I enjoy soccer. I won’t lie.
I follow Liverpool FC from my humble North American home on my humble Chinese-made laptop. I follow the USMNT and the World Cup is something I look forward to every four years.
That said, I have never been a major league fan of Major League Soccer. I have been given free tickets. I live on the same street, 70 blocks north of Toyota Park in my hometown of Chicago. I have wanted to go see this game that they say is getting bigger by the year. But, for whatever reason I haven’t been to an MLS pitch anywhere in the US.
In fact, despite my fanhood of the game, my exposure to the MLS was limited to the ESPN2 monitor at work and the All-Star game on a Bennigan’s bar TV.Last night, for a reason unbeknownst to me, I came back to my dorm and decided to turn on the MLS primetime Thursday doubleheader that featured the Chicago Fire against the New England Revolution and later the Los Angeles Galaxy drawing the San Jose Earthquakes. I watched the entire first game and the majority of the second. It was 10 fold of the total MLS action I had seen in my life up to that point, in one night.
Consider me hooked.
When I haphazardly watched the MLS before I never paid any attention to the style of play. I assumed that the game was sloppy, inept and weak. I was dead wrong. Without a doubt, the MLS is not even close to the level of the European class, but the game is crisp, clean and exciting.
I don’t know when this happened, but I can attest that the Beckham factor certainly helped. I didn’t care about the Chicago Fire before Cuauhtemoc Blanco arrived on the South Side, but the star attraction attracted me to watch the game.
And as much as I like Landon Donovan, I am more interested to see Beckham with the ball on his foot. The combination of Donovan and Beckham makes the Galaxy a great team to watch, no matter what league they play in.The proponents of soccer in the United States, a group I have long considered myself a part, have been looking to attract those who do not know much about soccer to the MLS. This is the wrong way to go about it.
Shoot the easy kill first.
The main goal of American soccer ambassadors should be to bring the overseas game to America both on the pitch and in the stands. Across the country there are thousands of Americans who, like me, follow the European leagues and couldn’t care less about the professional game domestically.How can American soccer expect to attract new fans of soccer when the game is inferior here in the states? Take the ones who love the game and convince them that the drop off is not as significant as it was merely five years ago.
The MLS has convinced me, but I’m a pushover. There are plenty more easy targets across the US that merely need be exposed to the light. The young people will come soon, but if the league can convince those who already love the game that the MLS is legit, the league will soar to new heights.
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3 months ago
I have never been a major soccer fan until my kids started playing. I played the main American sports groing up (football, basketball, baseball) and didn't even think I like soccer. I have now become a major soccer fan. Weird though, I prefer MLS over all other leagues. I know the soccer is better in Europe and I sometimes watch those games on Fox Soccer Channel. However, they really don't matter to me. I just can't find myself interested in watching any team other than perhaps Aersenal, Man U, Fullham (to see how the ex-MLS'ers are doing). Once MLS starts, I abandon all other soccer as there is not enough time to watch them all. The Direct Kick soccer package is only like $80 for nearly every MLS soccer game. Once I started watching all the teams and getting to know them better, it makes the games very interesting. What I have really enjoyed over the last few years is watching the game grow - piece by piece. It is dissapointing when a good player leaves to Europe. However, there is typically two more of skill brought in from somewhere else. At the rate of improvement I have seen over the last few years - I can't wait to see how the addition of new teams across the league will change things. You are lucky to live down the street from the Chicago Fire. They have become a great team to watch lately. Blanco is terrific and really brings out the best in all those around him. The stadium looks like an absolute fantastic place to catch a game. I think if you go, you will get hooked even harder!
3 months ago
I watch european soccer all the time too, but not much MLS. I think eventually the league will become maybe something like eredevisie and people will pay attention if it does.
3 months ago
I second what the first guy said. It's great watching this league grow and being a part of it, you really feel invested in it. The drop-off is not as bad as people think. True, it's not Man U v. Arse, but if you watched the Fulham v. Derby game last week, you would see striking similarities. The best thing is, it will grow and continue to be as good as much as the fans put into it, great article.
3 months ago
Great piece and it's completely True once you catch a game or two you will be hooked.
Until three years ago i was the typical blind soccer hater, but after actually giving it a shot i found i loved it. Now it's by far my favorite sport and MLS my favorite league. The level of play is much higher than most people think (i'd equate it to the English championship) and the atmosphere at the games is completely different than any other sport in this country. I urge everyone to get out and watch a match and get hooked.
Columbus 'till I Die
Go Crew!
3 months ago
Dieter, please feel free to contact me. I'd like to help welcome you to the games and introduce you to our community (Section 8).
Cheers.
ben [at] section8chicago.com
2 months ago
Great to see the response to this article. Thanks Dieter
2 months ago
Add the world football tag to future MLS articles for better readership and more comments.
2 months ago
Good article mate. Point well made. It's the same here in Australia with the A-league. Keep going to those games!
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