U.S. Fans: No Throw, No Go

I heard some all-too-common comments the other day.

"I hate soccer--it's so boring," someone claimed. "Nobody ever scores."

This statement, unfortunately, reflects the opinion of a large percentage of Americans.

Otherwise, there would be a popular American soccer league, and soccer would be as prevalent on national television as football and basketball. (Notice, I didn't mention hockey or baseball.)

Now what is it about soccer that Americans don't like? They would watch almost anything that moves on television--two examples would be monster truck meets and lumberjack events (I'm not kidding--watch ESPN2 sometime).

I was discussing the issue with my uncle this past summer during the Argentina/Rumania World Cup match. His response was different than anything I had ever heard about the unpopularity of soccer, but I think he has a very good point.

It is not that soccer is boring or that the referee is the only one knowing how much time is left. Baseball is untimed and has many dull parts, as do basketball and football when everything is a time-out or a foul/penalty.

Rather, he said, it might be the very nature of the game itself--look at the sports that Americans excel in. You have baseball, basketball and football.

The one thing that is common about all three sports is that they involve throwing a ball.

Why is Roger Clemens so popular? Well, the guy can throw a baseball consistently in the 90 m.p.h. range.

How about Dan Marino or John Elway? Likewise, they can take that pigskin and throw it with precision and throw it fast, in addition to being able to heave it over 60 yards.

Basketball is all about throwing an object into a net. Michael Jordan was probably the best and most popular player ever because of the near-perfect touch of his hands.

Then there is soccer--except for the goalie, nobody is allowed to even touch the ball with his/her hands or arms, let alone throw one.

Soccer takes away the one aspect of sports that our country seems to excel in. Other nations don't produce nearly as many people who can throw a ball hard or far or who even have good throwing mechanics.

While kicking a ball well or knowing how to pass to another player requires as much skill as throwing a ball, it doesn't seem to be a feat impressive enough for most Americans to appreciate.

Sure, soccer little leagues are about as popular as baseball little leagues, and many people play soccer in high school and through college.

But after college, there aren't many famous soccer leagues in this country, and even in college, very few people attend soccer matches as compared with football, basketball and hockey games.

"So what's the deal with the World Cup?" one might ask.

Record numbers of people attended this summer's event in the U.S., but most of them were foreigners who wanted to support their own nations or people who just wanted to say that they saw a soccer match.

There was supposed to be a U.S. soccer league developed as a result of the 'Copa Mundial.' Nobody knows, however, when or if the league will start. Even more sadly, most Americans don't care.

On the other hand, soccer is infused into the lives of millions of people in foreign nations, especially in Latin America and Europe.

Take Univision's Andres Cantor' as an example. The man was and still is a big hit because his GOL calls are unique. But Mr. Cantor (who appeared on the Late Show and the Regis and Kathie Lee program as a result of his GOLASO's) doesn't necessarily do it to attract attention.

Before the man became a celebrity, he was shouting GOL! GOL! GOL! GOL! GOL!, etc. because the sport of soccer is a part of his upbringing, and seeing a perfect play develop sends him and many other people into a state of euphoria.

That almost never happen to Americans because there is something in the nature of this country that makes people closed-minded about the sport.

And that shouldn't be the case.

Especially in the absence of the two major sports of hockey and baseball, it's time for American sports fans to realize and appreciate the beauty of soccer.

You don't have to love the sport, but if you can watch people punch each other's lights out (boxing or assault, I'm not sure what to call it); then give soccer a second chance and try to appreciate the skill involved.

And since our main concern here is about the college aspect of sports, support the Harvard men's and women's soccer teams, both of whom are in second place in the Ivies and who have very realistic chances of winning the Ancient Eight title and going on to the NCAA tournament.

GOL for it!