OT: Why can't America figure it out for men's soccer?

[Gamecock72]

I wonder why that is. I know lots of folks who have their kids in youth soccer, some devotedly so. It seems to dominate some of their lives. It seems to be one of the more popular youth sports, if not the most. But few kids actually go on to play soccer at much higher levels.

Maybe it's popular because it's cheap. Don't need much in the way gear. Also, kids get lots of exercise.

Because most of the kids if they stay active in sports will usually gravitate toward one of the more popular US sports.

The US sports have a greater popularity in other countries than Soccer has here because of how huge the US influence is on the rest of the world. The exception to that would be American football just because of the number of players something like that takes. In basketball, you have 5 players that play both offense and defense. In American football, you have 11 players that would be starters on one side of the ball and another 11 on the other side, not to mention special teams. I do not think you will ever see soccer in the US be anywhere near what it is in the rest of the world. It will take generations of Ravid fans for it to take that kind of hold.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

As a country, we don't give a crap about soccer. We also don't give a crap about cricket. Or Australian rules football. And I don't really lament it.

 

[Gamecock72]

Most sports fans in other countries can name NBA player after NBA player. The American influence is huge in basketball. Most sports fans in the US could not hardly name a single soccer player. They just do not have that celebrity status in the US like NBA players have over there. That is a huge reason why the US lags behind the world in Soccer and the rest of the world has gotten much better at Basketball.

I still maintain the original dream team in Basketball in their prime would still destroy every other team in the world.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Most sports fans in other countries can name NBA player after NBA player. The American influence is huge in basketball. Most sports fans in the US could not hardly name a single soccer player. They just do not have that celebrity status in the US like NBA players have over there. That is a huge reason why the US lags behind the world in Soccer and the rest of the world has gotten much better at Basketball.

I still maintain the original dream team in Basketball in their prime would still destroy every other team in the world.

I'm sure they would still win, but I don't know about destroy. I saw a graphic that the original dream team faced something like 2 NBA players total in the Olympics. The rest of the world, at that time, was woefully, pathetically behind. But they've caught up. This year's team faced like 64 or something crazy. There are so many NBA players from Europe now, and many of them are just as good, or better than the American players, as evidenced by the last 6 NBA MVPs.

I mean, with MJ, Bird, Magic, Ewing, etc, they still win, probably undefeated, but I don't think it would be romp it was for them.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Most sports fans in other countries can name NBA player after NBA player. The American influence is huge in basketball. Most sports fans in the US could not hardly name a single soccer player. They just do not have that celebrity status in the US like NBA players have over there. That is a huge reason why the US lags behind the world in Soccer and the rest of the world has gotten much better at Basketball.

I still maintain the original dream team in Basketball in their prime would still destroy every other team in the world.

It's interesting that the NBA made a highly concerted effort to grow the game overseas, with the results that the last 6 MVPs are European, but the rest of the world seems to care as much about developing soccer in America as America cares about developing soccer in America.

 

[Lurker123]

Most sports fans in the US could not hardly name a single soccer player.

There was that pink haired guy, who got famous for kneeling for the anthem. I admit to not knowing his name off the top of my head. Which kind of proves your point.

 

[Gamecock72]

It's interesting that the NBA made a highly concerted effort to grow the game overseas, with the results that the last 6 MVPs are European, but the rest of the world seems to care as much about developing soccer in America as America cares about developing soccer in America.

That is because the NBA is very popular over there, unlike Soccer here.

 

[18IsTheMan]

That is because the NBA is very popular over there, unlike Soccer here.

It's true, but the NBA invested heavily in marketing the game overseas.

 

[adcoop]

I wonder why that is. I know lots of folks who have their kids in youth soccer, some devotedly so. It seems to dominate some of their lives. It seems to be one of the more popular youth sports, if not the most. But few kids actually go on to play soccer at much higher levels.

Maybe it's popular because it's cheap. Don't need much in the way gear. Also, kids get lots of exercise.

My child played youth soccer. It was very boring for him as he just ran through the kids and got goal after goal. Then, they hamstrung him and made him play goalie so he wouldn't embarrass the other kids. I live in an urban area. So, you had a pretty significant talent pool. All of my son's friends played football and basketball which he played too. I only relented and let him play soccer because my wife was convinced it was the sport of the future. My son dabbled in it for a couple of years and just grew tired of it. Ended up playing football and basketball in high school. This story may be anecdotal, but I am sure it is true for a lot of athletic kids who try soccer in the U.S. Someone earlier kind of pegged it right. It is the participation sport here.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

I mean, with MJ, Bird, Magic, Ewing, etc, they still win, probably undefeated, but I don't think it would be romp it was for them.

I don't know if Magic ever really had AIDS or not but I remember the Australian team protesting having to play against someone with AIDS in a contact sport. Their protest was denied. Every time he would drive the basket they would just get out of the way. Seems like an NBA player driving uncontested to the basket would be good for a few points right?

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

It's interesting that the NBA made a highly concerted effort to grow the game overseas, with the results that the last 6 MVPs are European, but the rest of the world seems to care as much about developing soccer in America as America cares about developing soccer in America.

Like NFL Europe?

 

[Lurker123]

Like NFL Europe?

I forgot all about that.

Isn't there talk of trying this again?

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

I forgot all about that.

Isn't there talk of trying this again?

Now they play a few regular season games.

 

[Gamecock72]

It's true, but the NBA invested heavily in marketing the game overseas.

That is because there is a call for it because of how popular it is, but that is not the case with Soccer. I do not think there is much the soccer leaders could do to make it as popular as the NBA is over there.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Like NFL Europe?

lol, NFL Europe was not a concerted effort. That was half-hearted effort, at best.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

lol, NFL Europe was not a concerted effort. That was half-hearted effort, at best.

I think it lost 30 million a year for over 12 years. Half hearted (and the smart thing) would have been to quit after 2 or 3 years. I may be slightly off in years or money though.

 

[Forkcock]

I’m not into soccer at all.

I know, I know, it’s big everywhere but here. I’ve been hearing that since the 70’s.

 

[capngamecock]

Because our best athletes play Football, Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, before they play soccer. Other countries best athletes play soccer. Simple as that.

 

[will110]

Mauricio Pochettino is a great hire (on paper). Perhaps this could be a positive turning point for the USMNT.