Maybe I would’ve been offended if it’d been written by a complete stranger, but I know his intentions, and they weren’t anti-American in the least.

If they were, you would’ve known it. If he’s going to offend someone with something he writes, it’ll more than likely be to get under the skin of a delusional Arsenal/Chelsea/Liverpool/Manchester City supporter.

One of the reasons why US players don’t develop the skills that Brazilians do is the fact that we (I’m including me) may play the game for decades but don’t actuall play in their backyards.

I’ve been in youth and adult recreational leagues for the better part of twenty years. That meant a couple of two hour practices every week which was mainly working on formation, throw-ins and the like. Little on the ball skill was or could be taught by the coach. Then, there was a one hour game on sunday.

That was it. No other contact with the ball was in place.

The American kids don’t get home from school and kick the ball around in the street for hours on end. That is where skill is learned: by playing 1×1 for hours in a game where you just can’t pass the ball to one of your ten teammates. Those Brazilian street kids have to learn to dribble well in order to make it around an opponant.

Since American kids don’t generally play “pick-up” soccer, they don’t learn the skills of a Zidane or Ronaldinho.

Instead, American kids have two hours of homework, practice for two or three other sports (which generally don’t exist elsewhere) and various other activities offered to children in rich countries: cell phones, internet, computers, video games, television, trips to the mall, etc.

I’ve played soccer since I was 5 years old. In all that time, I don’t believe I’ve ever played more than 5 hours of pickup soccer in my life.

In America, youth soccer is popular as a relatively cheap and injury-free (less than other US sports anyway) social actively and exercise opportunity for middle class children.

It is not played in the streets or yards except in select ethnic communities (i.e. Mexican).

Thanks for the unusually well thought out blog. I only noticed the occasional rant in this string.

A couple of points:

1. I seriously doubt that Ahmed meant anything “tongue in cheek”. The tone was not humorous and just another anti-american hate speech that we ignore.

2. I agree with most of my countrymen that lack of college programs is not a severe hindrence. In truth, the majority of the largest (300 or so) colleges do have soccer programs. While it would be nice for them all to field teams, it is not a major issue.

3. Much has been said in this string that US will or will not develope into a first rate soccer power and why it will or will not.

The reason that is hasn’t as of yet has been touched upon. Unlike Europe/Africa/SA/Etc, there is no tradition of professionalism in American soccer. For various reasons, soccer failed in the 1930’s when it had the best chance to succeed. By the next time a real league was attempted (late 70’s and 80’s, there were already four major sports and few nations (no matter how sports-mad) could keep from choking on anothe one.

Some say that soccer fails in the US because of speculated “cultural” reason – American’s are somehow more attracted to “hands” sports, it isn’t a “statistics” game, and some sort of general insanity that is endemic to America that keeps us from realizing that soccer (I’m sorry, football) is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

In the end, four other sports have had decades-long followings that are passed from one generation to the next. Four other sports have rich millionare stars which children aspire to be. Four other sports can be on TV at any time.

Soccer is stuck in a chicken or egg situation – No network will broadcast it if few enough people will watch to justify the expense of the programing. And there will be no following for the game unless it is constantly available on television.

Any sport trying to get into the US market will encounter the same problems be it cricket, rugby, table tennis, sumo wrestling or elephant racing.

I believe all sports are created equal but the fact remains at this:

THE US DOESN’T NEED ANOTHER SPORT.

I’d love to see the sport grow. I enjoy the odd Premier League game on FSC but still prefer MLS or USL1 despite the obvious differences in skill level.

I don’t blame people for watching Manchester United (I do) but don’t really see foreign soccer as a substitute for domestic soccer. Most of the people watching Chivas, Club America, Madrid and Chelsea in the US are either expatriots whom only care about the home country’s league (perfectly acceptable)or American soccer snobs.

In truth, it will take soccer another twenty to forty years to develope into a significant competitor (assuming it doesn’t fail as soccer has consistantly done for a hundred years).

