For the past several weeks since the end of the World Cup soccer coverage has returned to the dark ages once again. Relegated to thirty second mentions on Sportscenter and dedicated blogs (such as this one) because, as so many have felt the need to tell us, soccer is just a niche sport. Well that's well and good but us fans want more. We want our sport to be taken seriously alongside the big four in the United States. But in order to do that we need to break out of the "sports niche" genre of athletics.
How does soccer move from the same breath with lacrosse and curling and become a "major sport"?
1. Television: This is something that the MLS is already working on. Their new contract with ESPN/ABC will kick money back into the league (I believe this is the first contract in which the MLS will be paid). This isn't something that needs to always happen on a national scale either, local or region broadcasts of games will get channel surfers to take notice and get new fans to the teams. Stations such as Fox Sports Net air rerun after rerun some days, why not air games on the region that teams are in. Another move that should be made is to get Fox Soccer Channel into a more basic cable package. Fox already owns a specialty station in most basic packages (Speed Channel) I can see FSC being in the very same line if not even more succesful than Speed.
2. Stop Hyping Individual Players: Soccer is not the NBA. The game is extremely team oriented and can rarely be broken down into 1v1 situations. When it happens it is amazing to see, don't get me wrong, but in basketball it happens nine times out of ten possesions so that kind of advertising works. In soccer there are more than twice as many players on the field and all of them have a role to play. The colors ad that is running now treads a thin line between advertising solitary players and their teams/league as a whole. Advertise the fact that DC United has scored the most goals in the league, not a pubescent teen who has only one of them. Freddy Adu is a subject who deserves a post all on his own (and will get one on here soon), but he is not the only player in the league. Unfortunately some of the best players in the league are not American or have names that make them sound foreign (Jaime Moreno, Dwayne DeRosario, Ante Razov, etc). The bigwigs think that we'll turn on these players or not want them to succeed in the US if they aren't the stereotypical "all American boys". This type of racism disgusts me and embarasses me as a fan.
3. Provide for the media: Working with the Minnesota Thunder this summer I have first hand knowledge of how much better a broadcast can be when the teams willingly provide as much information on their squads as possible. I've also seen that the local papers use press releases from the team nearly verbatim as their match write ups. Therefore I can only imagine that the more a team releases to the media regarding match results, record breaking preformances, transfers, etc, the more information that gets printed and into the hands of the fans. The more info that's out there the quicker we'll move from a niche sport to a full fledged summer season.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
When Did We Become the Cubs?
Seriously! I waited two days to calm down before commenting on the debacle that was the ending to the Atlanta match. 4 goals in the final 8 minutes of play saw the Thunder go from a probable 1-0 victory to a 1-1 draw. Then a 2-1 lead that looked like the final to a 2-2 draw, then in the final seconds of stoppage time a 3-2 defeat. It was sickening to watch everything slide out of their fingers so late in the game.
A missed clearance from a normally solid Dustin Brannan gave the Silverbacks their first goal. So eight minutes to go, score tied at a goal apeice, not terrible right? We can still salvage a point at home. Then in comes Ansou Toure. Someone that I've never seen, but heard nothing but praise for. So minutes after Toure checks in a pass from Leo Gibson goes too far for Knox, but Toure out sprints a defender to the ball despite the defender having a solid twenty yard head start. He took the ball down to the end line and pounded it right at the keeper. Not sure how the shot found a way into the net, but it did and in the 89th minute the Thunder go ahead 2-1. I'm going nuts in the booth. Incredible run of play leads to an amazing goal and most of all a lead.
Atlanta takes the kickoff runs down near the endline, sends in a cross that one of the defenders just misses with a boot, and Joe Warren can't grab. It sails back post where Maurice Hughes Leaps in the air and volleys it into the roof of the net with the outside of his foot.
That's jubilation to utter dispair in 60 seconds...BUT WAIT theres more.
The Thunder turn over the kickoff (yeah first clue this was going down hill) and concede a corner which is subsequently punched in for the winning goal. Yes, you read that right, punched. As in with a fist. Goal stood without discussion and the ref blew an end to three minutes of stoppage time after about 1:45.
Adding this latest fiasco to the previous loss against Charlston it leavs me qurious as to how we find a way to lose next. To go from scrapping out unlikely wins against MLS sides last year to this is painful.
A missed clearance from a normally solid Dustin Brannan gave the Silverbacks their first goal. So eight minutes to go, score tied at a goal apeice, not terrible right? We can still salvage a point at home. Then in comes Ansou Toure. Someone that I've never seen, but heard nothing but praise for. So minutes after Toure checks in a pass from Leo Gibson goes too far for Knox, but Toure out sprints a defender to the ball despite the defender having a solid twenty yard head start. He took the ball down to the end line and pounded it right at the keeper. Not sure how the shot found a way into the net, but it did and in the 89th minute the Thunder go ahead 2-1. I'm going nuts in the booth. Incredible run of play leads to an amazing goal and most of all a lead.
