Soccer is the world's most popular sport, but has not caught on with adults in America. Arguably, the world's best soccer is going on now with Euro 2008 and this young American is starting to like soccer.

I am beginning to understand why my soccer-playing friends are so passionate about their favorite club teams. The fans are so into their teams, and the star players are often like rock stars in their countries. More of the top athletes this country has to offer need to play the game though.

It would make a huge difference if America’s top athletes played soccer instead of the two major sports of basketball and football. Soccer would have more attention in the sports conscience of America. Americans gravitate towards football and basketball because of the exhibits of athleticism that take place.

There are so many chances to show just how athletic players are when players like Allen Iverson  crossing over an opponent, or Josh Smith is blocking a shot from the other side of the lane, or when Kobe Bryant skies over the defense and throws one down in basketball.

Football players can bounce a run outside and elude every tackler on the field like Hall Of Famer Barry Sanders, light up somebody in the hole like Ray Lewis, or intercept a pass with one hand like Antonio Cromartie. It is just more exciting to watch athletes exhibit their skills in those two sports.

If these athletes were on the soccer pitch, not the basketball court or the football field, using their athletic ability then Americans would be much more inclined to watch these athletes work and the sports media would most likely expand their coverage of soccer.

Just imagine Steve Nash dribbling circles around defenders and making cross-field passes to a player who can outrun anyone like Michael Vick. Then picture LeBron James positioning himself after a corner kick then jumping up and heading a seemingly out-of–reach pass into the back of the onion bag for a goal. Soccer becomes exponentially more interesting for the casual American, sports fan or not. 

USA Soccer would not be stuck in the mid 20s of the FIFA World Rankings if the top athletes played soccer. The US would rank at the top among the great teams like Argentina, Brazil, and the aggressive Netherlands. The highly athletic US team would most likely be aggressive, seeking to attack throughout the 90 minutes.

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