Can you give us examples of crazy things that happen in soccer, like coaches getting shot and fans going berserk?
IÆve been getting asked such questions a lot as the mainstream media call for opinions on the World Cup.
I say: If a billion people were deeply involved in badminton, youÆd find myriad examples of oddball behavior related to that sport. Fact is, soccer is the worldÆs most popular sport, and the world can be peculiar.
If they keep pressing, IÆll mention that Pele inspired a civil-war cease-fire between Nigeria and Biafra. Or that the Argentine guerrillas, the Montoneros, called a truce so as not to disturb the 1978 World Cup.
They can dig up unflattering stories themselves.
Next question:
How come the whole world loves soccer, but Americans donÆt?
TheyÆre looking, I assume, for some silly theories: Americans only like sports that allow hand use, or itÆs too socialist for them.
Bah humbug.
First of all, itÆs pretty darn popular. More Americans play it than baseball or football. Every major soccer event in the United States draws huge crowds ù whether the media notice or not.
Besides, itÆs no sin not to like soccer. A lot of Brazilians donÆt like it, just as many Americans can go without baseball or basketball.
So will the World Cup spark more interest in the game?
Now weÆre getting somewhere. We soccer people do notice how World Cups edge the game further into mainstream, and we tend to speculate on how that will impact the gameÆs future.
Most important, a World Cup gets people with some interest in soccer to become even more involved.
World Cup excitement can turn participants into fans. It makes casual players passionate. Every time weÆve surveyed U.S. national team players on childhood World Cup memories, they cite a profound influence. Commonly, theyÆll mention a foreign star they tried to emulate after watching his World Cup feats.
And this World Cup is indeed special, because for the first time a U.S. team is providing a substantial amount of highlight footage.
by Soccer America Executive Editor Mike Woitalla