Author Topic: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact  (Read 14856 times)

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Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #15 on: July 11, 2018, 08:06:57 AM »

Online Roy H.

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If soccer was the only major sport in our country, yes, we’d be dominant. We have a giant population, tons of world-class athletes of all types, and plenty of money to buy the best coaches and facilities.

I expect we’d consistently be the #1 ranked team in the world.
I would agree with your take.
Still, the love for the football sport, the "culture", can't be imported, that's why it is unlikely you will ever be winning medals there.

Let's say, even if you could import the "love",
would you win it if you had 4 million of the population and scarce funds?  ;)

I’m pulling for Croatia, for sure.  It’s a remarkable accomplishment.

The only way I think the U.S. could develop a national passion for soccer is if a US player (even if trained overseas) became the sport’s next megastar. If Messi or Ronaldo was American, that could galvanize the sport over here. Even then, though, it would be difficult to overcome the NBA / NFL / MLB.


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Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #16 on: July 11, 2018, 08:12:57 AM »

Offline gift

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Being taller isn't a positive in soccer, so some of the best basketball and football players wouldn't be very good soccer players, however if all the great PG's, LB's, RB's, etc. (you know the 5'10" to 6'2" type athletes) focused on soccer from birth, the U.S. would dominate the sport.  That doesn't mean we would win every single time, but the U.S. would be the premier soccer powerhouse.

Imagine several of the super long, athletic basketball players who have really good timing playing as goalies.

Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #17 on: July 11, 2018, 08:49:36 AM »

Offline Androslav

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If soccer was the only major sport in our country, yes, we’d be dominant. We have a giant population, tons of world-class athletes of all types, and plenty of money to buy the best coaches and facilities.

I expect we’d consistently be the #1 ranked team in the world.
I would agree with your take.
Still, the love for the football sport, the "culture", can't be imported, that's why it is unlikely you will ever be winning medals there.

Let's say, even if you could import the "love",
would you win it if you had 4 million of the population and scarce funds?  ;)

I’m pulling for Croatia, for sure.  It’s a remarkable accomplishment.

The only way I think the U.S. could develop a national passion for soccer is if a US player (even if trained overseas) became the sport’s next megastar. If Messi or Ronaldo was American, that could galvanize the sport over here. Even then, though, it would be difficult to overcome the NBA / NFL / MLB.
Thanks for the support!

You will host the competition in 2022. That is always a good opportunity to make something happen. I know that the last time, in 1994 (I remember many matches from that great tournament), it didn't work out as some expected, but this time it could go the other way.

Studs like Messi, some new American Pele, guys like Mbappe, would surely help to popularize the sport. There is infrastructure (MLS, money) and familiarity in place and it could - blow up. Personally, I hope it does, it would drive it forward. Kind of like the Euros added some elements to the NBA (more shooting, and playmaking on frontcourt positions along with extra tactics) and now the NBA is better than ever. And, after all, it is the most popular sport in the world. Is cool to be great at that.
« Last Edit: July 11, 2018, 09:02:22 AM by Androslav »
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Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #18 on: July 11, 2018, 09:03:58 AM »

Offline Moranis

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Being taller isn't a positive in soccer, so some of the best basketball and football players wouldn't be very good soccer players, however if all the great PG's, LB's, RB's, etc. (you know the 5'10" to 6'2" type athletes) focused on soccer from birth, the U.S. would dominate the sport.  That doesn't mean we would win every single time, but the U.S. would be the premier soccer powerhouse.

Imagine several of the super long, athletic basketball players who have really good timing playing as goalies.
I don't think it would work as well as you.  There are plenty of super long, athletic people from countries that live on soccer, that don't end up very good or end up playing basketball.  A guy like Boris Diaw comes to mind.  Size just isn't as important in a sport like soccer. 
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Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #19 on: July 11, 2018, 09:18:08 AM »

Offline footey

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American football already in decline at youth level due to concussion issues. (Ironically doesn’t seem to affect soccer concerns).

Baseball gradually losing popularity, no longer America’s pastime. It has become a bore to watch for most young people.

Basketball, by and large, favors taller athletes at most of the positions, to the exclusion of the vast majority.

The interest in soccer here, as a spectator sport is palpable. I’m sure viewership of this World Cup in the States is at an all time high.

My guess is that eventually (20 years? 30 years?) soccer will eventually climb into the top 2-3 sports played and watched in the States. The more popular it becomes, the more the better, more motivated athletes will play it.

