OT - How many former non-soccer fans are now soccer fans?
I've read a few articles saying that the U.S.-Algeria match, and all the excitement surrounding the U.S. team in the World Cup, will increase the popularity of soccer as a spectator sport here. I've also read articles saying the opposite. This made me curious. How many people here, as a result of watching this World Cup, now count themselves as soccer fans?
but with me I've hit my current peak of interest with this World Cup.
I used to despise soccer mostly because I didn't understand the intricacies of it. I sort of forced myself to watch it with the insistence of soccer loving friends. I slowly began to appreciate it. Still don't understand tactics worth a shit but oh well.
I will likely pay a little closer attention to the English League games on saturday morning that feature US players and maybe just in general.
The reason soccer goes away for 3 years and 11 months has less to do with the sport than it does with the fact that most American fans have no history, connection, or rooting interest with any club team and the US really only plays meaningful games at the World Cup (the thorn in the rose of easy qualification). While MLS may not cut it yet in terms of quality of play, its biggest drawback is the lack of history. Most people don't develop a strong allegiance to a team that just got invented in the last few years. If someone is a Wings fan, they probably grew up going to games and learning about the sport from their dad. They've seen tons of memorable moments and follow a team with incredible history and tradition. That person is likely to be more of a Wings fan than they are a hockey fan, and you just don't get the same bond/attachment with something like the LA Galaxy. In the same vein, people can go crazy for USA soccer and then forget about it for quite some time. If the Wings stopped playing for four years, I doubt most of their fans would be as into hockey as they are now.
As someone who grew up going to bars in high school at the crack of dawn to watch Euro qualifiers or a big club match with friends and family who were crazy about the game, I never had that problem, but I can understand why so many who otherwise enjoy the game when they have a strong rooting interest stop paying attention when the US isn't involved in high stakes games.
My best advice to those who think they might be interested in seeing more of the game is to pay attention and keep watching. If you like a particular European country, follow their qualifying campaign for Euro 2012 (the next major tournament basically kicks off in early September and most national sides play 5-10 games a year).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_2012_qualifying
If you want to get into the club game, look into the leagues in England, Scotland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, etc. You'll find that tons of games are easily available to watch and that even more are available if you know where to look. Follow your favorite player(s) if you like. Pick a club to support or just pick a club or two to root against. Act like a douchebag if you want to and just buy a Manchester United top (add a green and gold scarf if you want to be even douchier). Or you can support Hearts and become a bitter alcoholic like me. The choice is yours.
'Mon the Jambos!