FanPost

America Dispossessed


The World Cup style of football takes center stage while the NFL brand of football takes a short timeout.
Why does soccer have such a hard time, in the Worlds greatest media market, at gaining a foothold?
The NFL caters to the American mindset. At least two and maybe a third point of difference is the issue.

America loves Winners. Flat out, it is the American Psyche. We follow winners and envy the powerful.
How many Cable stations and Series are all about those that are Rich and Powerful. The Captains of Industry.
The Entrepreneurs. The Upstarts that win. The problem, as I see it, Soccer rewards Draws. You get a point
for a well-played, Kiss your Sister result. No Winners. The MLS has attempted to overcome this with OT.
Yet, Who wants to pay to see a tie game. Draws are not NFL like and simply Un-American.

America loves Scoring. Now a well played 10-7 result is exceptable, yet most 10-7 and 6-3 scores are
not well-played games. America loves a 28-25 shootout. Drama is in the eye of the beholder. World style football,
played well ends 1-0, 2-1. Drama is in the long droughts between scores that might end in a Draw anyway.
This is why America usually doesn't follow the Super Stars of Soccer and clearly does the NFL type players.

America loves to Tinker, We see minor rule changes every year to make our favorite sport better.
The World of International Football does not, it is somewhat like Baseball in that History would be tarnished
if we change any of the rules handed down by the Original players of the game. FIFA could make one change to
the game very easily. Add a second on-field official or as European soccer has done place officials behind each goal.

I am far from an expert and don't claim to be one. I didn't stay at Motel-8 last night either.
But if the World really truly cares about co-opting America into the World of Soccer they need to understand
America. The announcers in todays match talked about how the Americans have failed to shutout an opponent
at the World Cup level since 1950. America loves Winners, Winners score Goals, except when officiating errors
take that away.

Geaux Chiefs

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.