a pretty interesting article on american soccer from an ~*outside~* perspective

[epouvante]

Football in America - the work of development goes on

Comments

[blumenfeuer]

"There are always going to be some critics," says Beckham of his move to Los Angeles, "but being successful with the team this year has changed a few people's minds, I'm sure."
don't worry, i still think you're a whiny, lying bitch!

i don't see how it's "intriguing" that he's not the focal point anymore. even if there wasn't a bunch of shit surrounding him, he's one guy. leagues aren't built around following what one guy on one team does.

"If I had to say, what's the one thing we could achieve over the next decade, it would be that most of the people who care about the game care about MLS."good luck, donny, that's a huge uphill battle, it seems it's easier to convert people who are kinda interested in soccer to mls than it is with people who touch themselves to the euro leagues

[theupstart13]

"people who touch themselves to euro leagues" nearly made me choke on my coffee. I've talked to several guys I go to school with, and the idea of watching MLS to them is so ridiculous. I watch a lot of euro leagues, but I also love MLS - soccer is soccer, and none of the guys were able to really say anything about MLS besides "ugh, its not as good as the EPL". Which, duh, what league that's only been around less than 2 decades would be, dummies?

[smileforsam]

Two decades is a great feat. I mean, Columbus even built the first stadium just for the Crew. At least we're getting around to making it bigger. :)

[blumenfeuer]

i know people, who in am football, will get pissed if you like a team that's not your hometown team, but in soccer it's like "OH MY GOD I LOVE LIVERPOOL! WHY DO YOU WATCH MLS IT SUCKS LOL."

[theupstart13]

I'm not sure how I feel about the idea of bringing in a 3rd DP, considering most teams haven't even brought in one. While the idea of a DP is sort of nice, I'd rather the league focus on holding on to youth talent, and making MLS stronger that way. I could do with less Beckham talk, as the Galaxy's success this season is only partly to do with him, it has lot more to do (I think) with Bruce Arena and Landon really stepping up his game this season.

[whatsername104]

this

[smileforsam]

Nothing will over take American Football, there is no beating that, but soccer can definitely hike it up into some of the top sports. Most people I know played soccer growing up, if we just continue with it, we can make it bigger

[kem_viva]

Interesting article. Ive tried to get into MLS a lot but Ive never been able to other than watching the occasional game and then some playoff games. I think its more down to where I live the only team that I would be able to go see is part of a sports area I dislike lol, so its hard for me to support a team.
Football is definitely gaining popularity here though, I always see alot of people wearing kits around uni and more and more people support the USMNT too. I think getting out of the group stage is really really important in the WC, getting to the knockout rounds will bring attention to the team again like beating Spain did last year.

[blumenfeuer]

it must be hard to support arsenal with them being across then ocean on a different continent.

[nataliatch]

ily

[kem_viva]

not really, they were the first football team i watched. And im going to London to see them in the Spring :D

I watch MLS occasionally but my heart is already with Arsenal, I dont have time to support too many teams. Now if I met someone to go with to MLS games around here it would be different, but I know more Arsenal fans than MLS ones in general.

[luckiey_starrz]

I don't want soccer to be bigger than every other sport, because it won't be, I just want to live in a world where I don't get laughed at when I tell people I like the MLS.