2008 Woodie Awards
5 reasons why America will never embrace soccer
Andrew Johansen
Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: Sports
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DISCLAIMER: I am not a soccer hater. I recognize that soccer is the most popular sport in the world. I am talking exclusively about the American fan base of soccer.
As we are in the midst of the NFL season, the wrap up of the World Series and the tip off of the NBA season, we are all in the dark about another sporting event. We are currently in the thick of the major league soccer cup playoffs.
Very few people in America follow soccer extensively. You may ask yourself, "How do you know?" I respond by saying that I talk sports with a lot of different people and no one has ever asked me what I think about the Chicago Fire. To be honest, I would say 90% of America doesn't know that the Chicago Fire is a team that is playing in the MLS eastern conference championship.
With that in mind, I constantly ask myself, "Why doesn't America care about soccer?"
Well, I will give you five legitimate reasons why soccer isn't relevant in this country.
1. The other major American sports are dominating the market.
The other sports that I am referring to are the big three; football, basketball and baseball. Each one of these sports has captured the American audience and if you follow all three, you will be watching sports all-year-round. It comes down to the choice of watching the NBA, NFL or the World Series over soccer. It is quite obvious that many people have chosen to support the three American-born sports over soccer.
2. The thrill factor of soccer.
Other sports that are popular in this country have specific excitement that has captured the audience. In football, the high speed collisions create extreme excitement. In basketball, the dunk has catapulted the game's popularity. In baseball, the home run is consistently one of the most impressive feats in sports. Even in hockey, the fights have drawn people to the television. Soccer doesn't quite have that one moment that draws the American people. Most Americans don't appreciate the soccer highlight.
As we are in the midst of the NFL season, the wrap up of the World Series and the tip off of the NBA season, we are all in the dark about another sporting event. We are currently in the thick of the major league soccer cup playoffs.
Very few people in America follow soccer extensively. You may ask yourself, "How do you know?" I respond by saying that I talk sports with a lot of different people and no one has ever asked me what I think about the Chicago Fire. To be honest, I would say 90% of America doesn't know that the Chicago Fire is a team that is playing in the MLS eastern conference championship.
With that in mind, I constantly ask myself, "Why doesn't America care about soccer?"
Well, I will give you five legitimate reasons why soccer isn't relevant in this country.
1. The other major American sports are dominating the market.
The other sports that I am referring to are the big three; football, basketball and baseball. Each one of these sports has captured the American audience and if you follow all three, you will be watching sports all-year-round. It comes down to the choice of watching the NBA, NFL or the World Series over soccer. It is quite obvious that many people have chosen to support the three American-born sports over soccer.
2. The thrill factor of soccer.
Other sports that are popular in this country have specific excitement that has captured the audience. In football, the high speed collisions create extreme excitement. In basketball, the dunk has catapulted the game's popularity. In baseball, the home run is consistently one of the most impressive feats in sports. Even in hockey, the fights have drawn people to the television. Soccer doesn't quite have that one moment that draws the American people. Most Americans don't appreciate the soccer highlight.
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