Soccer Fever

Sports have been a backbone of the United States since our inception. Not only is a sport a way out, but it gives everyone a chance to compete. Benchmarks are made, which only helps people evolve their skills and better their respective games.
Modern sports are the same way. We take our children to fields, or rinks, or courts or wherever we can find a place that allows us to enjoy our family. These settings become home, and the lessons learned become life. We apply sports to living a peaceful life, even likening ourselves to success in sports.
During the early 1900's, Baseball was a way for people to socialize. Like Facebook and Twitter, people went to a game to become noticed. Whether they were sporting new knickers, or a nice dress the ball park was always the setting. This drove our youth onto the field and helped solidify baseball as an American icon. Over time, people drove from far away to see their favorite teams. Even Sunday became a game day. Sadly time did baseball some bad work too.
Players like Pete Rose took the game away from the field and onto a casino floor. Others like Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa made the game about themselves. All of this me, me, me tone eventually took the game away from the stands as much as it filled them. Baseball became not a game of class, or fun for the family but a game where the focus was to see who could hit the most home runs. The focus became stats.
Last week, ESPN published an article that Soccer has overtaken Baseball as the number one sport among young youths. This was shocking at first, but then I gave it some thought. Football has come under massive scrutiny. The game has changed from the hard hitting defenses and non-stop offenses to lawsuits off the field and head injuries on the field. It's no longer about the actual game. Think about it. The super bowl get's people to watch just for the television ads and the half time show. Once again, it's about the stats.
Even the NBA is waning. Basketball grew in the small courts where children could play. Many basketball players today grew up in the inner cities. May of them are black. This was not by mistake. This happened because the black family had to work twice as hard to get around. The black children didn't get the same opportunities to attend a game. So they played out their favorite fantasy's the basketball court and have turned to dominating the sport. However, America is growing every day. Not just in size, but in attitudes towards others. The same high intensity games are not taking place anymore. Black children are being given many of the same opportunities that once were not available to them. On the NBA court, teams are selling for all time high's. Doesn't even matter that the teams on the court play horribly.
I don't think the NHL is even a fair argument. The cost of hockey is insane. Most families don't have the time to invest in such a sport. Unless something changes, hockey will find it's way into the cellar peeling for every last fan before it's major base drops. All hockey needs is another lock out and fans become annoyed.

But not soccer. No, not soccer. I'll tell you why not soccer. For years I have avoided the game. I hated it. I can't tell you why I disliked such a cheap game, but I did. I served in Iraq, where I handed out soccer balls on a daily basis. The joy of a simple ball was as great for a 15 year old as it is with my 2 year old son. From top to bottom, nobody cares about the stats. Most MLS arena's are not expensive by comparison with their higher tier counter parts. Soccer is mainly played out in public parks, where an entire family can enjoy something. Sound familiar, maybe like middle 1900's baseball?
Not to mention a ball is about $20. You can have an enormous amount of players in one game. And unlike football or basketball, the scene never changes. Jersey's do. No one ever asks you to put on shoulder pads, or step into a fancy arena. Many college games are played at simple parks. Most pro teams utilize the facilities of NFL teams, or open parks.
Soccer has been here all along. It's been cheap, and it has not changed much at all. Unfortunately the world cup ends in a couple of days and the dreams of an elongated relationship will fade faster than a Lindsey Lohan rehab stint.

No matter what happens on the television, or far away soccer will always remain cheap. It will always be the game in the park, and until something vastly changes it will always be the underdog. Let's hope it stays this way so that everyone can enjoy it, until someone figures out how to sell it.