Comments on: An Interview with Steven Wells http://www.epltalk.com/an-interview-with-steven-wells/4242 Daily News & Analysis of the English Premier League Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:52:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: John Pepple http://www.epltalk.com/an-interview-with-steven-wells/4242#comment-34643 John Pepple Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:22:05 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/an-interview-with-steven-wells/4242#comment-34643 Is there a left-right split in soccer here in the U.S? I've often looked for it, but haven't really found it. Compare the bumper stickers of the cars at a soccer game with the cars at a Whole Foods store. There's no overlap. The people I see at soccer games here in the U.S. -- and I started going to games in 1976 -- seem very middle of the road to me. Plus, there's an entire educational movement -- multiculturalism -- which is leftist and is devoted to getting Americans to be more respectful of other cultures. So far, none of their efforts include getting Americans to be more respectful of soccer. If neo-cons attack soccer, then most leftists, especially the older ones, just don't care.<br><br>There is a generational split, however. If you were born in, say, 1950, then you almost certainly are not a soccer fan, but if you were born in 1960, you might be a fan, and the chances go up for every decade after that. Is there a left-right split in soccer here in the U.S? I've often looked for it, but haven't really found it. Compare the bumper stickers of the cars at a soccer game with the cars at a Whole Foods store. There's no overlap. The people I see at soccer games here in the U.S. — and I started going to games in 1976 — seem very middle of the road to me. Plus, there's an entire educational movement — multiculturalism — which is leftist and is devoted to getting Americans to be more respectful of other cultures. So far, none of their efforts include getting Americans to be more respectful of soccer. If neo-cons attack soccer, then most leftists, especially the older ones, just don't care.

There is a generational split, however. If you were born in, say, 1950, then you almost certainly are not a soccer fan, but if you were born in 1960, you might be a fan, and the chances go up for every decade after that.

]]> By: Palmettosoccer http://www.epltalk.com/an-interview-with-steven-wells/4242#comment-34581 Palmettosoccer Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:30:57 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/an-interview-with-steven-wells/4242#comment-34581 The United States' soccer culture is vastly underestimated, perhaps because much of it flies below the radar of the media. However, in my home state of South Carolina, kids play club soccer year during fall and spring season and fill in the gaps with indoor soccer, futsal, and 3 v 3. Perhaps they are not playing in neighborhood pickup games, but when our club sponsored weekly futsal sessions, without coaches, permanent teams, or posted results during the winter break, about 50 kids signed up to play. These kids know EPL and Serie A teams, and follow their seasons. Outstanding talent is displayed regularly. Adults play regularly in organized leagues and weekly pick up games. Is there room for improvement? Sure, but by following the establishment sports media in this country, you will not get an accurate picture of U.S. soccer. The United States' soccer culture is vastly underestimated, perhaps because much of it flies below the radar of the media. However, in my home state of South Carolina, kids play club soccer year during fall and spring season and fill in the gaps with indoor soccer, futsal, and 3 v 3. Perhaps they are not playing in neighborhood pickup games, but when our club sponsored weekly futsal sessions, without coaches, permanent teams, or posted results during the winter break, about 50 kids signed up to play. These kids know EPL and Serie A teams, and follow their seasons. Outstanding talent is displayed regularly. Adults play regularly in organized leagues and weekly pick up games. Is there room for improvement? Sure, but by following the establishment sports media in this country, you will not get an accurate picture of U.S. soccer.

]]> By: Stan http://www.epltalk.com/an-interview-with-steven-wells/4242#comment-34556 Stan Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:44:44 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/an-interview-with-steven-wells/4242#comment-34556 I have been a coach and parent in the Dallas area for over 25 years. We have a great soccer community that allows players to participate year round, even in the extreme hot and cold seasons due to multiple indoor facilities. The early influence of English soccer due to the old NASL Dallas Tornadoes has been supplemented by the large influx of Hispanic people in the last 20 years. The result is a culturally diverse game that crosses ethnic, color and financial backgrounds. <br>I have had one son graduate college while playing soccer in the Ivy and currently have another playing in the ACC. I cannot imagine a better area to have raised children. While it may not match the professional acadamies of Europe they touched the ball everyday, were exposed to great coaches and played on multipe teams with very diverse styles all the way from indoor hispanic leagues to playing with the US Youth National teams. My family watches European football weekly and our conversations generally cover the top European games over the NFL or NBA. Walk in any shopping mall in Dallas and you will American kids wearing an Man U, Barcelona or Chivas jersey. There should be great expectations for soccer in this country due to the continued migration of Hispanics into the US (Texas and California- two of the most populated states will be predominantly Hispanic within 20 years). That coupled with with the already strong youth programs established in most major cities will see a continued growth in popularity of the sport. <br>For a moment of venting, it is almost comical to see the generally under-educated, right winged Republican right, panic seeing their world collapse with a black president, and new soccer teams both recreational and professional proliferate in their insular backwoods world such as John. My son's college soccer team plays in front of crowds that surpass the crowd of my college football division II university. Times are changing. I have been a coach and parent in the Dallas area for over 25 years. We have a great soccer community that allows players to participate year round, even in the extreme hot and cold seasons due to multiple indoor facilities. The early influence of English soccer due to the old NASL Dallas Tornadoes has been supplemented by the large influx of Hispanic people in the last 20 years. The result is a culturally diverse game that crosses ethnic, color and financial backgrounds.
I have had one son graduate college while playing soccer in the Ivy and currently have another playing in the ACC. I cannot imagine a better area to have raised children. While it may not match the professional acadamies of Europe they touched the ball everyday, were exposed to great coaches and played on multipe teams with very diverse styles all the way from indoor hispanic leagues to playing with the US Youth National teams. My family watches European football weekly and our conversations generally cover the top European games over the NFL or NBA. Walk in any shopping mall in Dallas and you will American kids wearing an Man U, Barcelona or Chivas jersey. There should be great expectations for soccer in this country due to the continued migration of Hispanics into the US (Texas and California- two of the most populated states will be predominantly Hispanic within 20 years). That coupled with with the already strong youth programs established in most major cities will see a continued growth in popularity of the sport.
For a moment of venting, it is almost comical to see the generally under-educated, right winged Republican right, panic seeing their world collapse with a black president, and new soccer teams both recreational and professional proliferate in their insular backwoods world such as John. My son's college soccer team plays in front of crowds that surpass the crowd of my college football division II university. Times are changing.

