It would take a team of sociologists working around the clock with an army of psychologists to get to the root of this neuroses, but no one has the time nor inclination to do that. So, we mostly just roll with it.
To bring this around to sports, it’s our pathological need to measure and compare ourselves to Americans that prevents us from establishing our own leagues. Instead, we settle for playing bit parts in American leagues.
No one seems to question this. Oddly, the idea that Doug from Red Deer, who hates those hipster bastards in Toronto with their stupid glasses and DAMN IT WHY DO THE LEAFS HAVE TO BE ON HOCKEY NIGHT ALL THE DAMN TIME, adopts the Blue Jays as his favourite team is normal. No one thinks Doug should have a local baseball team to cheer for because, well, that’s just never going to happen, now is it?
When you’re talking about MLB, the NBA and the NHL (which is an American league, don’t kid yourselves) part of the acceptance comes from the understanding that those leagues are undisputedly the best in the world. Although, outside of hockey (And, even with hockey, a strong argument can be made that the country is still underserved based on the interest), the vast majority of the country is not served by the leagues. But, at least the product on TV is good.
However, this isn’t a space that’s concerned about those sports. Here, we are focused on soccer. As most understand, soccer is a sport that is much more nationalistic in how it operates around the world. It’s a sport that demands that nations have their own leagues. No one is going to prioritize the needs of another nation’s players in this sport.
Which is why it’s absurd that Canada doesn’t have its own league. Mindboggling. Unheard of. And, no longer justifiable.
Yet, there will be resistance by fans, largely based on the reasons above. Since we’re so damn weird, most of us don’t view the lack of a pro league with the same level of alarm that the (tiny) minority of nationalist fans do.
Bluntly, there is little that cranks like me can do to convince the average fan that the creation of a league is the most important thing the CSA can do.
It is. This project is the single most vital thing the CSA has ever tried to get done. It’s bigger than the 2015 World Cup, it’s bigger than the 2026 World Cup bid. This is the difference between a future with hope and essentially giving up.
No hyperbole.
However, as stated, few will see it that way. The vast majority of fans will wonder why they are starting a league when MLS is already here. They will view it as substandard to MLS (and it will be at start, for sure) and wonder why anyone would pay money to watch it.
This is what it’s up against. I was asked on Twitter what I thought the biggest obstacle to the league’s success was. My answer was flippant, but accurate: Canadians.
There’s a reason smart people have twice told the CSA this was impossible after doing substantial research. On a purely theoretical level it is. I cannot give you a logical, reason-based argument that the league will succeed. A five second Google search will find you several examples of similar efforts that failed, including the Canadian Soccer League in 1992.
Crossing my fingers is the best strategy I can come up with to ensure success.
That doesn’t mean it’s wrong to try. In fact, it’s kind of inspiring to see Canadian soccer trying something so brazen. For years the soccer community has excelled at telling us what can’t be done. It’s wonderful to see some positive thinking for once.
Some will argue that it’s reckless to try this – that if it fails again there will never be a league. This ignores the fact that there isn’t a league now and that there is never going to be a time where trying to start one isn’t crazy.
Actually, I lied when I said I can’t think of a plan to make this successful. There is one, albeit not one that will ease doubts anytime soon.
It’s simple: you prove you can do it by doing it. You start the league and you let fans find it. You make sure you can withstand the early struggles and prove to people that you’re in for long haul.
You don’t put unrealistic expectations on what it will be out of the gate and you acknowledge that you will make mistakes that you will fix and learn from.
If you do that then you’ve accomplished impossible.