America is known for football, baseball and basketball. When it comes to how the world views our country, this is what they see.
Kids are brought up from a young age to play those sports. It is what being American is all about.
Or is it? Worldwide, America has no respect when it comes to soccer. Yet, there is a movement changing all of that. Last week when the US took on Mexico in the dungeon of Hell, the number one complaint for Americans is that they could not watch. For a great perspective on the game and what the American players and fans went through, check out
ESPN's Bill Simmons article after the game. It is an eye opening experience. But on the flip side of that, the US is starting to be seen as a threat.
Momentum is building for the sport and the respect for American players. Kids are now opting to play soccer instead of baseball or football. My own son lives for soccer. At the age of eight, he has had his soccer ball taken away many of nights for getting out of control kicking and practicing inside the house. When it came to playing select baseball this fall, he chose soccer.
There are clinics put on by the professionals all around town. When was the last time a major league player in baseball or football was at the local park giving free tips?
That is the way soccer players do in the US. My son loves the fact that he has direct instruction from Houston Dynamo players Stuart Holden at a free clinic as well as Dynamo coaches. You don't get that for free with any other sport.
As parents, we love that the coaches of his soccer team are former MLS players and coaches. When was the last time you had expertise like that in little league, especially at the age of 8? Through these events and outreach, they are building talent and generations of soccer lovers.
Hence the latest push for the US to gain the respect it deserves for its talent in soccer.
A petition campaign has already started to bring the FIFA World Cup back to the United States. The word "back" in that statement might surprise you. It surprised me.
In 1994, the American people hosted the 1994 World Cup and set an attendance record that still has not been broken with more than 3.5 million fans attending the matches.
Soccer has always been a part of the American heritage. Our national team placed third in the very first FIFA World Cup in 1930. Pilgrims were often seen playing along the shores of Massachusetts.
The passion for soccer is growing in our country with more and more programs starting every day. It is a sport that is packed with intense action in under two hours despite low scoring games.
Americans now have a chance to prove that we love the game more than we loved Brandi Chastain going crazy after her goal and ripping her shirt off. This is our chance to show the world that we have a deep passion for the game.
Go to
http://www.gousabid.com/petition and sign the petition to bring the FIFA World Cup back to America.
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