]]> By: Chuck Smith http://www.epltalk.com/an-interview-with-steven-wells/4242#comment-34555 Chuck Smith Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:27:34 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/an-interview-with-steven-wells/4242#comment-34555 A good interview... aside from the language.<br><br>I do have a couple of questions, being your everyday average soccer hating right-wing idiot American . <br><br>Why do so many people seem to hate Beckham and why does every European assume that all Americans hate soccer?<br><br>I grew up loving basketball and football as most American kids do but I have always hated baseball. Suprisingly to me and appalling to many of my friends, I now will often chose to watch an EPL game over an NCAA Basketball game. American football still rules when the right teams are playing. I'm sorry.<br><br>My kids play and I coach. We have season tickets to FC Dallas now, solely because I wanted to see Baeckham play. My 6 year old has a Beckham jersey. Both boys have ManU and Inter Milan jerseys. I am certain that I am not alone in this regard. <br><br>Beckham's presense in MLS and my children's participation at the youth level has made a legitimate fan of the game out of me. Again, I am certain that I am not alone. <br><br>Soccer will never rise to the level of the NFL, NBA or MLB in this country but with over 300 million people it doesn't have to in order to be successful. More people will attend/watch those leagues and more kids will spontantiously play those games in the school yard for years to come but the seeds of soccer have been planted and the roots are becoming well set. It is only a matter of time before the grass begins to green.<br><br>I often read various opions that lament about the US game being too structured and that games are not played just for fun. Unfortunately, this is true of virtually all sports and just old fashion 'play' in general. You won't catch kids playing football or baseball in the yard or at the park the way we did as kids anymore. A 3v3 basketball game is even hard to get organized in many neighborhoods anymore. Even an old fashioned game of hide and seek or kick the can (I'm dating myself) is nearly gone. Play Station and the internet rule the day now. Our society has just become that way, for better or for worse.<br><br>The American sporting landscape will be far different for soccer 1-2-3 generations from now than it is today for many reasons but some patient support from England and other soccer crazed nations would help expedite this transition. A good interview… aside from the language.

I do have a couple of questions, being your everyday average soccer hating right-wing idiot American .

Why do so many people seem to hate Beckham and why does every European assume that all Americans hate soccer?

I grew up loving basketball and football as most American kids do but I have always hated baseball. Suprisingly to me and appalling to many of my friends, I now will often chose to watch an EPL game over an NCAA Basketball game. American football still rules when the right teams are playing. I'm sorry.

My kids play and I coach. We have season tickets to FC Dallas now, solely because I wanted to see Baeckham play. My 6 year old has a Beckham jersey. Both boys have ManU and Inter Milan jerseys. I am certain that I am not alone in this regard.

Beckham's presense in MLS and my children's participation at the youth level has made a legitimate fan of the game out of me. Again, I am certain that I am not alone.

Soccer will never rise to the level of the NFL, NBA or MLB in this country but with over 300 million people it doesn't have to in order to be successful. More people will attend/watch those leagues and more kids will spontantiously play those games in the school yard for years to come but the seeds of soccer have been planted and the roots are becoming well set. It is only a matter of time before the grass begins to green.

I often read various opions that lament about the US game being too structured and that games are not played just for fun. Unfortunately, this is true of virtually all sports and just old fashion 'play' in general. You won't catch kids playing football or baseball in the yard or at the park the way we did as kids anymore. A 3v3 basketball game is even hard to get organized in many neighborhoods anymore. Even an old fashioned game of hide and seek or kick the can (I'm dating myself) is nearly gone. Play Station and the internet rule the day now. Our society has just become that way, for better or for worse.

The American sporting landscape will be far different for soccer 1-2-3 generations from now than it is today for many reasons but some patient support from England and other soccer crazed nations would help expedite this transition.

]]> By: ART http://www.epltalk.com/an-interview-with-steven-wells/4242#comment-34550 ART Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:38:00 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/an-interview-with-steven-wells/4242#comment-34550 Steven, I can't tell you how many times I have made these exact same points to anyone who will listen. I am a long time American supporter of soccer, and I think you've been reading my mind all this time. Thank you for expressing it in such a well-written, intelligent manner. Steven, I can't tell you how many times I have made these exact same points to anyone who will listen. I am a long time American supporter of soccer, and I think you've been reading my mind all this time. Thank you for expressing it in such a well-written, intelligent manner.

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