Another hole in the anti-soccer media armor. This was posted in the MLS News Forum, but I think it has a good reason to be posted here as well: http://www.bakersfield.com/sports/story/2341663p-2397758c.html "The majority in the older group did not grow up playing soccer, do not understand the rules, and could care less about the game. Moreover, they have almost a hatred for the game, considering it un-American and deciding that since they don't like it, no one should." Bravo Mr. Eubanks
I was hoping it was written by Bob. I enjoyed the tidbit that was in the article however. As a 31 year old, I think I agree with his age divisions.
My email to Mr. Eubanks: Mr. Eubanks, I am writing to congratulate you on your excellent column "It's time to give soccer, wrestling their due" in the Bakersfield Californian. While I am not qualified to comment on your analysis of wrestling, due to my lack of familiarity with the sport, I am a passionate soccer fan and found your comments on the state of the sport insightful, thoughtful, and true. The soccer movement has achieved a critial mass, and will soon learn the virtue of inertia. In fact, this email is a product of that very inertia, as I read followed a link from a popular soccer messageboard, http://www.bigsoccer.com, to the online version of your story. With gentle prodding from columns like yours, the sport's bright future will soon be realized. I speak for soccer fans from Palm Beach to Portland when I say "thank you."
That's a good column. We should send him (and his paper) letters. Positive reinforcement is a good thing.
While I find myself in the older group, it was a good column. I'll be out that way on business in a few weeks - I'll drop a couple of quarters in the box to get this paper, thanks to columns like that.
It's amazing he finds the time to cover High School Wrestling and Soccer and also be on Leno every night.
"...and they have television channels like Fox Sports World to follow the great leagues and teams from around the world." In the most general sense I like the article and agree with the guy's ideas, but regarding the above quote I'd feel more opimistic if more than 18 million or so actually had access to Fox Sports World. (I remember that number from somewhere. Can anyone verify?) But I suppose he might only be talking about Bakersfield though, in which case it's certainly a relevant comment.
Awesome article - one problem (I'm a Bigsoccer poster, I have to find a complaint somewhere) "Major League Soccer, which is more of a developmental league for non-national team players" Could this be further from the truth? I'd venture to say that if you take out the "non", it would be dead on!
Thanks Tejas. Why don't you post it in the Links and Articles forum (in the Business and Media section) also -- it's a good place to archive worthy soccer articles.
Thought you all might like to see what Mr. Eubanks wrote back. Proof positive that writing a quick email can make a difference! All the way in Washington? Wow! Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, but with December being my busiest time of year, coupled with holidays and a short vacation, I'm just catching up! But it does mean a lot to me to read kind words from people, especially when I kind of go against the grain of the regular mass media with a column like I wrote. I sent about 50 responses to the executive editor to let him know that he made the right decision on expanding the soccer and wrestling coverage, and he was amazed, but happy. Thanks again for the kind words, Kevin Eubanks The Bakersfield Californian