The July issue of FourFourTwo magazine features a lengthy article on supporters at the LA derby, courtesy of MLS fan wonk Steven Wells. His colleague Martin Kelner at The Guardian is giving it his attention, too:
They do not quite get it, bless them, but America’s soccer fans are giving it their best shot. The [...]
If you’re a sportswriter who’s penned a Beckham article in the past week and your name isn’t Grant Wahl, you may not have noticed that MLS and American soccer aren’t gasping for their last breaths. But such is the dominant theme in the soccer-related media these days: Beckham as long-shot deus ex machina to [...]
I spent most of Saturday in Stanford for the Chelsea-Club America friendly (click for highlights). I’d planned to write a story about how many Americans, with their disposable incomes and satellite connections to their clubs, have defied the “prawn sandwich brigade” label to become rabid and vocal supporters of teams abroad, even despite their [...]
It’s MLS game day in DC, Chicago, or Houston, and the “Latin flavor” is as thick in the air as the carne asada fumes surrounding the tailgate grill. Spanish is a prevalent pre-game language of choice among the supporters’ groups, and the main event unfolds to the accompaniment of chants and songs in which [...]
Note: At Tom’s request, I’m going to try and start doing link round-ups, mostly focusing on MLS and American soccer; links and suggestions are always welcome.
The best way to brand Beckham? Put him in a helmet and shoulder pads. (Check out the video, well worth it.) (Fox Soccer)
Gilbert Arenas will train with DC United in [...]
When MLS fans talk about growing the league and making it fully mainstream, the target they have in mind is usually the NHL. Soccer will never eclipse football or baseball, the argument goes, but with time and effort it could easily knock off hockey for a place in the dubious Big Four category. [...]
In a couple of hours I’m going to throw on my DC United jersey and scarf and head to a bar, making sure to get there extra early to watch the insipid pre-game show (without sound) and let pessimistic thoughts bubble over a Smithwick’s. On Sunday, when the US plays Mexico for our regional [...]
The Bundesliga as idyllic soccer fan heaven is probably an over-covered angle by now: cheap stands, big crowds, good beer, etc. etc. But it’s worth wondering if Germany isn’t a bad model for MLS: inexpensive and wild enough to please the fans, well-attended and orderly enough (maybe too much for a lot of current [...]
Editor’s note: When Max began contributing to pitchinvasion.net, I was curious about why he wanted to write on football fan culture - as a patronising Englishman, I’m always curious about Americans that love soccer - and asked him to write about how he fell for the game. I must thank Max for overcoming his [...]
