American Soccer Fever Continues To Grow
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jerad Shaw-
It’s been coming for a while.
Every four years, it seems we go through this as a nation.
We consider ourselves evolving soccer fans, only to give up on the sport after the World Cup is over. Somewhere between a goal by Landon Donavan versus Algeria in 2010 to Thursday’s clinching of second place in the group play, American soccer fever has caught on.
This time, however, it feels different. This time, the passion behind the USA Men’s National Team seems to be at an all-time high. Even people not into the sport have been tuning in, drawing record numbers in the states.
Bars are throwing parties, and Chicago is even opening the doors to Solider field to view Tuesday’s game on their video boards. The country is starting to respect the game of soccer, well except for Ann Coulter.
This past week, Coulter wrote a piece on soccer in America, saying that any popularity gained is a sign of ‘moral decay.’
She blasted any idea of soccer being a sport where individuals take responsibilities for poor play. Tell that to the players for Mexico that stepped up to take penalty shots at the end of their game on Sunday. They not only had the weight of their team on their back, but also an entire soccer crazy country.
It didn’t stop there with Coulter. She even went as far to say that nobody with a great grandfather born here is watching soccer.
“One can only hope that, in addition to learning English, these new Americans will drop their soccer fetish with time,” Coulter wrote.
While immigration helped bring the sport into focus years ago, the American influences in the sport are shining. Names are becoming more common. Even after Jurgen Klinsmann cut the face of American soccer (Landon Donavan) the popularity hasn’t suffered.
The boom in popularity is aided by a group that calls itself the American Outlaws. Started in Kansas City in 2007, the American Outlaws have grown to 142 chapters in various cities around the country. They’ve made themselves heard at this year’s World Cup and the qualifying games leading to the world’s biggest tournament. They’ve traveled thousands of miles to support the team they love, and their membership keeps growing.
Interestingly enough, that was left out of Coulter’s article. She also forgot to mention the increasing attendance at MLS games. Ten teams are currently averaging 88 percent capacity during their home games. Six of those teams, including the Seattle Sounders, are averaging above 100 percent capacity. The Sounders alone are averaging over 40,000 people per game during the 2014 MLS Season.
So, despite Coulter’s claims, soccer is growing. I’ve seen my friends turn into red, white and blue clad members of the American Outlaws. I even catch myself tuning into a game, and find myself unable to change the channel. A sport I once ridiculed for being too slow and full of soft athletes has turned into one that I’ve gained an immense respect for.
As Rocky Balboa once said, “If I can change, and you can change, the whole world can change.”
A win versus Belgium Tuesday, and the world will see soccer in this country change for years to come.[[In-content Ad]]
It’s been coming for a while.
Every four years, it seems we go through this as a nation.
We consider ourselves evolving soccer fans, only to give up on the sport after the World Cup is over. Somewhere between a goal by Landon Donavan versus Algeria in 2010 to Thursday’s clinching of second place in the group play, American soccer fever has caught on.
This time, however, it feels different. This time, the passion behind the USA Men’s National Team seems to be at an all-time high. Even people not into the sport have been tuning in, drawing record numbers in the states.
Bars are throwing parties, and Chicago is even opening the doors to Solider field to view Tuesday’s game on their video boards. The country is starting to respect the game of soccer, well except for Ann Coulter.
This past week, Coulter wrote a piece on soccer in America, saying that any popularity gained is a sign of ‘moral decay.’
She blasted any idea of soccer being a sport where individuals take responsibilities for poor play. Tell that to the players for Mexico that stepped up to take penalty shots at the end of their game on Sunday. They not only had the weight of their team on their back, but also an entire soccer crazy country.
It didn’t stop there with Coulter. She even went as far to say that nobody with a great grandfather born here is watching soccer.
“One can only hope that, in addition to learning English, these new Americans will drop their soccer fetish with time,” Coulter wrote.
While immigration helped bring the sport into focus years ago, the American influences in the sport are shining. Names are becoming more common. Even after Jurgen Klinsmann cut the face of American soccer (Landon Donavan) the popularity hasn’t suffered.
The boom in popularity is aided by a group that calls itself the American Outlaws. Started in Kansas City in 2007, the American Outlaws have grown to 142 chapters in various cities around the country. They’ve made themselves heard at this year’s World Cup and the qualifying games leading to the world’s biggest tournament. They’ve traveled thousands of miles to support the team they love, and their membership keeps growing.
Interestingly enough, that was left out of Coulter’s article. She also forgot to mention the increasing attendance at MLS games. Ten teams are currently averaging 88 percent capacity during their home games. Six of those teams, including the Seattle Sounders, are averaging above 100 percent capacity. The Sounders alone are averaging over 40,000 people per game during the 2014 MLS Season.
So, despite Coulter’s claims, soccer is growing. I’ve seen my friends turn into red, white and blue clad members of the American Outlaws. I even catch myself tuning into a game, and find myself unable to change the channel. A sport I once ridiculed for being too slow and full of soft athletes has turned into one that I’ve gained an immense respect for.
As Rocky Balboa once said, “If I can change, and you can change, the whole world can change.”
A win versus Belgium Tuesday, and the world will see soccer in this country change for years to come.[[In-content Ad]]
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