I mean, now that MLS is rolling, and the A-League continues to live and other minor leagues, and new stadiums headed our way (hurry! come quickly!), and the Men's Nats sparkled the other night re Mexico with mostly young talent, and the pipeline for players just continues to grow bigger, and we have more Yanks Abroad than ever, and WC Qualis are just around the corner (damn I wish the country was smaller sometimes so I could afford to go to more games and be a militiamen in Sam's Army), and that's as tense as it gets until the WC itself, and we've got more columnists at mlsnet.com than ever, and other internet media growing by the day it's tough to keep up with it all, and don't forget BigSoccer, or Fox Sports World, or Fox Sports World Espanol, or Gol TV for those who get it or ESPN Deportes (hopefully more will get it soon)...it's just a great goddamn time to be a soccer fan here in the good ol' USA. Some of you have been an American soccer fan longer than I have, probably going back to the 70s (I only go back to 1990 or thereabouts, and then nowhere near as intensely), but there's so much to follow and enjoy and learn about and appreciate and look forward to and take a part of...well...I can sort of be sacharine sweet about it, but who cares? Just trying to express a little happiness about it all, which I don't think many of us do enough, to not get caught up in the minute analysis and the even more minute and inane bickering, but just to take it all in and let it put a smile on your face and let it help you get through the day and to enjoy the game you love on home soil and around the world. Especially in the face of so much misery across the globe, which I don't have a blind eye towards, but do try to escape from when I can. Peace.
The flip side of the coin is, if you have family and kids; if you support the American scene (MLS, US national) as well as European leagues, it's impossible to manage your life together. Even having Tivo or taping games with odd 4:30 AM kickoff times, and then showing up for the live MLS match at 1 PM (thank you, bloody ESPN), followed by taking the kid(s) to kick around in the park, etc, it all just doesn't fit. The 24 hours in the day simply don't add up. Not to mention keeping your job wanting to watch the Champions' League matches, and getting personal projects, basic things such as taxes done etc. For a die-hard fan in this country now, it is absolutely necessary to pick and choose what aspects of the sport you wish to support. 10 years ago this wouldn't have been possible. But I'm greedy. I want more coverage, bigger stage, and still manage to keep the personal/job life intact.
I'm sympathetic Chandu!! Even though I don't have kids, I do live with a woman who both enjoys and demands much of my time. She's not too hip to the idea of me sitting down at 6:30 am on a Saturday and watching soccer straight through to 10pm. But somehow it all works out, even though I don't always get to see everything I'd like. I sure ain't complaining. And the differences between now and what it use to be when I first became an "American soccer fan" in 1990 is beyond night and day. Now I get to have my cake and eat it too. I'm even looking forward to A-League nights on Friday night on FSW. The more the better!!
Hey I understand this completely. I have twin daughters, they turn three today actually. I am pleased to report that I got them interested in soccer, occassionally they will watch it with me, or they will let me watch it for a while and they play with their dolls or draw with crayons. Watching and supporting soccer as a hobby when you have a family or a girlfriend is probably like any other hobby that takes up your time- if you can fit it in without it negatively affecting your relationship and the work you need to do whether at a job or at home, then go for it. My wife hates sports but she understand how much I love it so she accepts it. Now if only I could get her to watch with me sometimes....
FlashMan -- I couldn't agree with you more. For all of the bitching and moaning you usually see on these boards, the fact is that the American soccer scene is healthier and better right now than it probably ever has been. It's amazing to think how far the sport has come in the last 15 years. It wasn't that long ago that qualifying for the World Cup was a dream; now we're favored to qualify, and possibly considered the strongest team in the region. It wasn't that long ago that you could never see Americans playing soccer on TV; now, with just basic cable, you can watch a couple of games a week, and if you get FSW, you get more soccer than you can probably watch. I can't say my wife is a big soccer fan; in fact, I doubt she really knew anything about the sport before she met me. But she has willingly tagged along with me through the years to see games in all sorts of different places, from Foxboro and Giants Stadium to a tiny Chilean restaurant in Queens where they had to get the dishwasher to take our order, because the waitress did not understand English. We have two young kids, and they love going to Metros' games, so I get to see a fair amount of soccer.
Well said, Flashman.... I think it's important every once in a while to step back and think about where you've been. Like a lot of folks, I discovered Toby Charles on a public station on Sunday mornings and was instantly fascinated. I've always wondered if Toby ever realized the effect he had in the US. Everything you say is true. These are good times for American soccer fans and it's not impossible to look just a few years ahead and see a time when things are going to be even better.
Re: Well said, Flashman.... But of course there's the rub as well: we all believe that five years from now it'll be that much better, but there's no guarantee. For all we know right now will be the highlight of American soccer history, and it's all downhill from here. I don't believe that for a second, but there's no true way to predict. All I'm really saying is enjoy every second of it while we got it.