We all know that the World Cup is a big deal all around the world. We also know that America does not really care for soccer.
I am no expert on the game of soccer. You can read this article and see for yourself.
But there is a disturbing trend I have seen happening in the blog-o-sphere and the Twitterverse throughout this whole tournament. So many people are coming down on people who are taking an interest in the USA soccer team. They love to say, “Oh those people become soccer fans every four years. They’re fake fans!” It’s not that we become soccer fans; it’s just that we support our team.
Even after the heartbreaking defeat against Ghana today, America should feel good about our team. It’s okay to feel sad or depressed, but it’s not okay to take some kind of perverse pleasure in Team USA’s defeat. There is something wrong with rooting against your own country just so you can be right or have something clever to say.
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Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of these “America Can Do No Wrong” guys. But I support American teams no matter what the sport. From fencing, to hockey, to that one Winter Olympic sport where they get to ski and shoot rifles at the same time. Even if we have no chance of winning, I’m still rooting for my country.
And to those of you who are criticizing the “every four year fans” or who are taking delight in Team USA’s defeat I have only one question: Why Do You Hate America? You’re not being funny or clever; you’re just hating on your own country. You’re on the side of Al Qaeda. Is that where you want to be?
Americans haven’t become “soccer fans” just because the World Cup is going on, we’ve become America fans. The success of Team USA made us feel better.
Think about all the problems America has at the moment; massive unemployment, people are still losing their houses, millions of gallons of oil spilling into the gulf states and Kobe has yet ANOTHER ring. These are some serious disasters.
So when our soccer team succeeds against the rest of the world in a sport where we have never done very well it makes us feel good. It lets us forget about our problems for a few hours.
I know the US had very little chance to win the World Cup. I think we all knew that. But as our team did well, we all felt a litter better.
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And I know now that the US has been eliminated from the tournament all the haters will be out saying, “See, the US got eliminated two hours ago and soccer is not the most popular sport in America! All this was a waste of time. There are no soccer fields springing up in my neighborhood.”
Landon Donovan’s goal against Algeria was a watershed moment. And his penalty kick against Ghana excited a whole country. Both those plays will not immediately raise soccer to the number one sport in America but it reminds me of one thing. It reminds me of a quote from Tupac Shakur. He said, “I may not change the world, but I will spark the mind that will change the world.”
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