What does it mean to be an American soccer fan?
What does it mean to be an American soccer fan? Where are your loyalties? Who do you root for?
I have all these questions in my head and most lay dormant while I watch and cheer for my Rapids, USA men’s national team, and many “Yanks Abroad.” But when CONCACAF Champions League happens, all those thoughts and questions come flooding back to the front of my mind.
Most recently, while watching Seattle vs. Santos Laguna one question kept coming to my head; who are the #MLS4RSL folks rooting for in this game. (You know who those people are, the type that only gets their info from MLSsoccer.com, defender of all things Don Garber, the one who boastfully brags at the MLS All-Start team’s “success”, the one…etc.)
It seems quite simple at first glance, “duh, Seattle is in MLS, and therefore, American.” But is it that simple? Seattle had only 3 starters that are American. Santos had 1 (Herculez Gomez). Is it worth putting your club allegiance on hold to root for another MLS club to do well when they only have 3 American players? If Seattle goes on to beat Santos, is that helping American soccer? Does Seattle really represent America if they put out a line up of predominantly foreign players? How is that beneficial for the growth of American soccer?
I found myself rooting for Santos, for a few reasons, mainly because I love Herculez Gomez from his time here with the Rapids, but, also because if there is a team that I’d rather represent the USA in Champions League, it’s going to be a team that fields the most Americans as possible. That team is Los Angeles, who fielded 7 Americans in their most recent CCL game against Toronto FC.
The question of foreign influence was brought up to MLS commissioner Don Garber in a recent interview. The interviewer, Jeff Carlisle brings up some good points about the issue that Don Garber quickly refutes and sweeps away. (You should read that interview, if you want to laugh and/or cry)
This problem isn’t limited to the USA; look at last years UEFA Champions League Final, Manchester United fielded 3 English players meanwhile; Barcelona ran out 7 Spaniards onto the field. Do those numbers sound familiar? Which club won? Which strategy has brought more success to their individual national teams? Can Spain’s recent World Cup victory be attributed in any way to this? Can England’s World Cup struggles be attributed in any way to this?
I believe that it’s the federation’s responsibility to create an environment of development within its system that will benefit and enhance its national team. Does MLS fit that description? Does USA soccer care? Do the #RSL4MLS people care? Do you care?
I do.
I have all these questions in my head and most lay dormant while I watch and cheer for my Rapids, USA men’s national team, and many “Yanks Abroad.” But when CONCACAF Champions League happens, all those thoughts and questions come flooding back to the front of my mind.
Most recently, while watching Seattle vs. Santos Laguna one question kept coming to my head; who are the #MLS4RSL folks rooting for in this game. (You know who those people are, the type that only gets their info from MLSsoccer.com, defender of all things Don Garber, the one who boastfully brags at the MLS All-Start team’s “success”, the one…etc.)
It seems quite simple at first glance, “duh, Seattle is in MLS, and therefore, American.” But is it that simple? Seattle had only 3 starters that are American. Santos had 1 (Herculez Gomez). Is it worth putting your club allegiance on hold to root for another MLS club to do well when they only have 3 American players? If Seattle goes on to beat Santos, is that helping American soccer? Does Seattle really represent America if they put out a line up of predominantly foreign players? How is that beneficial for the growth of American soccer?
I found myself rooting for Santos, for a few reasons, mainly because I love Herculez Gomez from his time here with the Rapids, but, also because if there is a team that I’d rather represent the USA in Champions League, it’s going to be a team that fields the most Americans as possible. That team is Los Angeles, who fielded 7 Americans in their most recent CCL game against Toronto FC.
The question of foreign influence was brought up to MLS commissioner Don Garber in a recent interview. The interviewer, Jeff Carlisle brings up some good points about the issue that Don Garber quickly refutes and sweeps away. (You should read that interview, if you want to laugh and/or cry)
This problem isn’t limited to the USA; look at last years UEFA Champions League Final, Manchester United fielded 3 English players meanwhile; Barcelona ran out 7 Spaniards onto the field. Do those numbers sound familiar? Which club won? Which strategy has brought more success to their individual national teams? Can Spain’s recent World Cup victory be attributed in any way to this? Can England’s World Cup struggles be attributed in any way to this?
I believe that it’s the federation’s responsibility to create an environment of development within its system that will benefit and enhance its national team. Does MLS fit that description? Does USA soccer care? Do the #RSL4MLS people care? Do you care?
I do.
Comments