Soccer - The World's Most Popular Game
Hello World !
and
Welcome to My Testimonial to "Football" - European Football
Today is an sports-historic day for the state of West Virginia. The WVU Mountaineers will go, in a few hours, for a 10-win season and a birth in an upper level bowl game. Not the "Tootie-Fruitsy Snow Slide Bowl played in Upper Mongolia.
AND, just as important, and somewhat more important to me personally, the WVU Women's Soccer Team will play Sunday for a National Championship. Coverage begins at 5pm, Sunday, on ESPNU
The WVU Mountaineer Women's Soccer team. Led by legendary coach Nikki Izzo-Brown - 21 years of outstanding leadership A good weekend to be a Mountaineer.
For soccer fans everywhere. and for those who have not yet embraced "World Football, I hope you will take the time to read story (below) which I wrote six years ago titled, "The Eyes of The World." The story was included in Volume I of my book, Life Through These Eyes.
Very appropriate theme for this weekend.
The Eyes of The World
Wembley Stadium, England Pic from santabanta.hvgj.org
“Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy
Yesterday, the eyes of the world focused on the most popular sporting event in the world, hosted for the first time by an African nation. Today, a handful of devoted American fans will focus on the world’s most popular sporting event – soccer’s World Cup. Today, the United States Men’s National team (ranked 14th) will play perennial powerhouse England (ranked 8th) in the first round of the 2010 World Cup in Rustenburg, South Africa. And chances are, you can’t even name one member of the US team, although they’re ranked 8th in the world.
Between June 11 and July 11, 32 of the world’s best soccer teams will compete for national pride and to be crowned a true “World Champion.” For the non-sport fans, this story’s about much more than sports. It’s about perceptions and opinions. Please stay with me. Although soccer is growing in popularity in the United States, it ranks far behind football, baseball and basketball.
Yet, soccer is the most popular sport in the world. If you disagree: In Super Bowl 44, approximately 106.5 million people watched New Orleans become “World Champions.” In the 2006 World Cup finals, 715.1 million reportedly watched Italy defeat France.
Some background: Outside the US, football means soccer, not the uniquely American sport. In 2007, 204 teams world-wide began competing for one of 32 spots for this year’s tournament. The US (men) has never won the World Cup, although they did reach the quarterfinals in 2002. Brazil has won it five times, Germany four and England once.
Some of the largest stadiums in the world are located outside the US: Estadio Monumental Stadium (Ecuador) 90,000 people. Legendary Wembley Stadium (England) 90,000. Estadio do Maracana Stadium (Brazil) 96,000. Rungrado May Day Stadium (North Korea) 150,000.The largest crowd to watch a soccer match was a World Cup final in Brazil where 199,500 fans watched Uruguay defeat Brazil 2-1.
And right now most of you are thinking, “Mike, who cares! Soccer’s a dumb sport anyway.” Or as one person actually said, “It’s a foreign game played by foreigners with funny accents…it’s not for me.” A former colleague even called it a “Communist” sport. Remember, this story’s about perceptions and opinions. Soccer’s just the ‘spring board.’
Let’s examine these views: Many Americans have the opinion that soccer is slow and boring. They dislike the low scoring and are confused by the rules. Americans revel in action, high scoring games, physical contact and controlled violence. And the perception is out there that because soccer isn’t uniquely American, it’s a second-class sport. I guess the rest of the world is wrong and we’re right.
My thoughts: We need to give soccer a chance and open our minds to (more) things we don’t currently appreciate…activities way beyond soccer. Soccer athletes are some of the most well-conditioned athletes in the world. They’re in constant motion for 90 minutes. The run at high speed while dribbling a football (with their feet), change direction instantly, analyze the defense and then make a pass where their teammate will be…not where he is. By American standards their defensive strategy appears haphazard, while in fact it’s well orchestrated.
For the rest of the world, soccer combines the passion of American football, baseball and basketball into one national sport - “futball.” Give something new (to you) a chance. Attend an event with someone who appreciates the activity, understands intricacies and is willing take the time to explain. And then, perhaps you will start to understand and begin to share the passion. Whether it is soccer, opera, rugby, a flower show or a dog show, it’s the best way to change opinions and perceptions.
A final thought: As Americans, we crown a “World Champion” in baseball, yet only American teams participate. We refer to our Super Bowl winner as a “World Champion,” yet only American teams are eligible. However, on July 11, a true “World Champion” will be crowned.
Learn to change. Take the time to embrace something new. As Lin Yutang said, “It is all a frame of mind, this enjoyment of living.”
Attend a World Cup event in Europe… and then you will understand. Or maybe not.
Author’s Note: A personal rules observation: I have suggested this to my soccer-frenzy friends but they just brush me off; To make the game more exciting (for Americans), why not experiment with eliminating the ‘offside’ rule. It would create more drama, higher scores and give goalies multiple heart attacks. But, why not give it a chance.
My Predictions: WVU 41 - Baylor 16 WVU Wins First National Soccer Championship WVU 2 - USC 1
Until next thought,
Michael