Dave Beckham once said that the best players in the world usually come from economically deprived areas, where soccer is the only means to escape poverty. Basketball is so ingrained in our city’s neighborhoods, wonder what it will take to get Those kids hooked on soccer?

Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #20 on: July 11, 2018, 09:30:34 AM »

Offline Androslav

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American football already in decline at youth level due to concussion issues. (Ironically doesn’t seem to affect soccer concerns).

Baseball gradually losing popularity, no longer America’s pastime. It has become a bore to watch for most young people.

Basketball, by and large, favors taller athletes at most of the positions, to the exclusion of the vast majority.

The interest in soccer here, as a spectator sport is palpable. I’m sure viewership of this World Cup in the States is at an all time high.

My guess is that eventually (20 years? 30 years?) soccer will eventually climb into the top 2-3 sports played and watched in the States. The more popular it becomes, the more the better, more motivated athletes will play it.

Dave Beckham once said that the best players in the world usually come from economically deprived areas, where soccer is the only means to escape poverty. Basketball is so ingrained in our city’s neighborhoods, wonder what it will take to get Those kids hooked on soccer?

All good points.
I'd just add another one:
They need to incorporate obligatory timeouts, for commercials of course.
That way corporations would have more incentive to support/care about the thing.
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Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #21 on: July 11, 2018, 09:35:40 AM »

Offline johnnygreen

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if the best athletes in the US played soccer the US would dominate world soccer.

The problem with this statement is that it assumes some of the best athletes in the US aren't already playing soccer. Simply put, it sounds like an ignorant statement. Can someone please explain to me why they think the US National Soccer Team doesn't have some of the best athletes in the country?

Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #22 on: July 11, 2018, 09:39:56 AM »

Offline TomHeinsohn

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We certainly aren't #1 in the world for womens' rights. We're a good country for women, and have been for a long time, but we sadly aren't #1 right now.

Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #23 on: July 11, 2018, 09:43:54 AM »

Offline johnnygreen

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American football already in decline at youth level due to concussion issues. (Ironically doesn’t seem to affect soccer concerns).

Baseball gradually losing popularity, no longer America’s pastime. It has become a bore to watch for most young people.

Basketball, by and large, favors taller athletes at most of the positions, to the exclusion of the vast majority.

The interest in soccer here, as a spectator sport is palpable. I’m sure viewership of this World Cup in the States is at an all time high.

My guess is that eventually (20 years? 30 years?) soccer will eventually climb into the top 2-3 sports played and watched in the States. The more popular it becomes, the more the better, more motivated athletes will play it.

Dave Beckham once said that the best players in the world usually come from economically deprived areas, where soccer is the only means to escape poverty. Basketball is so ingrained in our city’s neighborhoods, wonder what it will take to get Those kids hooked on soccer?

All good points.
I'd just add another one:
They need to incorporate obligatory timeouts, for commercials of course.
That way corporations would have more incentive to support/care about the thing.

Soccer is literally the most popular sport in the world. They figured out the whole advertising thing by showing sponsorship/advertising along the sides of the stands or by other means. To me, not stopping the games for commercials, is one of the best things about the sport. I wish MLB and the NBA would incorporate that idea to some extent.

Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #24 on: July 11, 2018, 09:52:04 AM »

Offline PAOBoston

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The biggest issue with soccer in the US is not the athlete pool but the incompetence of those who organize youth systems and now the surging cost of the sport.

Long gone are the times when poor countries where hot beds of talent etc. The rest of the world caught up and it is primarily European countries that have heavily invested in youth soccer infrastructure that are churning out players.

In the US, youth organization is awful and without direction. Also, club soccer has priced out many families. It's expensive to now sign up, to rent fields, etc.

Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #25 on: July 11, 2018, 09:54:39 AM »

Offline Mike Pemulis

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I like the sparse announcing. It makes other broadcasts sound like the end of a used car commercial.
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Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #26 on: July 11, 2018, 09:57:08 AM »

Offline Moranis

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American football already in decline at youth level due to concussion issues. (Ironically doesn’t seem to affect soccer concerns).

Baseball gradually losing popularity, no longer America’s pastime. It has become a bore to watch for most young people.

Basketball, by and large, favors taller athletes at most of the positions, to the exclusion of the vast majority.

The interest in soccer here, as a spectator sport is palpable. I’m sure viewership of this World Cup in the States is at an all time high.

My guess is that eventually (20 years? 30 years?) soccer will eventually climb into the top 2-3 sports played and watched in the States. The more popular it becomes, the more the better, more motivated athletes will play it.

