Andrew Sullivan spent much of his space last week doing something unusual for him: writing with some degree of contempt towards Americans. And why? Because we're not avid Soccer fans (opps, "Football" fans).
And here I thought one of the things Andrew agreed with the Left on was "diversity", including "diversity of cultures", only I didn't think that he would emulate them and exempt ours from that. It is the "diversity left" which often wishes America was less American, less Western, less unique, and more like everyplace else. Only I didn't think he, of all people, would share this aspect of the "diversity-homogenization" Multicult.
Well, lets just hope this year's World Cup Championship is again decided by a telling Penalty Kick Shootout. That'll certainly get the attention of American sports fans. Just like in '58, when America's passion for Professional (NFL/American) Football got kicked off when the championship game was decided by a thrilling Field Goal derby between the Baltimore Colt's kicker and the New York Football Giants kicker.
Or not.
Until fewer of the qualifying teams think their goal during the allotted time should be to huddle around their own goal like Gollum protecting his "precious", refusing to send more than one player across the center line, and getting even more reticent and conservative if they're scored against (playing to avoid another goal against rather than pressing aggressively to seek an equalizer), Americans just ain't gonna get that worked up about watching soccer (as opposed to playing it).
And yes, I know that description describes to a "T" how the U.S. team played in France '98. All the more reason why it didn't catch on. The American national style, if one develops, will have to combine daring and drive. Not passivity and caution. That's the only way Americans (the worlds "Type A People") will become a quality team. Looks like we're working towards that with the U.S. squad in Japan & Korea this go around.
But we're just not going to cheer for a group of people huddling around their goal, playing to not loose as opposed to striving to win. The style will have to be. . .well, kind of like how we play hockey. Which we've practically hijacked from Canada now (the team that plays in the State I live in used to be in Quebec).
So perhaps the world (or at least Andrew) should be careful what it wishes for, and not want us to get too into Footba. . .er, Soccer. Leave us to our own games, lest we start hiring away the best players from your game to play in our league, or worse, entire teams.
And here I thought one of the things Andrew agreed with the Left on was "diversity", including "diversity of cultures", only I didn't think that he would emulate them and exempt ours from that. It is the "diversity left" which often wishes America was less American, less Western, less unique, and more like everyplace else. Only I didn't think he, of all people, would share this aspect of the "diversity-homogenization" Multicult.
Well, lets just hope this year's World Cup Championship is again decided by a telling Penalty Kick Shootout. That'll certainly get the attention of American sports fans. Just like in '58, when America's passion for Professional (NFL/American) Football got kicked off when the championship game was decided by a thrilling Field Goal derby between the Baltimore Colt's kicker and the New York Football Giants kicker.
Or not.
Until fewer of the qualifying teams think their goal during the allotted time should be to huddle around their own goal like Gollum protecting his "precious", refusing to send more than one player across the center line, and getting even more reticent and conservative if they're scored against (playing to avoid another goal against rather than pressing aggressively to seek an equalizer), Americans just ain't gonna get that worked up about watching soccer (as opposed to playing it).
And yes, I know that description describes to a "T" how the U.S. team played in France '98. All the more reason why it didn't catch on. The American national style, if one develops, will have to combine daring and drive. Not passivity and caution. That's the only way Americans (the worlds "Type A People") will become a quality team. Looks like we're working towards that with the U.S. squad in Japan & Korea this go around.
But we're just not going to cheer for a group of people huddling around their goal, playing to not loose as opposed to striving to win. The style will have to be. . .well, kind of like how we play hockey. Which we've practically hijacked from Canada now (the team that plays in the State I live in used to be in Quebec).
So perhaps the world (or at least Andrew) should be careful what it wishes for, and not want us to get too into Footba. . .er, Soccer. Leave us to our own games, lest we start hiring away the best players from your game to play in our league, or worse, entire teams.