Home > Fans > Water Cooler > Is soccer ruining America?
Is soccer ruining America?
March 13, 2009 | Water Cooler | Add a comment
I came across an article titled “How Soccer is Ruining America” and was quite astonished after reading it. Not only was it a full out bashing of the sport, but I feel as though the writer is somewhat of a hypocrite considering he has three children that play soccer and are supposedly quite good! I agree with Soccer Dad who says Ignorance Is Ruining America, Not Soccer. What are your thoughts on both sides? Feel free to leave a comment.
Similar Articles
5 Commentators
That was the dumbest article I’ve read in a long, long time. And I read the Boston Globe news and opinion sections regularly.
On April 1, 2009 Chris said
I would call Mr. Webb a moron of gigantic proportions. But he does entitle his tome a jeremiad, which is nothing more than a long winded complaint. So he’s not claiming to be an expert or educated in any way. He’s just stating his opinion; which he’s entitled to, even if he is a gigantic moron!
You get a Red Card mister!!! Now get out. Out I said!
On March 19, 2009 Frollo said
Wow, I don’t even know where to begin. This author has obvioulsy never played or he would know the complexity and strategy it takes to play this game.
1.) Soccer requires coordination and skill to control the ball and send it where it needs to go. It uses the entire body. Using one’s hands is easy, it takes greater skill to control an object with your feet.
2.) Soccer is a very demanding sport. I would like to see a baseball player be able to run continuously for 90+ minutes. Soccer focuses on a team effort with flashes of individual achievement. How is that a wrong?
3.)Foreign invasion? It may be European based but it is a universal game with a universal language. Wars have been put on hold for soccer. Can any other sport make that claim (aside from the Olympics as a whole)?
4.) As for gender, women have only comparatively recently begun to play. It has been a man’s sport for generations. We have had to fight to have the same training and opportunities offered to the male players. And it is very sweet to gloat over a one goal victory. Especially against heated rivals.
What parent reads on the sideline instead of watching and encouraging their child? You don’t have to like the game to pay attention to your kid. The ignorance of this article is just too much to put into words. It is sad that some people will read that article and actually agree with it and deny their kids the opportunity to play the beautiful game.
On March 16, 2009 April said
Ok, this guy who wrote “How Soccer is Ruining America” needs to do his research! I feel like he’s just pulling at straws trying to find something to write about.
1.) Soccer is limiting them to their feet. What about tennis and baseball? Those limit you to your arms. And any soccer player would know that they use their head, chest, legs AND feet, pretty much any part of your body but your arms and hands. And what point is he trying to make with saying how people talk with their hands and use their hands to pray. What does that have to do with any kind of sport?
2.) And he talks about baseball and the individuality of it. But where is the individuality of other sports such as basketball? And I’m pretty sure when a kid has to take a penalty kick, all the same emotions go through them before they take the kick and after, depending if they score or not.
3.) Soccer “a foreign invasion” on America? Hello! America is the melting pot of the world. America would not be the country it is today without al the influences from other countries. Not only sports, but food, music and any other form of culture you can think of.
4.) A sport for girls? For generations women had to fight to even play soccer! Don’t you think there was a reason men didn’t want women to play in the first place? And some women are too smart for baseball, but they do have their own version… softball. And I actually know 3 girls who played football, and now there are women’s only leagues.
I think all around this guy just has tunnel vision. It seems he has his mind made up and doesn’t even consider what soccer has done to help America. Such as all the international games that bring countries together. You don’t normally get that with football, baseball or basketball unless you’re talking about the Olympics or another specific tournament.
And I totally agree that this guy is being a hypocrite since his own kids play and he even says that they come “home from a soccer game a very happy family”.
On March 13, 2009 Danie said
If I had the time or energy to read the whole thing, I would probably have 10 times as many arguments to make as I do after reading his first “point”. All I have to say is, check out this site and tell me that only using your feet is a disability: http://www.rightfooted.com/
On March 13, 2009 Jake said