Atlanta takes the kickoff runs down near the endline, sends in a cross that one of the defenders just misses with a boot, and Joe Warren can't grab. It sails back post where Maurice Hughes Leaps in the air and volleys it into the roof of the net with the outside of his foot.
That's jubilation to utter dispair in 60 seconds...BUT WAIT theres more.
The Thunder turn over the kickoff (yeah first clue this was going down hill) and concede a corner which is subsequently punched in for the winning goal. Yes, you read that right, punched. As in with a fist. Goal stood without discussion and the ref blew an end to three minutes of stoppage time after about 1:45.
Adding this latest fiasco to the previous loss against Charlston it leavs me qurious as to how we find a way to lose next. To go from scrapping out unlikely wins against MLS sides last year to this is painful.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Yes, it's really that bad.
Yesterday in the 100 degree heat I played in a game with my CSC rec league team and grabbed myself a hat trick. Went from that right to work and bragged a little about my exploits to a fellow employee who replied with this:
Sean: How good are you at soccer?
Me: I do ok in the rec league stuff.
Sean: You ever thought about maybe playing pro?
Yeah, that's right. He asked me, a kid who only started playing soccer at the level I do two years ago, if I could play at a professional level. No one would ever ask that if I were out in the street playing basketball, or street hockey, or football. But so little is known about profesional soccer here in the US that my co-worker (and I'm sure he's not the only one out there) thought that anyone could get to that level with ease. That's scary. The MLS is growing, but with only two teams in the midwest we seemed to be looked over yet again, especially when you look at the lack of coverage that the Thunder get as the only USL team between the Oregon and New York.
Lightning Lose in PKs to Charlotte
The Minnesota Lightning's incredible first season has come to an end. Last night they lost in penalty kicks to Charlotte. The loss brought the inagural campaign to an end, but the memories will keep us through until the next W-League season kicks off (especially since we'd all like to forget much of the Thunder's season this year). Who can forget goalkeeper Joanna Haig punting the ball nearly the length of the field for Holly Gault to knock home, getting an assist in the very first game for the franchise. That 4-1 win set the tone for a season that was truely special. All Minnesota soccer fans should be looking forward to next season with hopes of a regular season division title and another shot at the playoffs.
Ugly Loss at St James Park
American star DeMarcus Beasley was on the bench as PSV Eindhoven visited the Toon. IT was an ugly debut for new signing Damien Duff as Newcastle went down 2-0 before the break and gave up another quickly afterwards. Down 3-0 I shut down the match tracker. I couldn't bring myself to watch any more. Turns out we came back with shots from Ameobi and Luque to bring it to 3-2. Bad thing is we looked like shit. Good thing is that the two guys who will need to put the ball in the onion bag for the first half of the season (and then again when Owen goes back on the bench from another injury) found the back of the net. Ameobi is looking down right stellar so far this year too. I thought after Alan retired and Chopra moved on we'd be thin up front. Then when Owen went down I figured we were in for a long season, but if Shola can keep this form rolling we may be alright.
More Toon News
Former Arsenal star Sol Campbell wants a move to St James Park. Or at least that is the rumor.
Sean: How good are you at soccer?
Me: I do ok in the rec league stuff.
Sean: You ever thought about maybe playing pro?
Yeah, that's right. He asked me, a kid who only started playing soccer at the level I do two years ago, if I could play at a professional level. No one would ever ask that if I were out in the street playing basketball, or street hockey, or football. But so little is known about profesional soccer here in the US that my co-worker (and I'm sure he's not the only one out there) thought that anyone could get to that level with ease. That's scary. The MLS is growing, but with only two teams in the midwest we seemed to be looked over yet again, especially when you look at the lack of coverage that the Thunder get as the only USL team between the Oregon and New York.
Lightning Lose in PKs to Charlotte
The Minnesota Lightning's incredible first season has come to an end. Last night they lost in penalty kicks to Charlotte. The loss brought the inagural campaign to an end, but the memories will keep us through until the next W-League season kicks off (especially since we'd all like to forget much of the Thunder's season this year). Who can forget goalkeeper Joanna Haig punting the ball nearly the length of the field for Holly Gault to knock home, getting an assist in the very first game for the franchise. That 4-1 win set the tone for a season that was truely special. All Minnesota soccer fans should be looking forward to next season with hopes of a regular season division title and another shot at the playoffs.
Ugly Loss at St James Park
American star DeMarcus Beasley was on the bench as PSV Eindhoven visited the Toon. IT was an ugly debut for new signing Damien Duff as Newcastle went down 2-0 before the break and gave up another quickly afterwards. Down 3-0 I shut down the match tracker. I couldn't bring myself to watch any more. Turns out we came back with shots from Ameobi and Luque to bring it to 3-2. Bad thing is we looked like shit. Good thing is that the two guys who will need to put the ball in the onion bag for the first half of the season (and then again when Owen goes back on the bench from another injury) found the back of the net. Ameobi is looking down right stellar so far this year too. I thought after Alan retired and Chopra moved on we'd be thin up front. Then when Owen went down I figured we were in for a long season, but if Shola can keep this form rolling we may be alright.
