What to take away from the World Cup (as Americans)

If you read this site, you most likely know me well. And not only that, you most likely follow soccer closely. To be more specific, you're probably one of two people. Given all of this, I know what you read, and I'll you will most likely read dozens of best and worst of lists regarding this past World Cup. Some are rather obvious (France had a poor tournament by some measures or Emile Heskey would not lead the USL-2 in scoring) and others are more debateable (possession football is here to stay and dominate the world or Nigel de Jong should star in the next Airbender movie). Regardless, most everything will be covered and dissected. Most importantly, this picture will scar all of our brains forever:

Work it Fabio, work it

Anyways, I guess what is more pertinent, and what I can address far better, is that of how soccer has changed in perception in the United States. I work as a bartender in a small Massachusetts town. It's a mix of blue and white collar, and of poor, middle class and wealthy. It's a rather good mix of American culture. Out of everyone who ever came in, a solitary one could intelligently talk to me about any of the players, tactics or strategies involved, and had some base knowledge of the players themselves. Everyone else was somewhere between indignantly and gloriously ignorant, and enthusiastic about learning. First off, one thing that continues to confuse me is that all of these people had a dramatically hard time figuring out what I meant by club football. The fact that these players played 90% of the football wearing a different shirt was truly bizarre to them, and I don't think they could really understand that it's more natural for me to see Messi in the Blaugrana than in the Albiceleste. I generally used this as an instant defence when games were a little duller than anticipated. I used the Olympics reference, constantly, but this only resonated with big hockey fans (who can actually relate to this phenomenon). Many were upset that the rules were explicitly explained each game (a little refersher course on offsides and studs up tackles I guess) and I casually explained that this is clearly not allowed:


Anyways, I started to ramble so it was good that Nigel kicked me out of that daze. Soccer is not going to hit the big time in the United States for a long long time. And, as we have always said, it will be down to the MLS to become the world's Premier League. That, or absolutely flood the rest of the world with American prodigies. Sadly, I don't know which is less realistic. I think we can get to a point where Americans will LOVE the World Cup; we're already getting close. But it'll be the Olympics. We will watch it, learn the guys who weren't there last time, get involved, maybe follow up a little bit after the tournament and forget it by October. And this is even with a win in my opinion. Look, Lance Armstrong has done amazing things and I have a ton of respect for him, but it's not like every kid is now picking up a bike and dreaming of the Alpine climbs. People get interested for a bit, and then move on. I actually heard a guy on ESPN say we should do the World Cup every 2 years, because that way people would care more. Who would care more? The thing is, the rest of the world could not care less about how much we care. They make PLENTY of money without us, and the sport is not hurting by any measure. And I'm sure all the America-haters love the fact that some team of Yankee Doodle Dipshits (shoutout to Colin) isn't sending them packing with a 6-0 drubbing.

Soccer will get more popular for sure, but at the end of the day there is a ceiling. Even if soccer corners the market of EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN who would want to closely follow a foreign league, they would still be nowhere near the big sports. Unless Americans were absolutely flooding other leagues, I just don't see Joe Six-Pack waking up for an 11-in-the-morning game between a bunch of DAMN FOREIGNERS. And then they turn on the MLS, and it's like watching a high school all-star game, but without the drama. I don't want to bash the MLS, but even the biggest baseball fans don't watch the minors, why will most Americans? Americans need a reason to care every week. If the New England Revolution were playing the Seattle Sounders, and both teams were stacked with the best players in the world, and some were Americans who had went to the World Cup Semis the year before, yes then I think we will have made it. The odds of that? Miniscule. So many factors have to converge. A golden generation of players will just be flung across Europe, and while they'll do wonders for inspiring more kids to play soccer (not to mention the Latin influence on soccer popularity) but all of this won't matter if the MLS isn't a top league. Which means we need more money. Lots more money. Buy 2004 Thierry Henry, not 2010. Buy 2001 David Beckham, not 2007. We need high quality games in the USA, and often. Until then, soccer will be forever a sport on the fringe in the US. It'll be given its moment of light every four years, and then it'll disappear in the shadows of foreign languages and time zone differences. Because at the end of the day, it just isn't ingrained into the American culture, at all. I have never played organized baseball in my life. But I know all the rules, I know how to catch, swing a bat and throw a (halfway decent) pitch. I barely played organized football, but I know every position, can throw a spiral and know what exotic terms like "chop block" and "alligator hands" mean. My point is, it's just so ingrained in the culture, you pick it up simply by growing up here. Soccer isn't at that level. Most Americans can't kick a laces-up shot, and most don't even know what an offside trap is. They don't know how to chip a shot, and heaven forbid you mention curve. It's something that has to be pursued, not something that is built in. And until soccer is able to place its foothold on the culture and ingrain, we will not have a top league in the MLS, and soccer will not be a top 5 sport.