Why Has America resisted the lure of soccer for so long? Suddenly Americans appeared to embrace the sport that is the most popular in the world, and the reason for that is so very simple. The United States team seemed to have a realistic chance to give a performance that would not embarrass the nation. That hadn’t really happened before.
Of course, our patriotic fervor was quickly dashed, as the American team went home, the somewhat satisfied loser. It had performed admirably, even bravely, and come thisclose to showing the world that soccer was OUR sport, too. Thisclose but not Thatclose.
Why has it taken America so long to jump on the international soccer bandwagon? Well, I’ve taken this break to look at why America has been immune to the pleasures of soccer for all these decades. And I think it all comes down–as so many things do–to politics and nationalism. America loves all things American and soccer is just not an American thing, never was, never will be. Unless we’re real contenders. This year we seemed to be.
A lot of pundits speculate that we’ve finally joined the rest of the world in our love for the sport, but that’s wishful thinking. Unless Americans have a team to cheer for, the color and fascination with soccer will abate by next year. Swish, bam, dunk, gone. Baseball, football, basketball, hockey, anyone?
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