If I were king of the forest...part 1
We took a group to see the Fire v. David Beckham game yesterday and everyone had a great time. The place was packed, Section 8 was rocking and we won. It has been interesting having tickets this past year. We sit in Section 125...some what decent seats on the East side near the North end. One of the things that has surprised me is the lack of season ticket holders around us. Every game it seems that we have a different group of people sitting either next to us or in front or behind us. Earlier on in the season, the people around us seemed to be knowledgeable about the game. Recently, it has been the complete opposite. We have been surrounded by the infamous "Soccer mom" (SM).
One thing that I noticed is that the "SM" is not necessarily a mom, sometimes it is a dad. The normal "SM" is someone who thinks that the Beautiful Game is simply a safe sport for her (his) child to play. One where everyone is nice to one another and there is little competition (thank you AYSO). Traditionally, these parents have spent very little time actually learning the game, instead simply going to cheer on there little one to "kick the ball", then giving everyone orange wedges and Capri Suns at the half. ("You know, your father and I love you and we're proud of you. Did you learn anything new today?" - taken from the official AYSO pamphlet explaining what say to your child after their game.)
After their child plays for a bit, the child decides that they want to go to a real soccer game. So the "SM" goes out and buys a ticket....usually right next to us. The stadium was filled with them last night. We had one sitting behind us that just drove me crazy. Mom was there...board to death. And her son was sitting there...in his official David Beckham kit (oops, Jersey for all you "SM's" out there.)
So it's somewhere early on in the 1st half and LA get a corner. David comes up to our corner of the pitch (oops again...field) and sets up. Now remember...we are in the North East corner....you know, the Harlem End....right by Section 8. Now, if we were in Columbus or Toronto, Mr Beckham would be covered in streamers (or bottle caps, or beer, or whatever else the fans could throw). But this is Chicago. We don't throw stuff....we let you know how we feel with our voices. The entire section began to boo him. It was loud. David Jr. behind me was appalled...and his mom was upset. "That just is not nice what they are doing to him. They shouldn't boo like that." EXCUSE ME....YOU ARE IN CHICAGO, NOT LA. If this was any other team in Chicago, it would be accepted. But this is soccer...you know, the passive sport (excuse me for a moment, I think I'm feeling sick.......................OK, back again)
About the 35 minute, "SM1" talks to her friend "SM2" and asks when the half is over. SM2 says that she thinks there are four 45 minute quarters while SM1 disagrees with her and says that she thinks that there is something about 60 minutes. This goes on for a few minutes until I turn around and tell them there are two 45 minute halves. (As much as it appears that I am I soccer snob and that I hate all those who are beneath me, I actually enjoy telling people all about the beautiful game and educating them.) SM1 looks at me and tells me that I am wrong, that there is something important about 60 minutes in this game. What makes this even more interesting is the fact that I am dressed to the hilt like a supporter. I have my Blanco Fire kit on, I am wearing my "Season Ticket Holder" scarf, I am singing all the songs, I am doing all the hand motions, I am screaming at the ref that he doesn't know what the off sides rule is. One would assume just by looking at me that I might know how long the stinking game is! (but I digress...)
So, it is now the 70th minute. SM decides that she has had enough and announces to David Jr that they are leaving. "Look at this crowd, they are all going to leave at the same time and you don't want to be a part of that, do you?" David Jr starts to cry, SM starts to yell. They stand up and leave. Sitting next to me is my friend Niels. He explains to me that we show the players disrespect by leaving early. They are giving it their all for 90 minutes, we should do the same (spoken like a true Football (oops, Soccer) supporter (fan)). I look at him and comment how I have seen Newcastle blow a two goal lead in less time then is left on the clock (Niels breaks into laughter, I break into tears). Any thing could still happen!
I tell this story, not to make fun of the SM out there, but instead to show the state of the game here in the US. The MLS is a side show to many people in this country (no comments from the true Euro-Snobs...I agree, the MLS is not the EPL). A large percentage of the crowd in the stadium do not take the games very seriously. They do not know about tradition. They do not understand what makes this game beautiful. They do not see why it can become so addicting. I put the blame for this not on the MLS, but on the USSF. The game in this country has been in their hands for over a century now and they seem to have done everything in their power to muck it up (see the book "Soccer in a Football World" for more information).
I am a realist. I know that soccer in the US will never be like it is in the rest of the world. It will never the the dominate sport. I am OK with that. Hoverer, there is a lot that we can learn from the world that might make soccer here in the States more compelling and more intriguing. All the elements are here. All that is needed is some decent leadership, and the only one who could do it is the USSF.
Over the next few posts I want to discuss some ideas that might make soccer more intriguing in this country, for the true supports, the casual fans, and the curious. Let me start with this: It is not the game that we have to change, it is the way we organize it. The rules work, the organization is broken. With the right organization, perhaps SM1 & SM2 know how long the game is. Perhaps David Jr. is wearing a Fire shirt, instead of an LA shirt. Perhaps they stay for the entire game. And most importantly, perhaps they come back to another game when David is not playing.
I'm not sure who is still out there, but I would love to hear others ideas. Feel free to comment. Let me know if you think I'm on to something, if I lost my mind, or if I need to keep to theology.
More to follow...
