Wow... that is going to take some time answering... in short... I have a theory...
Although the US is composed by a mix of just about everyone in the planet, in the early part of the century, which is when soccer started to become what it is today (i.e. first world cup 1930), at that time, most immigrants to the US did NOT want to display their origins and everyone wanted to "become American" (I know families where although the parents spoke their original languages, yet they did not teach their children so they would not be consider "different"). --inmo quite silly and shortchanged that generation.
In addition, the US had their own sports... baseball, once the most popular sport --but thanks to the greed of the players and owners, which led to strikes, the popularity has waned --but that's another story.
They also had (what they call) foot-ball which I will say in favor of that sport, they have had the right approach as they promoted it as a team sport and their mental attitude is a great source of success (remember Vince Lombardi? "Winning is not important, it is the ONLY thing").
This against the "Olympic motto" of ... Baron Pierre de Coubertain: "The important thing is not to win but to compete" --Which personally I think is bullshit, as to why go to the great length of preparing yourself to... compete? ... Give me a break, I want to win !! That’s why I would do it.
Anyway... under that scenario... WHO would have dare to say... "Hey guys, I know this sport, called... er... fútbol (or fussball, or fútebol, or whatever), wanna play?"
At best, they would look strangely at the guy as if he was from Mars, (or Italy -gg), and at worst, they would report it to the government for treason as an unpatriotic red-coat -gg
So no one really played... everyone else was busy playing football, basketball or baseball (the most popular).
Only a few hard-core soccer nutz in the East coast (of the US) and a few others in Seattle who formed back yard leagues and played a little. In those days, actually Canada would have better soccer players due to the more openly accepted European ancestry, particularly English (back in those days the French Canadians were not much of an influence -gg)
In those days... The Mexican team ruled the CONCACAF, and it was the source of incredible positive feed to their ego, as they would absolutely beat the shit out of both the Canadians, and the Americans... Particularly, they were proud of beating the Americans, as they felt it was overdue revenge for having lost all that real estate to the "gringos"... and they also looked with content upon the little Central American and Caribbean teams and discounted them as mere procedural inconveniences.
We all know how dramatic things have changed.
But back to American soccer... During the 1970's as the many of the great Brazilian and European players were looking at retirement, someone asked the very same question you did.... and started promoting soccer in the US, forming what today has become the current professional soccer league... Remember Cosmos? The only other team where Pelé played (other than Santos --San Paulo and the Brazilian national team) and others including Grand Pa' Beckenbauer -gg
For years, they struggled and attempting to "transplant" a bunch of old fogies and make them the creators of a new soccer generation amongst Americans was not going to be that easy...
Still, American Foot-ball players would call them soccer player sissies (until a few soccer players who had played Rugby league told these "macho-men" to take their protective gear off and come and play a real fast game for men) -ggg slowly, they quiet down.
Enter --The Soccer Mom--
Over the years, somehow, the sport did survive and slowly began to creep in all junior and high schools... and... With the very valuable help of the soccer moms... hauling both boys and girls to millions of games throughout the nation, very slowly and in a very stealth way (since to this day, many unbelieving Americans refuse to acknowledge the popularity of the sport), they managed to create what they have produce in the form of the USA team...
The accomplishment is, without doubt amazing... in just a few years, from a laughable amateurish team that would get plastered by Mexico, at least 3 x 0 most of the time... (And a few others 6 x 0 or so) to a team that handed the Mexican's heads in a platter at the tune of 2 x 0 IN A WORLD CUP in front of millions.... AND still alive in the tournament
Not to mention the girlz.... (Which I am sure, is a source of both inspiration and pain in the rear end), since the ladies have won the corresponding World Cup, not once but twice).... and in the process, created an incredible controversy about the capabilities of women in sports and in general the independence of women at large... remember this....
fortunecity.co.uk
fortunecity.co.uk
I remember VERY WELL !! I simply LOVED how Brandy Chastain, single handedly sent a powerful message to the provincial mind of the all too puritanical media and macho-controlled US sporting authorities that... NO, taking my shirt was not a sexual act; it was an expression of jubilation for winning the frigging world cup you morons....
The ones with the sexually twisted mind were... yes, you guessed it all the old farts of the media and sporting authorities that nearly had a heart attack for looking at a beautiful woman take her shirt off (still with a bra on... rats ! -gg)
So... fast forward to the present and finally... what was needed was a generation or two of millions of rug rats being exposed to this great sport...
Now we are witnessing the result of the combination of the effort by millions of soccer moms and what the system of the USA can accomplish. I assure you, the task is not over yet, and I am sure, in a few years, I will see the USA team winner of the World Cup. I am as certain of it as I was certain that the US Hockey team would win the gold medal one day.
So... that's the short version...(of course, it is my opinion)
The long version and far more detailed one is here:
sover.net |
