Comments on: Soccer Becoming Popular with US kids

By: Cody Merritt

Cody Merritt — Fri, 08 May 2009 16:02:32 +0000

Headline reads “Soccer Becoming Popular with US kids”, but I did not see any statistics backing up this claim.

By: VICTOR

VICTOR — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:00:15 +0000

Soccer can become popular here in America, when the USA wins a WORLD CUP, and to become popular our soccer has to give out better benefits and for that matter it means to pay the players more money, i mean if basketball, baseball pay outrageous amounts of money, why cant soccer, maybe then more kids will want to play the sport and not think whether or not they can make more money being a teacher instead of a soccer player. The point is lets take our kids to go see soccer games, and lets take them to a soccer school or the park so they can like the sport and let them see more into the sport that they call art, because it is an artistic sport so we pay more money we will get a better show, I love the USA so lets hope it beats everyone in soccer just like how we can beat almost every country in almost any sport so why not in soccer lets just not let the sport die out here in the USA we can dooo it.

By: David

David — Thu, 03 May 2007 16:36:33 +0000

As an American teenager I have definitely seen the popularity of soccer explode among members of my generation. It all goes back the world cup 94 i think. Adults in the US rarely know anything about soccer and usually don’t care to watch it. My generation however, kids who were growing up and beginning to play in the 90s have a great knowledge of soccer.

The Champions League games this week have been big on campus this week, I know of several of my friends, including me that have skipped afternoon classes just to watch.

By: Ed Harrison

Ed Harrison — Thu, 03 May 2007 15:15:56 +0000

Mark – yes – that sounded pretty good about Brazil !!!!

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 03 May 2007 15:04:04 +0000

Doubtful. If US Soccer wanted to name Bradley head coach, they’d have done it already. As for the US “being like Brazil…,” I’m all for that!

By: Ed Harrison

Ed Harrison — Thu, 03 May 2007 07:33:11 +0000

Mark – good information – thanks – but that’s a pity about Klinsmann.
I also understand that Bob Bradley wanted the job full-time – any chance they will give it to him?
I’d prefer an experienced international coach.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 02 May 2007 21:05:13 +0000

From what I understand, Klinsmann wanted to become the de facto head of US Soccer rather than simply coach the national team. He was rebuffed.

The current “Interim” coach, Bob Bradley, has led the US to a 3-0-1 record this year to date, including a win over our biggest rival, Mexico. US honcho Sunil Gulati should be selecting a new head coach, possibly a current Euro club boss, before the Yanks’ next friendly vs. China on June 2. Stay tuned.

By: Ed Harrison

Ed Harrison — Wed, 02 May 2007 21:00:32 +0000

Mark – not much argument from me with what you say.

Yes – the MLS is becoming more popular – and I don’t even believe the US needs a very strong league – because they can be like Brazil – where most of their top players play in Europe. Because of all the other sports in America – that looks like the best model – but I also believe the US will shortly have a very good National Team.

Also David Beckham will give the MLS a lot more publicity and fan appeal – once he arrives in LA.

Kind of disappointed with the US performance in last year’s world cup. I wish they would get JÃ¼rgen Klinsmann to manage the side – not sure why he hasn’t been snapped up by now – he would be great.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 02 May 2007 19:13:27 +0000

As a lifelong US Soccer fan, the notion that “soccer” hasn’t been popular with American kids is incorrect.

I think Ed, that you mean that American kids are “catching on” to EPL/European football, which probably is true. American cable/satellite channels now show over 20 top-flight Euro and SA matches every weekend.

As I’m sure you also know, American sports leagues aside from soccer (basketball, ice hockey, and baseball) offer fans the most talented, best-paid global athletes. MLS (not MSL, as you note) can’t and won’t make that claim. Not now and not ever.

I’d argue that MLS is growing in popularity as well, and for the first time this season, every single MLS match will be televised.

The argument that MLS must surpass one of our other pro leagues to be “sucessful” holds little water as well. The NFL, NBA, NHL, and Major League Baseball boast 50+ year head starts and much deeper pockets over MLS.

This season, a majority of MLS clubs will play in their own, new stadiums, a key contributor of additional revenue. MLS teams can have shirt sponsors for the first time this season as well. LA has already earned Beckham’s salary in its first shirt deal with Herbalife.

It’s all about who the kids can see on their TV screens, and if they can see DaMarcus Beasley start at Chicago and head to PSV and Man City, or Tim Howard star in New York before heading to Man U and Everton, or Clint Dempsey move from New England to Fulham, then they’ll believe a future in soccer can lead to riches, lifting all US soccer boats.

By: Ed Harrison

Ed Harrison — Wed, 02 May 2007 15:39:10 +0000

Toby – because the American kids can now see how big the game is in Europe – and how big the support is (like the Liverpool Chelsea game last night – unbelievable) I really think many more kids in the US will enter soccer – and play it through college. No argument from me that their other sports will remain big – and yes – there is peer pressure.

But years ago we had very few American players in soccer – watch that grow even more – over the next few years.

That was meant to be my major point of the article – may not have come across too clearly.

And as for Beckham – think he will have a major impact here – and things have changed big time since the 1970s with Best, Pele and Beckenbauer – heck England even had a good team then !