Comments on: Nobody Likes Us, We Don’t Care http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/23/nobody-likes-us-we-dont-care/ A soccer blog featuring essays, news and photography exploring soccer around the world Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:59:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pitch Invasion · American Soccer and the Youtube Generation http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/23/nobody-likes-us-we-dont-care/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Pitch Invasion · American Soccer and the Youtube Generation Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:05:53 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/06/23/nobody-likes-us-we-dont-care/#comment-73 [...] fashion of web 2.0 evangelists? Possibly, but given we discussed here both the lack of appeal of the national team to soccer fans in America and the overwhelming dominance of Mexican fans at Soldier Field in the final, it’s worth [...] [...] fashion of web 2.0 evangelists? Possibly, but given we discussed here both the lack of appeal of the national team to soccer fans in America and the overwhelming dominance of Mexican fans at Soldier Field in the final, it’s worth [...]

]]> By: Matth http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/23/nobody-likes-us-we-dont-care/comment-page-1/#comment-72 Matth Tue, 26 Jun 2007 17:09:32 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/06/23/nobody-likes-us-we-dont-care/#comment-72 While I think that the majority, the vast majority, of American soccer supporters have this sort of no-brain, pick-a-team-at-random attitude, it's not everyone. I'm one example. I started out that way, watching any soccer match I could on Fox Sports World in high school, and openly mocking the few minutes of MLS that I saw. Then came my year abroad. Through conversations during those nine months (not to mention living in Nottingham, where the people have never really gotten over the late Seventies), and culminating in the group stages of the World Cup last summer, I was introduced to that die-hard, hereditary support that I had never seen before. Now, I'm confused when my friends say that they use MLS to fill the months between the European leagues' seasons, and I truly do not understand how an American soccer fan can do anything other than live and die with the national team. We're not great, but dang it, there are hardly any great teams in the world. Even good teams are in short supply. I just want to shout at people: Get your heads out of your asses and support the Yanquis! It's uncharacteristically pathetic of Americans to support another nation's soccer team. While I think that the majority, the vast majority, of American soccer supporters have this sort of no-brain, pick-a-team-at-random attitude, it’s not everyone. I’m one example.

I started out that way, watching any soccer match I could on Fox Sports World in high school, and openly mocking the few minutes of MLS that I saw. Then came my year abroad. Through conversations during those nine months (not to mention living in Nottingham, where the people have never really gotten over the late Seventies), and culminating in the group stages of the World Cup last summer, I was introduced to that die-hard, hereditary support that I had never seen before.

Now, I’m confused when my friends say that they use MLS to fill the months between the European leagues’ seasons, and I truly do not understand how an American soccer fan can do anything other than live and die with the national team. We’re not great, but dang it, there are hardly any great teams in the world. Even good teams are in short supply. I just want to shout at people: Get your heads out of your asses and support the Yanquis! It’s uncharacteristically pathetic of Americans to support another nation’s soccer team.

]]> By: Max J. Rosenthal http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/23/nobody-likes-us-we-dont-care/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Max J. Rosenthal Sun, 24 Jun 2007 05:25:13 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/06/23/nobody-likes-us-we-dont-care/#comment-71 I totally agree. I actually had written a bit about the how this phenomenon doesn't hit MLS nearly as badly that I ended up leaving out. I think MLS has a lot of institutional advantages over the Nats (defined schedules, local stadiums, beat writers, etc.) and that ignoring them is more widespread than ignoring the local MLS side. But I am one of those national team refuseniks while still being a committed MLS fan, so that may easily be bias. I totally agree. I actually had written a bit about the how this phenomenon doesn’t hit MLS nearly as badly that I ended up leaving out. I think MLS has a lot of institutional advantages over the Nats (defined schedules, local stadiums, beat writers, etc.) and that ignoring them is more widespread than ignoring the local MLS side. But I am one of those national team refuseniks while still being a committed MLS fan, so that may easily be bias.

]]> By: tyduffy http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/06/23/nobody-likes-us-we-dont-care/comment-page-1/#comment-70 tyduffy Sun, 24 Jun 2007 05:11:42 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/2007/06/23/nobody-likes-us-we-dont-care/#comment-70 I think that you might be shortchanging MLS a little bit. At least at some of the more well-established clubs, the rabid support base is there (like the Sons of Ben in Philadelphia who already have a supporters club in preparation for an expansion team). MLS is never going to be the equivalent of the major European leagues, or seriously compete with the NFL or MLB, but I think that it still has the potential to develop into an entertaining product. I suppose I am one of those stereotypical upper class white kids who fell in love with the game watching Thierry Henry, who roots for the club of his European ancestors harder than for the U.S. in the World Cup, and who gets thrown into apoplexy at the thought of watching Landon Donovan beat up on inferior talents rather than trying his hand with the best. But, even I have gotten roped into watching the Thursday Night Match in HD (even if I can't name half the players). I think that you might be shortchanging MLS a little bit. At least at some of the more well-established clubs, the rabid support base is there (like the Sons of Ben in Philadelphia who already have a supporters club in preparation for an expansion team). MLS is never going to be the equivalent of the major European leagues, or seriously compete with the NFL or MLB, but I think that it still has the potential to develop into an entertaining product.

I suppose I am one of those stereotypical upper class white kids who fell in love with the game watching Thierry Henry, who roots for the club of his European ancestors harder than for the U.S. in the World Cup, and who gets thrown into apoplexy at the thought of watching Landon Donovan beat up on inferior talents rather than trying his hand with the best. But, even I have gotten roped into watching the Thursday Night Match in HD (even if I can’t name half the players).

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