Beckham an innocent abroad

[Richard]

The problem was that soccer might cause passing interest in a sports-obsessed land but it couldn't engage the heartland of the blue-collar soul.

The American sports fan demands, more than anything continuous, high-pitched action - and scoring.

He also - let's be honest about this - demands of his great stars a degree of red-blooded masculinity, an authentic combativeness.

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/comment/article2768264.ece

An insightful European view of soccer in North America.

[An Observer]

I read the article with interest. Had some interesting insights, most of which I thought were not typically relevant. The main reason that the US has not embraced soccer is the fact that Americans only like American sports where they define the "culture" of that sport and are dominant within the world. If it ain't American, it ain't of interest to them. As its unlikely that Americans will ever dominate soccer, and even if they did win the World Cup, they would never dominate its "culture", it will never be more than a novelty in the U.S.

Ironically, the same cannot be fully said of Canada which in spite of the fact that the U.S. is miles ahead of us today in soccer development and performance, it need not be the case in 20 years if the CSA gets its act together. Indeed, it was only 20 years ago when we were arguably miles ahead of them.

[Richard]

You make a valid point about culture that just adds to what was said in the article. In general Americans seem to feel that if they didn't invent it (and they invented everything worthwhile didn't they?) then it can't be any good.

[RJB]

Furthermore, if Americans aren't good at a sport at the international level, then nobody cares about it at all.

[stevieeatworld]

quote:Originally posted by RJB

Furthermore, if Americans aren't good at a sport at the international level, then nobody cares about it at all.

i think that is a main reason americans dont like hockey much.. cuz they know canada is better then them

[john tv]

The American media is getting scared of soccer it seems.A very revealing article again in the Star and yes guys here we go again it is all about the media and they are slowly being brought to their knees. Although no one will admit this and it now comes down if it ain't discovered by the Americans it won't go well, here is my forecast.These NFL yo yo's will soon discover what that game is all about.Soccer will ultimately rule the US as well as in Canada and than hopefully they will come to their senses and learn to respect people and maybe get rid of those very disastreous football/foreign policies that have hurt these Americans and the rest of the World so badly.

Soccer unites the World,Football fights the World.

Oh read that article in the Star by the great US defender Woollsey.

It does state a quote by Don Garber,

Soccer remains a tough sell for some hidebound members of the US media.

He also ssys the credibility of the sport so that there are no more soccer bashing articles in the newspapers and people treat us like they treat us like other major leagues.

I wish that Nightingale would write about these distorted American and Canadian media and show how really screwed up they are. I don't want this to be called "a conspiracy" just a major media coincidence of similar views contrary to the popularity of the sport in North America.

As I said " SOCCER UNITES THE WORLD,FOOTBAL FIGHTS THE WORLD"