We all consider the premier sports in America are Baseball, Basketball, and Football without even giving it a thought. Sure people will still tune in to the final day at the Masters or the never ending Wimbledon final, but it's these three sports that Americans are on their couch, Doritos and Lays in hand, and eyes locked on the television most of the year. This was all true until a sport made a surprise entry.
Last month, South Africa held the 2009 Confederations Cup where the top teams from each continent competed to determine the best squad from around the world. The US has never been known for its supreme soccer skills, but its competition to place a bid in this tournament was not very stressful. The first part of the tournament was not a huge hit in America despite us cruising through to the Semifinals. No one really wants to see USA destroy Egypt at prime-time on a Saturday night. The next opponent the young American squad had to face was who else but the #1 team in the world, Spain.
The expectations for this game were not in the same category as a nail biter, but more so in "See how many times Spain can score. Despite all the negativity of the media, the United States managed to find themselves on the field, on time, ready to prove the world wrong. The game started off well enough as both teams tried to spark something on offense, but tough defense protected the goalies from doing any work whatsoever until the the 25th minute of the match. This was a shot by USA's forward Jozy Altidore off a pass from teamate Clint Dempsey. Using strength and a quick touch Altidore managed to put the ball in the back of the net from just inside the box. As I was watching this game, my first reaction was this could not be true. The USA can beat Spain in basketball, but in Soccer, that's ludacris. The United States finished the first half with a 1 goal lead and preventing the superior Spaniards to 0 shots on goal. The second half was a bit harder to watch as Spain pounded shots at veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard. Each shot my heart stopped because I knew this would be an upset for the ages if the red, white, and blue could hold on. It seemed Spain might get revenge, but the United States prevailed and in the 73rd minute Dempsey scored one for himself to lock up the game and defeat Spain 2-0.
Many American's viewed this incredible upset and even if they didn't like soccer, they knew this game was one for the ages. This game didn't just send the United States to the Confederations Cup finals, but it got people interested and intrigued in soccer for the first time to many. One hard fought game, turns into thousands of more support, belief and overall attraction to the sport of Soccer.
By the end of this incredible match, I could see that this team could do something special. Not just win an ESPY or even win the world cup, but bring the excitement of soccer to America.
Julie Henderson
Taylor Walker
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I agree. I know tons of people that don't follow soccer that still came to me that day to talk about the game and the upset. I'm sure they aren't all running out and buying tickets or instantly becoming die-hard fans, but that shows you there is potential and there is some interest. I think it pushed things forward in it's small way. It was a great game to watch and I think experiences like these will help grow the interest in the United States.
sk8erbryan
Canton , CT
Total Comments (113)
Yeah. These types of games will inch our way toward maybe a day where soccer is considered one of the top sports in the US. We'll take it one game at a time.
truesportsfan430
South Orange , NJ
Total Comments (97)
Soccer already is the top sport, to me. We, as soccer fans, should be cautious to covet the type of coverage that other sports get. Look at football, for instance. The NFL is the gold standard of sports marketing and sports entertainment. 99% of what they do is seamless, flawless, and ingenious. They have, however, overdone it and I think they know it. I used to love the NFL - just sitting on the couch all day on Sunday and watching ridiculously talented athletes do insane things just to cross a white line. It still is a great sport to watch.
However, the NFL has overdone it. The Pro Bowl is stupid and pointless. Draft day coverage is useless for anything other than keeping Mel Kuyper Jr. employed. I saw Chris Mortensen, a gifted and intelligent football analyst, doing some Today-show type of crap today where he visited some Cleveland fan's gameday fan bus. Really? Does this really matter? Will the NFL cease to exist if I don't know that some guy in Cleveland loves his team so much that he's put at least $100,000 into restoring a bus? It's too much.
The same thing is true of the NBA. MJ, quit doing commercials. We can't miss you if you don't go away. Shaq, brother, enough. Just be Shaq, please. Break some backboards. Swat some layups. Set up LeBron with a couple of Shaq-fu, no-look passes and go away. I don't care that you can't get into the White House or that David Beckham ignores you. Le Bron, do yourself a favor, ditch that stupid-assed intro with the powder - if I want showmanship I'll watch the WWE. What Le Bron does on the court is spectacle enough - hell, he has the gift. I don't even like the NBA anymore and even I know he's the real deal.
Just because the internet is chocked-full of nimrods who post how much they hate soccer, on soccer boards no less, let's not push soccer into a limelight that will ultimately damage the sport. Think back to as early as the 1990s, when the NFL still had players that actually liked the sport first and cashed checks second. Ronnie Lott, for example, had to be dragged out of the NFL kicking and screaming. The man told a field doctor to cut off the tip if his finger and wrap it up just so he could go back into a game. Soccer already has some elite players who cry about having to stay in the game (I'm looking at you, Ibrahimovic.) and a recent news clip talked about EPL players who, in order to start their Christmas vacations early, actually get tossed out of games on purpose. Then of course we come to Beckham, a corporate stooge in soccer cleats. I loved the guy while he was at Madrid - he did all the little things and he did them with style. He was one of the most underrated players I have ever seen. Now he's a schill of Simon Fuller's "19 Entertainment."
Soccer, for me, can stay right where it is. The players make good money. The fans understand the game. The sport is still relatively easy to love. I don't need entertainment lawyers, tabloid newspapers, and camera-hungry sports agents changing the way the game is perceived.
Let's just enjoy the game. Sorry for the length.
Burgundy
Baltimore , MD
Total Comments (263)
It's fine. I like your input on how players think paychecks first now a days. I am disgusted every fall when I see football players holding out because they want more money to do the thing that they love. They are already making millions a year even in this hard economic time, yet they refuse to play just so they can buy that extra fur coat back in Malibu. Most people would do anything to do what they love to do in life and these guys are complaining about it! Athletes egos are out the window these days and I appreciate all those who play the game first, and deal with their check later.
Thanks for your input. I love a good strong opinion.
truesportsfan430
South Orange , NJ
Total Comments (97)
I can come across a little blunt sometimes and that isn't my intention. However, the greed in sports - as a whole - is starting to irk me. Take a look at what is going on with Eli Manning, he has a $97 million contract, $35 million guaranteed, and there is speculation that it's not even him that is holding the deal up. T&R speculation is that two businesses - agents also - are holding the deal up. Why? What contribution do they make to the sport? The fans deserve better. His teammates deserve better. This is the price the NFL has paid for being #1 and it's also the price the sport of soccer has to pay in larger markets like Europe - corporate, parasitic, greed. If the MLS can keep this away from their league it won't matter how big or how small the league gets - they will have saved themselves a big headache.
Burgundy
Baltimore , MD
Total Comments (263)
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