Something has been bothering me since this past summer. Something that was said on the 2G’s show by Peter Brown after Spain won their first European Cup. He gave out the numbers for the T.V. ratings of the final and he sounded so happy that this sport has officially taken off here in the states. But here comes the problem that I have with that. Has it really taken off here in the states for the European game?, our own league?, or both?.
Now I am happy to see the game being broadcast on the major cable sports channels, or those that are on the specific soccer channels, like Fox Soccer Channel, GOL TV & Setanta Sports. But to be fair here and I think it really needs to be said. The game of soccer/football has already made it here in the states. It doesn’t need any encouraging what so ever because everyone follows it. Americans are watching the UEFA Champions League on ESPN & on Setanta, the UEFA Cup on Fox Soccer Channel & on Setanta. In fact ESPN showing the whole Euro 2008 tournament and bringing in Andy Gray for color commentary was a no brainer because everyone wants to watch the best of the best here in the states as a mini World Cup but only European sides. Everyone is heading to local pubs in their respective cities, towns, or their satellite connections or broadband on their computers to see the Premiership, Scotish Premiership, Serie A, Bundasliga, La Liga, French League 1 & so on.
To be honest, the only reason I will say the game hasn’t made it here in the States is the fact that a certain percentage of Americans just ignores MLS and doesn’t want to have any part of it. Sure we will root for our National Team, but even that is being argued that Bob Bradley should be fired, because he is a Bruce Arena clone. Somehow we have to step up our program and bring in a European head coach to advance the quality of our players. The playoffs of course must be removed. Promotion & Relegation must be in there automatically. We all know the Field turf is a major issue and I hope we won’t play on that surface anymore in New England, Toronto, & I know Seattle will be on it this season & thank goodness this will be the final year Red Bull NY will be at Giants Stadium.
If it’s not the Euro Snobs that are screaming for this change, it’s the South American Snobs that are screaming for Apentura & Clausura seasons. Everyone has already said the quality is poor and the rules are stupid on acquiring players for our club sides. What are the reasons for some of the TV ratings failing during the MLS Cup Final on ABC? People feel MLS is a gimmick. It’s not real football and they are trying to be too American. Well guess what people you should be proud and happy that we have a true first division league. Do you know how hard it is to convince people that this sport in the main stream sports media that it’s here to stay. All of these things are going to take some time and unfortunately most of you are not giving MLS a fair chance. All of you are expecting MLS to automatically sprout like the Premiership.
It’s alot worse here in the New York City area as too many people still remember the NY Cosmos of the NASL and sadly still can’t get off the memories of that era. It’s nice to remember those times, but we have to start saying to ourselves that those days are gone. We have a club to support & if your waiting for the new Red Bull Arena to finish getting built, then that’s fine, but you can still drive to Giants Stadium to see a match.
I have never said you can’t root for a European side. As long as you enjoy the sport, it’s fine by me but that doesn’t mean you should ignore your own league here in the states. You can tell me all the reasons why you think MLS is not a real league, but at the same time you probably never lived in England. I have also heard that all the great American talent should be abroad and shut down MLS. Well then if that’s the case then I suggest that all the Euro Hockey leagues shut down and the most talented come over to North America and play in the NHL. Same with all the Euro & South American Basketball Leagues, they should shut down and every talented player should be here in the NBA.
We can continue to play these childish games till the cows come home, but to be honest we should be happy that we have a league to call ours. It’s not perfect right now, but guess what it’s here and we should be supporting it to the hilt. Where are the real pundits discussing our league & our National Team. Here is the list of people we should be listening to.
ESPN
Tommy Smyth
Rob Stone
John Harkes
Julie Foudy
Fox Soccer Channel
Christian Miles
Gary Richards
Max Bretos
Christopher Sullivan
HD Net
Marcelo Balboa
Glen Davis
CSRN
Peter Brown
Kartik Krishnaiyer
Dave Denholm
Around the League reporters as well
Fine I’ll add myself as well.
Soccer Reporters
Michael Lewis
Ives Galarecp
Steven Goff
Jamie Trecker
We all want our league to be just like the others in Europe or around the world & the quality has been getting better. But I do admit that some of the things MLS does is discouraging. But at least they are listening and they are doing everything to stay in business and create new business. I also hope that we wouldn’t need these new rules on signing players or the Generation Adidas rules to only sign one youth player and wait for another three years to sign another one from within each clubs youth system. It will get better & I believe in that.
10 Responses to “Has soccer truly made it in America? Yes & No.”
The day I listen to the sage advice of Christian Miles, Tommy Smyth and Marcelo Balboa is the day I officially punt on soccer.
Just having people on TV doesn’t make then knowledgable or even good. Sometimes they are a detriment to the beautiful game, as is the axis of evil I mentioned above.
That being said, having anyone talk soccer is a good thing.
By chop on Dec 1, 2008
I’m not sure if DF leaving me off the list turns out to be a compliment or not ; )
By GB on Dec 1, 2008
Well Graham, I consider you more like the David Frost of CSRN than a pundit. You bring up the conversation starter.
By daniel on Dec 2, 2008
Daniel - I don’t know about listening to Foudy. She impressed me at first, but she was so wrong about Hope Solo, and so quick to throw her under the bus for calling out her (and Foudy’s) teammate-when in fact she was calling out the coach, Greg Ryan. lately I have been listening to her stuff and it all seems pre-canned and scripted. Rob Stone aint much better. I like lalas in the booth, but bring back Wynalda. Despite the monavie thing I think he knows his stuff about soccer.
By henry5 on Dec 3, 2008
You can’t force people to like the domestic games. Perhaps under communism that would work out, but not here buddy. It either needs to shape up or not.
Listen to Foudy, Harkes, Stone, Balboa, and Miles? No thanks. You just lost some credibility there. That Red Bull chugging was still a little hard to forget.
By Jonathan on Dec 3, 2008
Then go ahead and give me your list Jonathan. At the moment that’s my list. Do I have favorites? of course, but I am just informing you of who are the people that I see as those who can explain the game. We can have a difference of an opinion, that’s fine. I haven’t lost any credibility, I just gave a list.
Also Foudy is not one of my favorites, but I listed her for ESPN because you never know is someone else likes her.
By daniel on Dec 4, 2008
Daniel, I hope you weren’t offended by my comment. The people I listed on my post just makes me cringe. In place of those I would place the following on your list: Eric Wynalda, Jamie Trecker, Phil Schoen, and Ray Hudson. The first two are jackasses, but the sport in the US needs a few of those. A few who are willing to rattle the cage even if they are wrong at times. The last two makes a great over the top/ subdued duo. Unlike the ESPN coverage, the duo doesn’t talk down to the audience. Plus who can hate Hudson’s over the top color commentary?
On second thought, perhaps a purge of the ESPN soccer on air personalities is what’s needed. Even the much praised Andy Gray of last summer was awful. His Anglo bias was just unnecessary and ill fitting to the Euro that has no UK (team) presence.
By Jonathan on Dec 5, 2008
Not at all Jonathan. All comments are welcomed. Listen I just gave a list. Nothing more, nothing less. I had to put down people who I like as well as people I don’t like. Not everyone has the same list.
We all care about the game here in the States. We all want it to be what we think it should be. That’s why we have CSRN and that’s why we have these blogs. If we didn’t care about the game in the USA, then it would still be a blip on the sports radar.
Your a good man Jonathan, please keep on commenting and supporting CSRN. That’s all I ask.
By daniel on Dec 5, 2008