Comments on: Would you like some elitism with your soccer? http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/15/would-you-like-some-liberalism-with-your-soccer/ Exploring football culture around the world. Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:08:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Maximus http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/15/would-you-like-some-liberalism-with-your-soccer/#comment-1796 Maximus Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:53:20 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/06/15/would-you-like-some-liberalism-with-your-soccer/#comment-1796 I would like to see a continuation of the topic I would like to see a continuation of the topic

]]> By: Ian http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/15/would-you-like-some-liberalism-with-your-soccer/#comment-35 Ian Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:19:30 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/06/15/would-you-like-some-liberalism-with-your-soccer/#comment-35 I thought that it was a pretty revolting piece, and I put my thoughts on the matter up on the Guardian Blog for public consumption. It seemed to say more about the writer than it does about anyone else. Domestic football in its current incarnation has been active in America for twelve or thirteen years, and needs time to develop its own identity. The green shoots are just starting to show, and it'll be for the best if it's left free from any preconceptions of what a football "fan" should be like. I thought that it was a pretty revolting piece, and I put my thoughts on the matter up on the Guardian Blog for public consumption. It seemed to say more about the writer than it does about anyone else.

Domestic football in its current incarnation has been active in America for twelve or thirteen years, and needs time to develop its own identity. The green shoots are just starting to show, and it’ll be for the best if it’s left free from any preconceptions of what a football “fan” should be like.

]]> By: Thomas Dunmore http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/15/would-you-like-some-liberalism-with-your-soccer/#comment-34 Thomas Dunmore Sat, 16 Jun 2007 12:05:40 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/06/15/would-you-like-some-liberalism-with-your-soccer/#comment-34 It's an interesting question about soccer being perceived as the game of the "cultural elite" and whether it can ever be adopted as the "people's game" as it has been around the world. In many countries (including England), soccer began as an elite activity but was taken over and transformed into the game of the masses. That hasn't happened here yet despite the recent attention given to some supporter's groups that are generally great but are also very small still. I think their culture of drinking, singing, swearing, shouting may change the perception of the game here if it grows, but there's a long way to go. It’s an interesting question about soccer being perceived as the game of the “cultural elite” and whether it can ever be adopted as the “people’s game” as it has been around the world.

In many countries (including England), soccer began as an elite activity but was taken over and transformed into the game of the masses. That hasn’t happened here yet despite the recent attention given to some supporter’s groups that are generally great but are also very small still. I think their culture of drinking, singing, swearing, shouting may change the perception of the game here if it grows, but there’s a long way to go.

]]> By: Sean Spence http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/15/would-you-like-some-liberalism-with-your-soccer/#comment-33 Sean Spence Sat, 16 Jun 2007 06:30:19 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/06/15/would-you-like-some-liberalism-with-your-soccer/#comment-33 I have a hard time seeing anything else in the future of US fandom. The degree of alienation felt by the average non-conservative with our "official" culture (i.e., mainstream sports, news, politics, EVERYTHING) is mind-boggling, in my observation. And as leftists adopt footie as their sport, doubtless some proto-fascists will rise to the bait - there's plenty around, and surely some of them like the joga bonita. Of course, I've been wrong before. Heh. I have a hard time seeing anything else in the future of US fandom. The degree of alienation felt by the average non-conservative with our “official” culture (i.e., mainstream sports, news, politics, EVERYTHING) is mind-boggling, in my observation. And as leftists adopt footie as their sport, doubtless some proto-fascists will rise to the bait - there’s plenty around, and surely some of them like the joga bonita.

Of course, I’ve been wrong before. Heh.

]]> By: Max J. http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/15/would-you-like-some-liberalism-with-your-soccer/#comment-32 Max J. Fri, 15 Jun 2007 21:47:05 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/06/15/would-you-like-some-liberalism-with-your-soccer/#comment-32 Great post in general. I happen to come from a position fairly to the right of the average soccer fan and I couldn't agree more. I'm more concerned, though, about the possibilty of political views bleeding into the nature of fan groups; highly unlikely, but sometimes you see the comments tossed around BigSoccer or in the parking lots and you wonder if rightist and leftist ultras aren't in our future. Great post in general. I happen to come from a position fairly to the right of the average soccer fan and I couldn’t agree more. I’m more concerned, though, about the possibilty of political views bleeding into the nature of fan groups; highly unlikely, but sometimes you see the comments tossed around BigSoccer or in the parking lots and you wonder if rightist and leftist ultras aren’t in our future.

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