This Loco American Sport of Soccer – Part 1

Ahem, European readers. Just as I click “all read” when you began to dabble about cricket, rugby, or the Scottish national team, I now give you fair warning – this is a rambling and incoherent essay on North American football culture. And by North America, I mean the United States of America. Well, maybe a few potshots at Canada. And a lustful eye down south to Mexico. But still…click “all read” and move along. As for the rest of you, fasten your seatbelt.

I begin with an observation – MLS and soccer in the US has grown from widely disregarded Milwaukee’s Best to counterculture status like a well respected regional microbrewery. The TV deal, the squabbles over the CBA, the split in the second division, these are the symptoms of adolescence. Congratulations, US soccer, you are about to hit puberty.

The haters have shut up. At least until the World Cup is months away and they can get some anti-football hits from Google by mentioning soccer in inflammatory headlines like a “liberal + sophomoric pejorative” titled Glen Beck book.  This means you are no longer the nerd on the beach with sand in the face. No, you are probably wearing a Marilyn Manson t-shirt and have several face piercings – the mainstream does not mock you, it fears you,a fear that springs from a lack of understanding.

Why? How? As per usual, the taste setters in CEO boardrooms have played a small role. An example.

A few years ago, the hedonistic and unheard of mixture of fruit and beer induced a typical anglo-saxon backlash. Major corporations rejected the concept as “foreign” and introduced a series of “man law commercials” to re-assert our broad shouldered masculinity. What happened? This mainstream rejection merely created a niche audience – fruit beer became the glowing lantern to the counterculture flies. The anti-buzz created buzz.

Once this group firmly entrenched itself at stadia around the US, a reasonable profit could be made. And then corporate America changed its mind and put a cosmopolitan spin on the flavor in an era of globalized media and outsourced tastes. And then hesitant midwesterners flocked to buy Bud Light Lime. Plus, fruit beer just tasted better.

With the US fielding a good side, MLS improving each year, and the World Cup months away, this could be yet another not-really-a-watershed-but-kinda-big step forwards for soccer. Or rather, high tv ratings for ESPN could reflect the hard work done by US soccer fans, players, and owners. Felicidades.

And, more importantly, the mainstream media has its tried and trued corporate spin, the jingo to catch the big time: young black male athletes. And our bizarre fetishism.

In the NBA, other great sites have analyzed in much greater detail this unique fascination stateside. I will only say that I am excited by the prospects of our striking tandem, but closer inspection brings about a puzzle. Especially when I look at the tandem of Jozy Altidore and the recuperating Charlie Davies. Jozy has better feet than old international Brian McBride, but has yet to establish the same consistency and aerial dominance. Charlie provides loads of pace, but still reminds me of the young and swashbuckling Donovan at Japan/Korea 02.

Why am I more excited about this US World Cup team than the last edition in 2006? Am I excited by these players because I am blinded by the flower of youth? Or have I bought into the media hype of “African Americans as Super Athletes?” Is there merit to such stereotypes? More importantly, even assuming such assumptions, in what ways does the US focus on “athleticism” shackle our team to the same either/or – black/white offense of full court press or painful counterattacking?

I have already written on the coming Hispanic wave, but let’s talk about another common racial discourse: the cunning, savvy, and swift pivoting Latin player. Assuming this assumption, can we find room for such “players” in our masculine run-at-all-costs game plan? Should we? Claudio Reyna could pick a pretty pass, but he was curiously absent during the defeat of Portugal in 02. He also got handcuffed for a Ghana goal in 06.

I am sorry if my satirical racialized discourse offended some of the more literal readers – and I know the Claudio jab may stir the petulant “MLS rumors crowd” pot. But I believe two things – first, the expectations and consciousness of the sport has never been higher. And this is good. Secondly, be sure you know what you watch and why. In any sport, we will inevitably marvel at the physical attributes of our idols. But why does the African American provoke a physical focus that reminds me more of “horse racing” than soccer?

An example. Jozy’s goal against Spain was great because he used his body to shield off Capdevila. And I like to think he intentionally placed his shot to wrongfoot Casillas. But my favorite goal from Jozy is his debut for Villareal where he timed his run and positioning to perfection, took a touch, lifted his head, and placed a low bending shot to the far post. I have no doubt every movement was calibrated and, like any good murder, premeditated.

Of course, perhaps this is my cerebral bias. But in terms of the big picture of US soccer and racialized discourse, please think about what you say and why you say it. I am not saying we cannot fawn over a speedy Davies run, just fawn for the right reasons.

To be continued….

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