N. American media seem embarrassed by our disinterest in soccer...WHY?

[glarius]

I have seen it here in Canada with our media (both sports and media in general) and have noticed the same thing when watching American TV...CNN, or ABC which carried the World Cup. All of these people were falling all over themselves trying to show they really were with it when it comes to soccer. For gawd's sake...So Europeans and Asians are in love with soccer and we in North America ARE NOT!....So what?...To each his own, as the saying goes. What is wrong with allowing the others to love soccer and we Canadians and Americans to love hockey or football or basketball or baseball?....In my opinion soccer's a great game for kids, who love to run around. It costs very little for equipment and is great exercise. But once N. American kids grow up, very few of them are interested in soccer as a spectator sport. I say this as a mother of a son who enjoyed playing but as an adult is no longer interested. Others have told me the same thing.
I apologize in advance if I have angered any of you soccer fans who might be out there!

[skygazer]

1. I don't understand it either

I mean, I take no offense to the fact that Europeans don't seem particularly fond of American football, for example. So what?

Nice that the coverage is there for the folks who do enjoy it. But no reason to feel guilty because its not a national obsession.

[grace0418]

2. A few European and Asian friends of mine offered me an explanation...

I'm not saying I disagree with you (to me, sports in general is only mildly interesting at best), I'm just going to pass on their assessment. Many of my friends think it makes Americans seem really elitist that they won't join the word's soccer obsession. Strangely, none of my friends have mentioned Canadians when they tell me this. Anyway, they love soccer because virtually anyone who can run can play. It doesn't require expensive equipment or pricey lessons or perfectly maintained courts/fields/rinks, just a ball and a goal. A kid from the poorest city can become a star nearly as easily as a child of privilege. To them it's the most democratic sport in the world. Therefore it seems like sour grapes to them when Americans seem disinterested, like Americans won't bother playing if they can't dominate the sport.

So maybe the media embarassment is an effort to overcome this image of Americans being spoiled party poops. Just my $0.02, which isn't much. It did strike me as an interesting argument, though. And it seems to be a widespread feeling, based on the various places my friends are from who've articulated it to me.

[glarius]

3. Yes...I made that point that it is inexpensive for kids to play but

the fact is most of them don't watch it as a spectator sport, once they grow up. At least that has been my experience. I think it is rather disdainful of your European friends to call Americans elitist because of your lack of interest. My young grandson is now playing, and enjoying the play, but he was not interested in watching the World Cup. I believe it's just that we North Americans have been conditioned to a different type of sports entertainment. We like more things happening. I found the soccer very boring....just a lot of running and falling down and writhing in fake pain...with very little scoring. And then when they decide a championship game by the penalty goals! That is ridiculous. The winner is not decided by skill, but by who guesses the right way...the goal keeper or the kicker.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

4. I think you touched on an aspect of it...

Disclosure: I'm Italian

Of course, everyone is entitled to liking whatever sport or hobby as it is wished. Clearly, no one should force a sport on everyone else. But I have gotten the impression (not just recently but in the past as well) that many in the U.S. refuse to even get to know the sport as it is played professionally (sorry, but the way kids play it in no way compares to the pros) only because the U.S. is not competitive in it.

I also think there is a "we are better than you" component, in that many (I have heard this with my own ears, BTW) believe that "American" sports like baseball and U.S. football are much better. Usually, the reason that is introduced is the lack of scoring in soccer, which, as anyone who has ever followed or played the game will say, is bogus: soccer is not solely about scoring. It is about a team effort to prevent the other team from scoring. This is why in some instances even a tied game is a win. Watching an excellently tuned defensive effort is as much fun as watching a billion goals being scored. Another advantage to soccer is that it has a definite duration of 90 minutes (of course, not considering those matches that have to result in one team winning over the other) and no commercials, except for half time.

Of course, it is much less statistical than, say, baseball. Which is not to say it's a superior sport or those who love soccer are better than everyone else... But it is much loved throughout the world because it's easily accessible regardless of background, it is a very physically demanding sport (show me one pro who does not have six-pack abs) and does not require knowing hundreds and hundreds of rules.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Because they lose.

Americans strike me as the world's biggest collection of fair-weather fans.

[glarius]

6. Don't you think that is too simplistic?

I'm talking about Canadians here too. Americans and Canadians are NOT INTERESTED in watching this sport. I have heard so many people who are avid sports fans say they find soccer BORING. Like I said in my original post....to each his own. We are all different and I say "vive le difference!"

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. Yeah, but Canadians like hockey.

That's like soccer for northern countries.