every major league and sports assoc. has been through it. as far as 99.9% of the population is concerned, this will all be forgotten by the time we qualify. the sky is not falling.
Just a followup to one of Tom's posts above, Brad Sherman has left US Soccer, no replacement has been named at the time I confirmed this info recently.
I think the continual oversaturation of DC, Columbus and Foxboro are a major reason for the recent apathy. The spreading of the wealth this time will help IMO. SLC, Birmingham, MExico in Columbus, and a couple yet to be announced. I think the three I mentioned will be well attended, and you know the Columbus match will be flippin' awesome!
I think you're right about that. A lot of people questoined B'ham when it was named a site, but I bet many will be surprised by how many folks turn out because that whole quarter of the country is relatively underserved. If I still lived in Atlanta, I wouldn't hesitate to drive the 2.5 hrs to see that one. Contrast that to if I lived in Cleveland and was thinking about driving 2 hrs or so to see the USMNT play in a WCQ for the fifth time (against Guatemala, to keep the comparison even). I'd be more enthusiastic about the former (on the latter, I'd still do it, but I doubt I'd do it for anything other than a WCQ against a good opponent)/
WE were loud and proud too. Good looking out with the drum, dawgz. Nuff respect due. Wow, never thought I'd say that to a Columbus fan.