Anyone else have some mixed feelings about the bandwagon riders that we are starting to see? Suddenly every talking head on TV is a Soccer fan. Suddenly every newspapar loves soccer. This is good in a way, but also bad and we have see it before to some extent. This would be great if it was long term, but if the team fails to keep winning, these people will dump the team and soccer quicker than you can say Vuvuzela. I dunno, just something about seeing soccer being talked about on the "Good Morning Americas" doesn't feel right. While I feel that this is a great moment, that the US team has given America a reason to unite and feel good, I hope the people tuning in for the first time on Saturday realize that we aren't expected to win the whole tournament and that its not always gonna be as thrilling as it was the last 2 games. I guess ultimately the best thing about this is that out of the millions that suddenly become "fans" a few will continue to be fans after the thrill is gone.
Nah, happens everywhere in every sport, and overall the added interest (no matter how long or to what degree it lasts) is a good thing.
Considering a large portion of the bigsoccer community are 2006 world cup era soccer converts I'd say it's a good thing. It's all about coverage, since ESPN is giving this coverage people are actually seeing the games. And when people actually watch the games they become hooked, at least a large number of them. You're crazy to be hating on the bandwagon. Do you know how much higher the premier league ratings are going to be this season on ESPN? Just wait, I wouldn't be surprised to see something like we've been seeing with this world cup. Maybe 60-70% higher ratings for the EPL on ESPN.
Bring 'em on, I think the long term, long range goal is to get more young athletes to see playing soccer as something just as worthwhile as football, basketball, baseball, etc. They see Donovan etc getting so much attention and glory and it gives them something to look up to. The Meola/Ramos generation always said they got interested in soccer by Pele's time with the Cosmos...if we can get a new generation excited by this 2010 WC run, I'm all for it.
Umm, you might be a ratard. Americans love a winner. - Gen. George S. Patton Chances are if they are watching, they are sports fans in general and will realize this. There are boring basketball, football, and especially baseball games. Good, you have developed into a mature freely thinking individual. Seriously though, this is nothing but a good thing. I have friends that could have cared less about soccer before the WC that took off work to watch yesterday.
Meh, we've all jumped on the bandwagon at some point, I did in 1994 when the WC came stateside. As long as the "cherry's" are respectful of the sport, it's all good, it's when people make ignorant remarks that I get a case of the a$$. Will people follow thru with their interest? Who knows; people get into the Olympics and swimming for 10 minutes. As someone else said, I think ESPN should really "pump" the Premiership this fall because the ratings could sky-rocket, especially when the teams with Americans are aired.
It's fantastic and exactly how it's supposed to be. This thread is ridiculous. It's the World Cup, ffs. Do you feel a little less special because others are joining your little club? Not quite as hip, underground and alternative? Hating that mainstream feeling? To point out the obvious, this is the most popular sport in the world. It's for everybody. The more the merrier! (Even the moronic sports talking heads who are struggling to say intelligent things about the sport; They'll just have to learn.)
It's all a good thing. Even when the USA continues to advance it's too late for some of the younger ones, because like a drug they are hooked. That match, that goal can't be taken away from the new kids/people watching. They'll come to do research and demand more in coverage, buy jerseys, and talk the talk. It's all good. Even listening to Joe Scarborough, admitting that he is relatively new to the sport he has the passion in his voice, although admitted that MLS didn't do it for him which I can't comprehend. Just as TabLalas wrote, we were all jumping on the wagon at one point. This is a new religion for many and they aren't going to drop it anytime soon. So pile in everyone, the bandwagon has a lot of space.
I guess you guys are right....and tomorrow morning we can catch Donovan cooking breakfast with Regis & Kelly. Great! Youre right, I am a "ratard".
I love the bandwagon!!!! Everyone has to start somewhere! I've been following since my kids starting playing in 92 and at the time I knew nothing. Not many of us in the US were born into a soccer loyalty, the way we were with baseball, football, etc... We have had to be introduced to it and fallen in love on our own. This WC with the disallowed goals, the drama late in the game and winning the group builds excitement for soccer and is the best way really to introduce Americans to a sport that the media portrays as "boring", "slow-paced" and "girlie".
Yeah, I don't understand how people could be bitter of any new arrivals, so to speak. It's like when the Metallica fans got all pi$$ed when the black album came out. Don't be ignorant, welcome the newbies, make'em earn it but welcome them. And don't just assume that the join date by people's tag's is when they started watching soccer.
I'm sorry, I just can't stand having to answer questions like "so, who do we play?" and "so, how did we play?" and "so, when do we play?" and have to listen to statements like "oh, I may just tune in for a few minutes this Saturday" - (all of these happened at my work this past week) if you want to be a fan, look it up your damn self and tune in for more than 5 minutes. otherwise, you're just another bandwagonner and/or fair-weathered and/or insignificant fan to me.
I wonder if there were any threads like this on BigSwimming.com during the olympics when Micheal Phelps was winning all those gold medals!!
You must be a really cool dude. I guess you were always an expert and never had to ask anyone about the game. Great point. I was a bandwagoneer myself way back in the 70's as a kid when Pele came to the Cosmos. I hopped on board in the midst of that hype and never looked back. It was the '94 Cup for you. Maybe for some others it was the 2002 WC with the US in the quarterfinals, and Beckham certainly got the attention of lots of kids a couple years ago. If this Cup run gets some more who stick around, then great! I just don't understand the people who act like they want to close the door behind them so no other Americans can get into the greatest sport in the world.
The first statement is very true. The people I'm referring to only asked these questions after finding out, somehow, that the US is advancing into the final 16. These people would not have given a damn about US Soccer or soccer in general had we not made it. These people "may tune in for a few minutes", and we know they'll turn the channel to golf or some shit at the first hint of us not scoring 100 goals in 5 minutes. I think we call that a fair-weathered fan/bandwagonner, don't we?
It's fun unless if the bandwagoners make asses of themselves and act extremely cocky. Bring them on. I enjoyed them with Butler's Final Four run and I'll enjoy them here.
I'm just going to state the other side as a devil's advocate but I think the people who get most frustrated by the "bandwagon" are the people who have 1. played from a very young age and 2. played at a high level. It is just hard for those people to accept "new people" into the group and part of it is a feeling of entitlement and ownership because it is all they have ever known from a very young age up to a collegiate/professional level and it frustrates them. As for me, I am one of the people above, but I am all for the bandwagon because of the reasons stated by other people. If it gets more kids interested in playing, it will get us closer to winning a WC at some point which is what I want more than anything as a fan and player.
It's fantastic. The fact that I can turn on the radio and hear discussions and interviews about Soccer? Fahgetaboutit. It's truly great. Pretty much everyone on Facebook seems to be into it. If the MLS make a smattering of Key signings after the World Cup, we may actually see a surge in attendance and hopefully some new long term fans. People may actually SHOW UP to see Landon Donovan now and not the likes of Beckham. That would be something.
I understand what you're saying. It was very, very cool back in my younger days to see bands like U2 and REM up close. Now U2 plays football stadiums. You can't get 30 feet from Bono. But I'm glad U2 made such great music that they inevitably became the biggest band in the world. I enjoy the music. Just like I'm glad that soccer is such a great sport that international soccer, at least, is becoming a mainstream sport in America.
I dont think its fair to say that "I was a bandwagoner myself when I was a kid"....Im not refering to kids...obviously everyone has to gain interest at one point or another...kids arent bandwagoners they are just starting to learn. I think I and some here are reffering to the grown adults that do say "Ill tune in for 5 minutes" and then suddenly think they are experts and cry after the game but as soon as we lose dump it all together.