More Toon News
Former Arsenal star Sol Campbell wants a move to St James Park. Or at least that is the rumor.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Getting This Off My Chest
The Minnesota Lightning should be Minnesota's biggest succes story this summer. A team that was formed, what? Six months ago? Less than a year to be sure. They make the playoffs by finishing in second place in their confrence...by one point...on the last match off the regular season (Thank you Cincinatti). I can't recall a franchise in any sport that qualified for the playoffs in their first season of play. It just doesn't happen, well unless you're a small market women's soccer program I guess. So in the midst of the Twins amazing midsummer run how much coverage did the Lightning get on this stunning achievment? Here I'll repost the combined coverage of the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, and television news outlets here in the Twin Cities:
" "
That's right. Not even the three sentance match writeup that the Trib usually has following a Thunder or Lightning game. I'm not asking for wall to wall coverage of the team, or even anything approaching the great stuff we had for the world cup. But would a picture on the sports page instead of another article about how the Lynx failed to win...AGAIN be too much to ask. Apparantly so.
And another thing...
After last night's dubious PK call that took a well earned point away from the Minnesota Thunder it makes three bad ones on the season. Maybe my rose tinted glasses are blinding me since they all have gone against my team.
First their was Dustin Brannan's red card for taking down a Vancouver player as the last man between the attacker and goal (I was pissed about this for a bit too, but have since changed my mind) the ref made the penatly call from the other side of the halfline and ignored his linesman's position on the field. When we went to the pitch after the match there was still a pretty clear indentation from where the players landed...three yards clear of the top of the box.
Second was in the 4-1 rout of Romario, Zinho, and the rest of Miami FC. The call on the penalty was alright as the player was clearly taken down, but the throw in was taken from the high school lines, THREE YARDS INTO THE FIELD OF PLAY. The linesman (Flat Top) was waving his flag like he was swatting a fly but the center ref waved him off.
And after last night's debacle I'm left wondering if a keeper can try to make a play at the ball in the box or if the USL rules indicate that only defenders may use their hands. I've seen high school referees better and more consistent that what we have working the pitches across the USL. It's disgraceful.
Parting shots:
Just remembered hearing this from a dirty scouse this morning, but apparantly a group of Columbus area Liverpool fans brought a banner reading "Welcome neighbors of the five time European Champions" which, unsurprisingly, started a bit of a scuffle in the stands. Who said American footy fans don't know how to get people riled up.
News links of the day:
Ruud passes his physical, will join Real Madrid on Friday
Newcastle get Ventspils (Latvia) in UEFA Cup Second Qualifying Round
Scousers to travel to Israel for Champions League tie. (Full Draw)
Cork City will play AC Milan in the third qualifying round if they can overcome a 1-0 aggregate against Red Star Belgrade. And if Milan is allowed to remain in the competition.
That's all for now.
" "
That's right. Not even the three sentance match writeup that the Trib usually has following a Thunder or Lightning game. I'm not asking for wall to wall coverage of the team, or even anything approaching the great stuff we had for the world cup. But would a picture on the sports page instead of another article about how the Lynx failed to win...AGAIN be too much to ask. Apparantly so.
And another thing...
After last night's dubious PK call that took a well earned point away from the Minnesota Thunder it makes three bad ones on the season. Maybe my rose tinted glasses are blinding me since they all have gone against my team.
First their was Dustin Brannan's red card for taking down a Vancouver player as the last man between the attacker and goal (I was pissed about this for a bit too, but have since changed my mind) the ref made the penatly call from the other side of the halfline and ignored his linesman's position on the field. When we went to the pitch after the match there was still a pretty clear indentation from where the players landed...three yards clear of the top of the box.
Second was in the 4-1 rout of Romario, Zinho, and the rest of Miami FC. The call on the penalty was alright as the player was clearly taken down, but the throw in was taken from the high school lines, THREE YARDS INTO THE FIELD OF PLAY. The linesman (Flat Top) was waving his flag like he was swatting a fly but the center ref waved him off.
And after last night's debacle I'm left wondering if a keeper can try to make a play at the ball in the box or if the USL rules indicate that only defenders may use their hands. I've seen high school referees better and more consistent that what we have working the pitches across the USL. It's disgraceful.
Parting shots:
Just remembered hearing this from a dirty scouse this morning, but apparantly a group of Columbus area Liverpool fans brought a banner reading "Welcome neighbors of the five time European Champions" which, unsurprisingly, started a bit of a scuffle in the stands. Who said American footy fans don't know how to get people riled up.
News links of the day:
Ruud passes his physical, will join Real Madrid on Friday
Newcastle get Ventspils (Latvia) in UEFA Cup Second Qualifying Round
Scousers to travel to Israel for Champions League tie. (Full Draw)
Cork City will play AC Milan in the third qualifying round if they can overcome a 1-0 aggregate against Red Star Belgrade. And if Milan is allowed to remain in the competition.
That's all for now.
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