Re: Beckham
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You're missing the main argument as to why soccer isn't popular in your country, Jenks hit the nail on the head... TRADITIONS AND CULTURE.
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You don't see anyone arguing that grid iron isn't played in their country because there's so many stoppages, bla bla bla. It's not played because it's not a part of their traditions and culture.
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I believe Australia's international presence in soccer will continue to get better and better, and shortly when it's the children with fathers who played soccer growing up playing it we'll be a force.
The same will happen to America. I guarantee it. You will just be a little bit behind Australia.[/quote]
Well said. If I could add my 2 cents...
Traditions and culture are primary reasons why soccer is not popular in America. But if we looked upon baseball, we might see that the MLB is increasingly becoming a heterogeneous league. That is, an increasing percentage of professional players are coming from outside the US, from places like the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, and overseas from Japan and South Korea. While baseball is "America's pasttime," other countries have adopted baseball as, if not a national sport, than a sport of increasing popularity. Baseball has entered into other countries' tradition and culture. How's that? And can soccer become big in the US like baseball has with other countries?
Baseball has become big in other countries because of the growth of talent, to the point where Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka can command $50 million just for the RIGHTS TO NEGOTIATE a contract. Foriegn talent has succeeded at the highest levels here in the US. Johan Santana is the most feared southpaw in the game. David Ortiz is today's Mr. Clutch. Ichiro holds the record for most hits in a season. The gorwing influence of foriegn players could be seen in the World Baseball Classic, where teams from the Dominican and Venezuela read like all-star teams.
When young kids from other countries see their native heroes striking out 15, hitting 40 home runs, stealing 50 bases, they become inspired. They dream big, emulating batting stances, pitching wind-ups...soon dozens, hundreds of kids want to become the next big thing. Kids see heroes succeed, and adopt baseball as their own.
This is why foriegn countries have become big in playing what is supposed to be America's pasttime: they export talent into the United States. Foriegn talent become big market-names, with big-money possibilities. Teams realize big-league talent exist in locations other than the US; demand for this foriegn talent grows. Meanwhile, youth become awestruck at their homeland heroes and strive to become like them. They try to meet the new demand. And the cycle cotinues.
Basketball provides another example: Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, Yao Ming, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki...all foriegn players, all succeeding in a game that originated in America. Andrea Bargnani was the #1 pick in this year's NBA draft. Argentina and Germany and China can field teams that can compete against (and beat) the US. Just like in baseball, these countries grow in basketball culture and tradition because 1) they export talent, 2) pro teams recoginize foriegn talent and demand it, 3) kids see this talent succeed and try to meet this newfound demand, and 4) countries adopt the sport into their culture and eventually tradition.
This is why soccer will not be big in the US, at least for a generation to come. MLS is IMPORTING a big talent, David Beckham. Beckham will attract cameras, big names, money, endorsements, and fanfare. He may draw more kids into the sport. He may make soccer legitimate as a professional sport here.
But Beckham is British; he was England's captain for some 40 appearaces, not the US's. Soccer is not big in the US becuase we do not EXPORT talent (hence, the MLS importing a washed-up Beckham, or the now-defunct North American Soccer League importing past-their-primes Pele and Beckenbauer to try to stimulate soccer here in the '70s). We do not play at the highest levels. There is no American-bred "hero" for young kids to aspire to. Hence, the EPL, Serie A, all the elite leagues in the world recognize that America is (mostly) a soccer wasteland. Accordingly, at the highest levels, there is no demand for American players.
If Freddy Adu reached his astronomical potential (that he may or may not have), signed with Manchester Untied (or Chelsea or Arsenal or Inter or Real or whatever) for 20 million pounds, reached superstar level at the English Premier League (like Rooney or Christiano Ronaldo status), and single-handedly got the US to the semis of the World Cup...THEN America might get interested. Then we might adopt soccer into our culture and tradition, and run with it. Then countries might recognize American talent as legitimate, and demand it. Then young players might strive to become the "Next Great American player." Then America might stockpile enough talent to field an international team, and compete with the Brazils and Frances of the world. Then I might stop saying "then."
Until "then" (sorry :roll:), the majority of Americans will casually dismiss soccer as "boring," "slow" and such. It's become an ugly part of our sports tradition, an ignorant part of our culture.