Uncategorized Soccer: It all goes back in the box

Soccer: It all goes back in the box

9 July, 20149 July, 2014 Drew LittonDrew Litton 5 Comments
Uncategorized

soccergoesbackinthebox

Now that the World Cup Fever that gripped the nation is dying down, is the sport of soccer back to square one? Or is this the Cup that pushed the USA to begin to make serious advances in being competitive enough to challenge in 2018? It remains to be seen but there is no doubt the interest level in each World Cup is growing here in the States. Perhaps it’s only a matter of time (and generations) before the US fields a team good enough to make the rest of the world take our soccer presence seriously.

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5 thoughts on “Soccer: It all goes back in the box”

  1. Interest will drop off, but only to a point:

    We have a league that is stronger than ever after almost two decades, and made up of homegrown stars. What’s more, we’re seeing minor league teams create waves and a string of sellouts in some cities (OKC, Indianapolis, Sacramento, Orlando).

    Unlike the 80’s, when kids did play ( like me) and the then NASL struggled, youth participation is leading to long-term fandom: kids today follow Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar as much as my generation did with Magic, Montana and Ripken. Kids wear Manchester United and Real Madrid jerseys and Saturday morning cartoons have given way to Premier league.

    20 years ago, the question was whether or not the US would care about the World Cup. Now there are tens of thousands showing up to watch the game en masse.

    I’ve never listened when someone asks if soccer has “turned the corner” and “arrived overnight”; that’s not how sports work. It took football 30 years to catch up to baseball and another 15 to overtake it (a similar timeframe for horse racing and boxing to fall off the radar, as well).

    and ratings for the later knockout games have been down, but not by much – rating shares in the 8s and 7s (like last weekend’s quarterfinals) were still the most watched events of the past weekend. The final Sunday will likely top the World Series and NBA Finals – for the third straight time.

    As for soccer infrastructure – we’re starting down the right path. We need to overhaul the pay-for-play system, and the growth of MLS and minor league soccer is featuring those new clubs beginning their own youth efforts – just like they do in Europe and South America.

    I just love seeing the soccer haters backpedal from saying “nobody watches soccer” to “We only watch the World Cup.” – how many people watch the Super Bowl every year that didn’t catch a single game all season?

  2. Good morning from Omaha,

    Someone said that soccer is the sport of the future in America and that future is still out there some where. yes it was fun while it lasted and everyone had to ask “how do you go forward in the bracket by losing?”

    In the end, it seems, America wants to sports violent and understandable. A field goal is worth 3 points, a point after is worth one, touchdowns are 6 and a solo home run is worth one point, if you please. Its easy and understandable.

    Soccer seems to translate more to hockey but without the helmets and sticks.

    Training camp opens for the chiefs July 24th. It might be a long year in KC.

    Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.

    Gene

  3. Should have made a cartoon about the meltdown by Brazil against the Germans. Funny how one game can cause an entire country to completely lose it.

  4. George: And on top of that, Argentina – their rivals – are in the title game! It’s like having a Super Bowl in Denver and having the Raiders make it!

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