How Soccer Explains the World-Stoichkov/DCU Reference

[JoeW]

I haven't seen this anyplace else on BS so I thought I'd mention it here. Franklin Foer (who is local) has written a book entitled How Soccer Explains the World. It's a look at globalization and why it has failed to work out like many expected it to do so. But it explores this hypothesis by looking in detail at several different soccer "case studies" (like: the sectarianism of the Old Firm, the corrupt club directors of Brazil, the impact of the Belgrade Red Star supports in both ethnic cleansing and then removing Slobo). It's a fascinating read just for the details on various soccer/football details (such as Italian football and Collina as a media star).

At anyrate, in his chapter on Barcelona (and how their fans tend to turn their hatred/passion inwardly rather than picking fights with fans from other teams) he looks at Stoichkov. This includes a very fascinating look at his attempt to interview Hristo when he was here with United (and Stoichkov's attempt to extort money from Foer in order to do the interview).

There's also a paragraph or two about the Honduras-USA qualifier at RFK in the last Hexagonal. And for those of us who continually bemoan why there are so many soccer bashers in the US Media (Kornheiser, Rome, Fischer, etc.), he's got an interesting chapter looking at soccer coverage in the USA and his theory about why we're the only country that really has substantial amounts of "push-back" to the sport.

[albionroad]

I just finished reading the book yesterday, and would also recommend it. A really enjoyable read. I'm not sure how well the book backed up his globalization theories but it was really enjoyable anyway. Stoitchkov definitely comes out looking like an a$$!

[Fuegofan]

Stoitchkov definitely comes out looking like an a$$!
Which is pretty on target.

[tmas]

I have to agree, while he was here I really began to see the guy was just plain nasty. His short-lived career here at United was something I don't want DCU to go through again. I mean come on, yelling at the ball kids because they gave the opposing goalie the ball to fast? Way to make them never want to come to a game again.

[JoeSoccerFan]

I haven't seen this anyplace else on BS so I thought I'd mention it here.

Agree with you synompsis - (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3847269&postcount=49)

[Peter Bonetti]

I haven't seen this anyplace else on BS so I thought I'd mention it here. Franklin Foer (who is local) has written a book entitled How Soccer Explains the World. It's a look at globalization and why it has failed to work out like many expected it to do so. But it explores this hypothesis by looking in detail at several different soccer "case studies" (like: the sectarianism of the Old Firm, the corrupt club directors of Brazil, the impact of the Belgrade Red Star supports in both ethnic cleansing and then removing Slobo). It's a fascinating read just for the details on various soccer/football details (such as Italian football and Collina as a media star).

At anyrate, in his chapter on Barcelona (and how their fans tend to turn their hatred/passion inwardly rather than picking fights with fans from other teams) he looks at Stoichkov. This includes a very fascinating look at his attempt to interview Hristo when he was here with United (and Stoichkov's attempt to extort money from Foer in order to do the interview).

There's also a paragraph or two about the Honduras-USA qualifier at RFK in the last Hexagonal. And for those of us who continually bemoan why there are so many soccer bashers in the US Media (Kornheiser, Rome, Fischer, etc.), he's got an interesting chapter looking at soccer coverage in the USA and his theory about why we're the only country that really has substantial amounts of "push-back" to the sport.

I was lucky enough to meet Franklin Foer at a DC United game (the one vs the Galaxy where Freddy scored on that great individual effort). He was a very nice, unassuming type of guy. I had very low expectations of the book, but I couldn't put it down once I started it. Foer has an instinct for finding the coolest, most fascinating stories. The one example that comes to mind is the team from the former Yugoslovia that qualified for the Champions League by bullying and threatening the other team's players not to score on them. At one point they locked a team's leading scorer in a garage until the game was over. When you consider that the team's owner was responsible for thousand of deaths, a threat to not "play well against us or else" was no small threat.

On a side note, Sports Illustrated rated it as one of the best sports books of the year. I recommend it highly to anyone. I liked it for the same reasons that I enjoyed reading Friday Night Lights 10 years ago. I had no idea how out of control important high school football was throughout parts of Texas. After reading How Soccer Explains the World, you really get an idea for just how important soccer is in cultures throughout the world. Great stuff. :)

[Colonial717]

Its a very good read and quite interesting. I really liked the last chapter on soccer's place in the American "culture war." Not really as cool or neat a story as some of the others but a really good attempt to put soccer in its cultural and historical background as far as the US goes. I don't know if I completely agree with it all but I think it is a fascinating subject and was glad that he tried to tackle it. I would definatly recommend the book and already have to many of my soccer playing friends.