MLS shouldn’t have an inferiority complex about the skill level. While not AC Milan, the quality of play in MLS has gone up steadily.

We should remember this:

If you were to count up the total salaries of every professional player in the US (and Canada) at every professional level (MLS, USL 1, USL 2), that total doesn’t match up to the aver Major League Baseball team’s payroll.

And that includes David Beckham’s 30 Million Dollar (or whatever) paycheck.

Soccer’s total revenue (as a part of the overall professional sports market) makes up about 1% of the US total.

And that doesn’t even include the massive amateur sports market (primarily college Football and Basketball).

Realistically, soccer in the US should aim for 5% of the overall market over the next 20-30 years. Unfortunately, there are going to be idiots (both domestic and foreign) whom will continue to demand that it reach 95% of the overall sports market like it does in Brazil and Italy.

Not going to happen and I wouldn’t like it if it did.

I think the biggest misconception is that soccer is still trying to make it in the US when in fact it has already MADE it. True, soccer is not the Number 1 sport in the country but that doesn’t mean that it is not passionately followed by many throughout the country.

MLS has grown by leaps and bounds as compared to its modest beginings back in 96. During the first 5 years those of us who followed the game wondered from week to week if the League would survive. Today, that’s not even an issue as the League continues to improve at every level from the Sponsorship, to Stadiums, to Coverage, to Attendance to Level of Play. MLs is rapidly expanding from 14 teams this year to 15 next with Seattle and 16 in 2010 with the addition of Philadelphia (and a waiting list of cities after that).

While not all teams are at quite the same level, the other huge misconception in England relates to the level of play. There is this constant drumbeat to compare MLS with the EPL but its not a fair comparison because the EPL is almost 3 different Leagues in its own right, with the top 4 super clubs, the next 6 to 8 Euro hopefuls and the remaining relegation avoiders.

MLS compares very well with that bottom group. MLS is not comparable with the middle group and no surprise is light years behind the superclubs.

MLS is driving the sport in the US. The new soccer specific stadiums are providing the right atmosphere and revenue for the long term. The new reserve teams and each club’s youth academy is establishing a development path for truly elite players.

The increase of strong ownership around the league is providing resources to increase the Salary Cap and bring on Designated players that is helping to improve the quality of play on the field.

I have no doubt given its current growth rate that soccer in the US will move from the firm foundation it has established to date to being a major force in World Football in the next decade or two.

After several attempts at a professional league, there’s finally one that is staying around. The men’s national team is in much better shape than it is a couple of decades ago. The sport is taking off at younger levels.

It’s going to take time, and there are a lot of things that need to happen, but there’s no reason why football, soccer, that no-hands sport, the beautiful game, whatever you want to call it, shouldn’t succeed on a large scale here.

Most people in the U.S. over 35 did not grow up playing soccer and are not as open to new, different, things. However, most people under 35 did grow up playing soccer and are more aware, and interested, with what’s going on in the rest of the world. This ladder group will always have at least some knowledge of the game and will be very unlikely to criticize it. They will also put their kids in youth soccer and the cycle will continue. Like the first guy said, soccer has now become the most popular youth sport.

Soccer will continue to grow in the U.S.

And I have to say, while Beckham did not “revolutionize” the game in the U.S. like some people expected, there can be no question that he increased the popularity a great deal.

One more thing: just the fact that we are discussing this so much lately has to say something…

Fair enough but don’t get me started on cricket.

Also, MLS’s structure is fundamentally different than any other league, internationally – the limited ownership (not as many individual owners or as much individual team freedom, league controls more of the team) and the dreaded salary caps coupled with the fact that there just isn’t as much money goes inherently against the bigger, best, throw a bunch of dollars at it mentality that Americans seem to know and love. I’m not saying its bad, but its probably another reason why the MLS is not growing as fast as some would like.