Open Mic: USA Soccer Needs The Top Athletes To Be Any Good

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.

The American public would be more likely to support the team if the product was stimulating and high stakes are involved. I have become a casual soccer fan thanks to Euro 2008. The games are contested and the fans support their side to no end. I especially enjoy teams like the Dutch and the Spanish that attack the goal aggressively.

Basketball players have a slightly easier transition to soccer than football players because of the endurance and creativity needed to be good at basketball.

Steve Nash, Chris Paul, and Tony Parker (note: they are all point guards) would make the best soccer players from other sports because of their vision to see things before they happen and the ability to maneuver themselves through complex defenses.

However, football players, in particular, wide receivers like Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Smith would also be able to make the switch to soccer because of the essential abilities of jumping, separating from defenders, and making plays in space.

There is only one reason I can think of that a young American athlete would play soccer over being paid millions to play in the NBA or NFL. This young athlete could become a global superstar and be put in the same breath as a Pele, Maradona, or a current player like Thierry Henry or David Beckham.

All of these players produced results for their clubs and for their countries on the global stage at the World Cup. The World Cup captures the attention of whole world in comparison to The NBA Finals and Super Bowl, which do not even captivate all of America’s attention.

Only a few athletes have a mindset to think in advance to that extent, but money is not a reason to be a soccer or rugby player.

Maybe an American-born soccer superstar can bring about a change in the cultural dynamic of America, but it is a catch-22 or chicken and the egg situation. Americans want something inspiring and exciting to happen in soccer for it to garner its support, but the athletes of a sport need tangible support and coverage to be noticed.

Americans paid attention to soccer during the US Soccer Team’s surprising run to the final eight in the 2002 World Cup. On the other hand, a superior athlete would not want to go into a sport with no support and no coverage from the media.

Demarcus Beasley burst on the international soccer scene in the 2002 World Cup, but little has been heard about him since due to the apathy for soccer in America.

The US Men's National Team needs some of the top athletes America has to offer because top athletes bring a better chance to win and attract attention that is desperately needed to keep soccer from further disappearing from the American psyche.