of my family, but they're a far superior squad to boot.

Politically, however, my allegiance is with Canada. If you think because I don't cheer for the Canadian national team I don't give a hoot about the country, then you're about as far off the mark as you can get on that one, pal.

[Rightwing Canuck]

Ahh I see you confused me with another poster.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

"I don't even know how I'm going to be able to stay awake at work," Sagastizado says with a laugh.

Note to illegal's, this is not the way to get ahead in this country. Think like this and you will be living in the slums for the rest of your life.

[A.J.Armitage]

Soccer was invented in Europe.