Will Soccer Ever Be Popular in the US? Why Americans Can and Will Learn the Game

As I was sitting in my favorite bar in Key West, Florida, a man dressed like he had just come from a rodeo sat down next to me. As the bartender was flipping the channels on the TV, he stopped for a few seconds on a soccer game. The cowboy from Texas laughed and proclaimed, "I wouldn't go to a World Cup soccer game if it was in my backyard and they served free beer."

I couldn't let this go, and we started discussing why soccer isn't popular in America. He was a really funny guy, and after several shots of Jack Daniels, we came up with some ideas on how to "Americanize" the game.

He didn't like the concept of no commercials during a soccer match, so he suggested naming certain plays after products. Examples: Here comes a Tostitos corner kick. What a Snickers goal that was! And of course, the most exciting play in soccer, the Viagra penalty kick.

It went on and on, every idea worse than the last. Three points for a head ball goal, chicks in bikinis at halftime.

We were having such a good time I invited him to come to the English soccer bar to watch the Champions League Final between Liverpool and AC Milan.

He was completely intimidated by the hundreds of loud singing Liverpool fans. We sat quietly in the back as he realized that there was a whole new exciting world out there that he knew nothing about. When we were in the bathroom at halftime, he turned to me and said, "That Liverpool team is losing 3-0. Turn out the lights; the party is over, my friend."

Someone shouted from the stall, "Piss off! We never say die."

After watching the most exciting second half of soccer I've ever seen, my new redneck friend leaned over and told me, "Wow. Soccer is unbelievable."

"I thought you said you hated soccer and you wanted to make all these changes?"

"That's when I was an idiot."

I felt that I had accomplished my mission and had converted someone into a fan. If I can get one person a week and they can turn someone on to the sport, by the year 2020 I might have something to work with.

At the end of the day, Americans can and will learn the game; they just have to be exposed to it in the right way.