Union, MLS debunking common soccer myths

Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Posted: 3:31 p.m.

By Dave Zeitlin
CSNPhilly.com
Nearly 20,000 people flocked to Chester over the weekend to watch a professional soccer game.

Of course, this shouldnt come as much of a surprise. It was the first home game of the 2011 season for the Philadelphia Union, who have grown a strong and passionate following since debuting in Major League Soccer a year ago (and even before that).

There are plenty of people in this area who love the Union and American soccer in general, and its easy to see why. The U.S. national team is coming off a stirring run in the 2010 World Cup. Major League Soccer is on solid footing and gaining ground on the countrys four major sports. And the Union have built a team of young, exciting players, as well as a pristine stadium along the Delaware River.

And yet, even as the wave of popularity continues to rise, there remains a strong undercurrent of soccer haters out there that arent going away.

Im not talking about the people who quietly dont like soccer or dont care about the Union. Theres nothing wrong with that. Everyone is entitled to follow whatever sports they choose.

No, Im talking about the people who actively hate the sports very existence and arent afraid to spit out insults, loudly in person or anonymously over the Internet, to anyone within range of their vitriol.

They say derogatory things that you dont want to include in this article, said Bryan James, the president of the Sons of Ben, the Union supporters group. For some reason, theres either a fear or a hatred of soccer that goes to a whole new level.

This isnt breaking news. Every time the World Cup rolls around, it seems, people who dont watch soccer will tell you why soccer is terrible and how it needs to be fixed. Worse, they will swear it will never, ever catch on in this country. They will tell you nobody cares.

If youre a fan, youve probably heard all of the tired arguments against American soccer before. Heres my best to combat a few of them, with help from James and Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz:

Complaint: Theres nothing going on (i.e. its boring).
Rebuttal: In fact, the opposite is true. Soccer players never stop moving, plotting, hollering and thinking. Its a subtle sport, so the games intricacies cant always be seen. But make no mistake that everything is done on the fly. The same can be said for fans at the games, which create an unparalleled atmosphere with songs, chants and choreographed displays. Its one of the things that makes it unique, said James, but also makes it frustrating from a media or fan standpoint. The lack of appreciation here comes from the fact that were used to watching sports for 10 seconds of play, stopping for 40 seconds to get a beer and go pee, and then watching another play.

Complaint: Theres not enough scoring.
Rebuttal: Yes, goals are at a premium in high-level soccer. But I know of people that hate 1-0 soccer matches but also love 1-0 pitchers duels or smashmouth, low-scoring defensive football battles (and probably wouldnt want to tune in for the first quarter of a high-scoring Timberwolves-Rockets game). In other words, a lot of scoring doesnt always translate to a lot of excitement. And if you need more proof, consider that one of the greatest moments in American sports historyLandon Donovans last-minute goal against Algeria to send the U.S. through the qualifying round in the 2010 World Cupcame in a 1-0 game.

Complaint: The sport is not American.
Rebuttal: Sure, soccer is the still more beloved in other parts of the world. But whether youre on board or not, its becoming more readily available for consumers in this country. OK, so maybe you still wont see too many MLS highlights on SportsCenter. But following the Union on TV, for instance, is easyespecially now that Comcast SportsNet has jumped on board. I think its certainly starting to take hold, James said. Its certainly the highest exposure I can remember.When I was growing up, youd be lucky to find a soccer game at all.

Complaint: Soccers already failed in this country before. What makes MLS different?
Rebuttal: The North American Soccer League, which ran from 1968 to 1984, did feature big stars and draw big crowds before folding. But its important to note that, with the exception of a few teams like the New York Cosmos, most of the other squads were filled with unrecognizable, aging players. And, in the end, over-expansion bankrupted the league. MLS learned from those mistakes, and is structured so it doesnt end up like the NASL and other failed leagues of the past. This is more of an authentic league, Sakiewicz says. Back then, most of the NASL was made up by second-tier and third-tier foreign players from around the world.

Complaint: Id rather watch better quality like the English Premier League.
Rebuttal: This is a complaint from a select few of the snobbier soccer fans that wont support a team from their city because they feel the talent level of MLS is too far beneath them. Again, MLS cant compete with the English Premier League in terms of salary and talent, but there are still plenty of stars, rising stars, workhorses, fan favorites and hidden gems throughout this countrys league. Those fans are running on old assumptions, James said. Dont believe that unrealistic inflations of salary directly translates into being a good player.

Of course, in the end, the haters will probably still hate. But Major League Soccer is a train that wont be derailed. And theres still time to jump on board.

When I travel to Europe and overseas, theres a very high regard for us by our counterparts, Sakiewicz said. Major League Soccer is a genuine, authentic league that competes among the best leagues in the world. Any soccer person will tell you that.

Sakiewicz, whos been around the game for 30 years, has seen the sports popularity grow with time, calling it an evolution. But the Union CEO is always ready to welcome new fans to PPL Park.

James, too, hopes more people show up to Union games, if only because then they will realize what theyve been missing out on. Like hockey, soccer doesnt always translate well to the TV screen. But when you go, its hard not to get hooked on the atmosphere and the pageantry.

I think the best way to convert people is not to argue with them but to bring them to a game, the Sons of Ben president said. I dont think youll convince them otherwise of their own misconceptions until they actually see it.

In other words, no ones forcing you to like soccer. Just dont hate it unless youve given it a chance.

E-mail Dave Zeitlin at djzeitlin@gmail.com