Thirty-six years ago, I moved from one town in New Jersey to another. In the new town, a visionary man with a lot of energy was pushing a new sports league for kids...a soccer league. Pele was at that time nearing his stint with the NY Cosmos, and all around were the signs of an explosion of soccer in the US.
For the past 36 years, I watched as more and more kids play soccer, and I watched as the US has become dominant in women's soccer. Yet millions and millions of kids later, we are still terrible in men's soccer. I can't seem to figure it out.
Some friends say that it is the fact that our kids have so many other things that they can do. While this is true, it is also true that it is hard to find any kids these days who have at not played at least a few seasons of youth soccer. The game is ubiquitous here, it just isn't very good.
I'd like to open it up to the floor; why aren't we better at this sport? Yes, I fully expect a goodly share of anti-soccer comments....but for those who aren't opposed to this sport....what's going on here?
Simple. Beer makers haven't endorsed soccer. At least not in the states. Unconvinced? Take a look at every sport endorsed by beer brewers. USA dominates those sports. We can all do our part by bringing a case or keg to those kiddie soccer matches this weekend. Just as the kids all swarm around the ball, so go the adults around the keg. Problem solved. Next?
ReplyDeleteInteresting theory, though there may be some cause and effect confusion going on here....
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