American Soccer: Hopeless?

Much has been written about the course US soccer must take in the days since the hopeful bubble, created by success in 2002, burst. Some say we need a European coach and training methods. Others support sending our young talent overseas for seasoning in the highest international leagues. Both assertions are probably correct, but I think there is one thing that could improve the quality of US soccer talent for decades to come. Put international soccer on American television.

I, like most children living in suburban America, grew up playing soccer, basically since the time I could walk. After all, the "soccer mom" cliche was born in the United States. Soccer is generally the first sport played by American children. It's where we learn abot the tenuous balance between teamwork and competition, and physical coordination too. It is thought that early participation in such activities prepares us for life, and other sports.

Few competitive athletes in this country stick with this sport that so many adopt so early. There are numerous reasons for this phenomenon. Soccer players don't get the girl. Soccer players don't sign multi-million dollar contracts in the US, and outside of a four year cycle marked by the World Cup, they aren't on commercials. Yet, these are symptoms, not causes, for the lack of talent generated in a country rich in so many things, including young soccer players.

Growing up, I played just about every sport I could, whether organized or otherwise. When I played basketball, I mimicked Michael Jordan's turn around jumper. When I played football, I was Barry Sanders, trying to juke every player on the field. When I played baseball, I was Cal Ripken, agonizing over whether resting the bat-head on my shoulder work for me or not. And, when I played soccer, I was playing like some slightly older youth league player who grew up emulating another slightly older youth league player. Where do young American soccer players turn for inspiration? The role models, those with not only superb skill, but breathtaking creativity, such as Ronaldinho of Brazil, have been absent for America's soccer youth. The creation of the MLS is surely a valuable milestone in promoting soccer to the American audience and may ultimately be successful in keeping more young talent in the sport, but it's going to take exposure to international soccer to get this country on even footing with the great soccer powers of the world. When it comes to the World Cup, where players from around the globe assemble for the most watched event in sports, the US has to be more than technically flawless. They must be inspired.