Soccer in America fails to make the headlines not just because it’s still a minority sport at the top level, but because its main figures rarely say anything interesting about the game, writes Grahame L. Jones.
Compare that with the rest of the soccer world, where positions of power are occupied by colorful characters “who are not afraid to speak their mind, who voice controversial opinions, who criticize and condemn and stir up the waters. It’s about grabbing attention, not begging for it.”
In the U.S., though, at both league and national team levels, “it’s all about not rocking the boat. Never say anything negative. Never lambaste players for poor performances — and certainly not in public. Never rip into opponents. Never take on the media. Never say anything remotely worthwhile. Just keep it all sweetness and light and hope that the sport flourishes.”