The World's Sport (excluding America)

Why America isn't obsessed with the Beautiful Game

So lately I've been thinking about the impact of soccer in the world. You know, that commercial with bono saying stuff like "once every four years, a simple ball...closes the shops...stops a war...blah blah blah...does more than the politicians can ever do..."

Its funny because bono is actually speaking the truth.

The World Cup shuts down entire cities eager to watch their country play. It literally stopped (but didn't end) an entire civil war in Cote d'oivre. Its the only time where you'll actually hear full-length conversations about some country named Togo.

Well, only in the non-American world of course.
Because in America, soccer isn't even considered one of the 4 major sports (baseball, football, basketball, hockey). Soccer is that thing you did when you played AYSO when you were in 2nd grade. Its that thing you only actually watch every 4 years and then soon forget about it once it ends.
But why? As dominant as America is in the world, why aren't we infatuated with soccer like everyone else. Is this just another way the US likes to be different? Is this just another "foot" to the world's "meter"?
Yes. And a bunch of other reasons too.

America already has such a firm establishment in its own sports. When I mention Landon Donovan, one of my friends (Connor Chambers, if you care) is quick to say "MCNABB!" If you know Connor, you know hes not one of the biggest sports people...but how does he know DONOVAN Mcnabb, a good but not great quarterback, more than Landon DONOVAN, arguably the best American soccer player (I wouldn't argue for that though)?

Hey Landon, hows it like to play under Andy Reid?

Im gonna go Steven A...Quite frankly, every American would rather have front row seats to the Superbowl than to the World Cup. Of course I'm speaking in generalizations, but its hard not to.

Soccer is just so...not American, in terms of sports. Why? (I know I'm asking a lot of questions, bear with me)
First of all, its way too simple. One ball, one goal...thats it? Any specific rules or anything? Offsides...thats about it. Yep.
After years of being a die-hard NFL fan, I still don't completely understand the Pass Interference rule. I saw a copy of the NBA rules handbook and its seriously more than 100 pages. And the MLB, well, I don't follow it so I'm not gonna say anything.
In other words, America likes its rules, we like the whole philosophy of trying to achieving success even with following the rules or bending them as much as possible. America is based on equality and that followed into sports...every year commissioners add more rules to ensure more fairness in the sport. Just look at Terrell Owens when he broke his leg. A simple tackle by the collar...a common tackle. Next thing you know, NFL outlaws tackling by the collar.

In soccer, there's only that one simple rule...offsides. I can teach almost anybody living under a rock about the game of soccer in probably 30 seconds.
America also loves its numbers. Not only do we want to know how many points Kobe scored tonight, but also how many he has been averaging for the past 10 games, how many rebounds, how many times he hogged the ball, and shoot, how many times he lost without Shaq. "This is the first time the NBA has had 3 30+ scorers since 1985." "Randy Moss averages 15.4 yards a catch" "Torry Holt gets 3.4 yards after the catch" "68.7% of Kyle Korver's shots are beyond the arc." "Pedro Martinez has had a [something] ERA since 2001." Most of these are guesstimated facts, but you get the point.
In soccer, "Thierry Henry had 32 goals over the season." "Gigi Buffon has had 15 saves over the last 3 games." See, much simpler. There are no yards, no ERA, no assist-to-turnover ratios, no [insert hockey terminology here]s.

And the MLS, where to begin. Well, first of all, it sucks. You never hear the MLS commissioner going up to a podium saying "With the first pick of the MLS Draft, Real Salt Lake selects John Smith...Chivas is now on the clock." nor does anybody want to. If MLS would actually act to become more popular, then maybe we would hear more little kids wanting to play for these stupidly-named teams. The smartest American players go overseas, where people actually watch.

Plus, the MLS has absolutely no stars. And by stars, I mean players that would actually hold their own in Europe (so that excludes you, Landon). Someone somewhere has probably said "Bobby Convey, he'll be the next...um...Landon Donovan?"
The person listening probably responded "No, he sucks." (Im really bagging on Landon)
In the Primera, Italia Serie A, and FA Premier League, I could go on about somebody being the next Beckham, the next Adriano, the next Drogba...respectively.
Basically, US soccer doesn't have the Michael Jordan, the Jerry Rice, the Barry Bonds, the Wayne Gretzky, the Jeff Gordon, or even the Mia Hamm. If we had someone to fill in for "I want to be the next _____"...the guy who gets all the attention on and off the field. But unfortunately, nobody wants to be that guy.

And college soccer...yes, there is such a thing. Currently, soccer doesn't get much attention past the AYSO ages. Soccer is viewed more as a past-time than a pastime. If US Soccer actually got good and Bruce actually gets fired...then maybe it would look a bit "cooler" to play soccer past 3rd grade.

I don't want to sound too cynical of our sports society...I mean, there is hope. Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson both stood out at the World Cup and they both play in the MLS. Plus they both come straight from the hood. Them two and Oguchi Oneywu and Bobby Convey and Demarcus Beasley and Landon Donovan (sigh) are all in their early 20s...so they have time. Maybe one of them can be the "one."

...or maybe not.

(This is my first post on this thing...its a bit raw, it came straight from my thoughts...but anyone can comment, so let me know).