Dave Beckham once said that the best players in the world usually come from economically deprived areas, where soccer is the only means to escape poverty. Basketball is so ingrained in our city’s neighborhoods, wonder what it will take to get Those kids hooked on soccer?
ratings are 42% lower in the US than last time.  If you remove the US games, ratings are down 28% from the last World Cup.  The Spanish language viewership has also dropped about 26% from the last World Cup.

https://in.news.yahoo.com/us-world-cup-ratings-down-42-percent-without-143824342.html

I suspect much of the ratings decline is because the games are on at 10 am and 2 pm on the East Coast and 7 am and 11 am on the West Coast.  Most Americans just can't watch television during those times, especially during the week when people are at work.  These ratings are fairly inline with the 2010 World Cup which was from South Africa.  2014 from Brazil put the games on in prime time in the US making it far easier for Americans to watch.

I imagine the Qatar 2022 World Cup will have similar ratings, because of the time the games are on problem (with or without the US).  In 2026 when the games are in the US, Canada, and Mexico the ratings will sky rocket and hit all time highs, because of the time zones and overall interest with them being here.
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Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #27 on: July 11, 2018, 10:06:22 AM »

Offline gift

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Being taller isn't a positive in soccer, so some of the best basketball and football players wouldn't be very good soccer players, however if all the great PG's, LB's, RB's, etc. (you know the 5'10" to 6'2" type athletes) focused on soccer from birth, the U.S. would dominate the sport.  That doesn't mean we would win every single time, but the U.S. would be the premier soccer powerhouse.

Imagine several of the super long, athletic basketball players who have really good timing playing as goalies.
I don't think it would work as well as you.  There are plenty of super long, athletic people from countries that live on soccer, that don't end up very good or end up playing basketball.  A guy like Boris Diaw comes to mind.  Size just isn't as important in a sport like soccer.

Boris Diaw is not the type of guy I described. He is tall (and often fat). He is not super long, extremely athletic or known for great defensive timing.

I've seen at least a couple of goals in this World Cup that would not have been if there had been a more explosive athlete (with the same anticipation and reaction) tending the goal. I'm not saying those guys easily exist in the world. I'm saying they could exist, if they were pulled from their other sports at early enough ages.

You don't even need all of those traits. For instance, I think Marcus Smart (length and timing) would have potential as a goalkeeper.

Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #28 on: July 11, 2018, 10:48:35 AM »

Offline jambr380

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If soccer was the only major sport in our country, yes, we’d be dominant. We have a giant population, tons of world-class athletes of all types, and plenty of money to buy the best coaches and facilities.

I expect we’d consistently be the #1 ranked team in the world.

Yeah, totally. I have had this conversation with friends before. Soccer is way behind American football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. Personally, I prefer golf and tennis as far as what I would rather watch on television. Auto racing is also extremely popular (not my thing). I go to MLS soccer games from time to time and it is interesting enough, but I am just not sure how people get so much elation out of it.

I realize height and powerful muscles aren't necessarily an advantage in soccer, but it wouldn't even be fair if the U.S. actually cared even a little bit about the sport (never mind making it the only sport that matters like other countries).

Re: USA SOCCER: Myth or Fact
« Reply #29 on: July 11, 2018, 11:09:01 AM »

Offline Ogaju

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Being taller isn't a positive in soccer, so some of the best basketball and football players wouldn't be very good soccer players, however if all the great PG's, LB's, RB's, etc. (you know the 5'10" to 6'2" type athletes) focused on soccer from birth, the U.S. would dominate the sport.  That doesn't mean we would win every single time, but the U.S. would be the premier soccer powerhouse.

I disagree you are extrapolating from US dominance in other sports, but you do not seem to consider the fact that US dominates in other sports because the rest of the world is primarily focused on soccer. If the rest of the world played basketball at the rate of the US you would not have the overwhelming dominance of US basketball players that you just tried to extrapolate to soccer.

The NBA is not just the primary basketball league in the world it really is the ONLY one that all players aspire to. In the few years that there has been increasing mobility of international players the dominance has been reduced. If kids the world over played basketball at the rate the US kids played basketball things would be more even.

Finally, there is no doubt that the US will use its financial, scientific, and coaching, advantage to train and excel but players of all nations will be exposed to this expenditure and opportunities and will return to play for their home countries. I do not see any picture where any country will consistently dominate the #1 spot in soccer.