So last week I went to my first and last Major League Soccer (MLS) game. It was an enlightening experience that helps to explain why no one cares about soccer in this country. First of all, RFK stadium was nearly empty. There couldn't have been more than 5,000 wasting their money to watch a bunch of soccer players not good enough to play in Europe. It's not cheap either. Furthermore, soccer is terribly boring. Worst of all, there are a small, but annoying loud number of wannabe soccer hooligans.
It started on the Metro when a moron started screaming about DC United. It was so lovely to have some idiot yelling chants in a packed Metro car. But when I got to the stadium, it got worse. There were probably 250-300 people drunk off their asses, standing on their seats yelling chants, jumping up and down, throwing beer in the air when DC scored, yelling the most vulgar things at the referees (F*ck the ref, etc), and acting like British soccer hooligans (but unlike Britain where lots of people care about their teams, these people are in a very small minority). They were extremely annoying and hurt the appeal of the MLS because I sure wouldn't take my kid to the game to watch them act like that. Oh well, the MLS is a joke. No one watches, no one cares. Americans like their baseball, football, and basketball (and even hockey) more than a bunch of second-rate soccer players and their obscene, drunken faithful.
22 comments:
Dear Ben,
I personally love DC United games. Yes, the stadium could be more crowded and yes, those players are definitely not good enough to play in Europe and as a European soccer fan, I too look down on MLS and US Soccer in general. But MLS is only in its 9th season, it’s like European football’s younger sibling that is just learning how to walk on its own. How can it stand the comparison to the National League and the American Association which were created in 1876 and 1900-01 respectively.
The New York Yankees were founded in 1901 and have been playing at Yankee Stadium since 1923. You’re a Cincinnati Reds fan right? The Reds have been around for something like 100 years. Manchester United, which is perhaps the football team with the greatest fan base, was also created over one century ago. DC United, on the other hand, was one of the 10 founding teams of Major League Soccer. The team’s not even 10 years old!! As MLS and the popularity of soccer grow in America, more teams will be created spurring intense rivalries between fans and cities. Over time, as soccer playing children all across the country grow up to become soccer fans, the league and its teams will prosper. The American National Soccer team will also eventually start winning some international tournaments instead of embarrassing itself at the World Cup and this will make more and more Americans care about the sport.
Which only means one thing Ben: there will be even more screaming hooligans filling up the stadiums!! Let’s agree to disagree for now and talk about it in twenty years.
Laetitia
p.s: Are you including me in the 250-300 people drunk off their asses, standing on their seats yelling chants and jumping up and down? I’ll take that as a compliment.
First of all, MLS as a league averages a pretty decent number of fans. If the league was in Europe it would rank 8th in total attendance.
True, part of soccer's culture is loud, abrasive, passionate noise-making. It's about supporting your team unconditionally and non-stop for the full 90 minutes. If you don't like it and the atmosphere it creates, don't sit near them, or don't come. It's just part of the sport.
I'm not trying to downplay American sports, I'm a NFL season ticket holder and I go to Yankee Stadium pretty frequently. I've heard and seen far, far, far worse at both than I ever have at an MLS game. Not to mention college basketball... have you ever been even remotely close to a full student section? Now THAT is vulgar.
If you don't like MLS then that's fine, but to say no one watches or cares just isn't remotely true. More people in the US watched the World Cup final last year than the World Series. So don't diss a sport you don't know anything about.
You are the reason why the world hates America.
DC United is one of the best teams in the DEVELOPING league, and no more than 5,000? Funny, everytime I go it is usually right around 20,000. And on August 9th, it is already sold out - SOLD OUT! Hence, what, triple the normal crowd?
Granted they do not always play quite as stylish football as the top Euro clubs, they still have some great quality and amazing goals. I would love to see any average American attempt what they do day in and day out.
You must learn to appreciate the BEAUTY within the WORLD'S GAME, and understand what it all means.
Also, it takes a lot more though process than, hmm...let's see - football? Correct me if I'm wrong, but does the game not run off of set plays by the coach?
Give it time - for instance, check out our youth in the U20 World Cup right now - we just beat Brazil and are in the quarterfinals tonight again Urugay.
Go on youtube and look up highlights from the USA vs Poland match...6-1. Great game
Oh, I fear the sport's growth will be stunted for ingorance held within the mind of those who call America home.
By the way, have you noticed how America is also slowly falling behind in all other sports?
How do you confuse 5,000 people with almost 15,000 people?
Upon second read, this has to be the most uninformed piece of writing that I have ever read. I feel sorry for the EPA for hiring you this summer. I'm thinking about coming down to the EPA and throwing beer on you.
there's a quiet side for a reason, if you can't handle the enthusiasm of the supporters' sections. get your facts straight, as well, if you're going to rant. makes things a bit more readable.
your blog makes baby jesus cry!
and Fred is thoroughly displeased!!
You might just be the silliest person alive. DC United would draw more than 5k if the game were on a Tuesday at 11AM.
Sounds like you walked into the stadium with your (negative) mind already made up. So, why did you bother?
I'll come to ben's defense on that one... he didn't chose to sit in with the barra brava. I brought him to the game because he had never been to a football game. He probably would have enjoyed the game a lot more in the "quiet section."
Loser,
thats all i have to say.
03/15 - Thursday CD Guadalajara * T, 1-1 26,528
April
04/03 - Tuesday @ CD Guadalajara * L, 2-1
04/07 - Saturday @ Colorado Rapids L, 2-1 18,086
04/14 - Saturday Kansas City Wizards L, 4-2 22,358
04/28 - Saturday @ Columbus Crew L, 1-0 13,572
May
05/03 - Thursday New England Revolution T, 1-1 12,908
05/06 - Sunday Chivas USA W, 2-1 14,267
05/19 - Saturday @ Toronto FC W, 2-1 20,183
05/26 - Saturday Houston Dynamo W, 2-1 18,078
June
06/02 - Saturday @ Los Angeles Galaxy T, 0-0 21,069
06/10 - Sunday New York Red Bulls W, 4-2 18,066
06/16 - Saturday Chicago Fire W, 3-1 20,161
06/23 - Saturday @ Real Salt Lake L, 2-1 16,319
06/28 - Thursday Colorado Rapids W, 4-1 14,982
July
07/04 - Wednesday @ Kansas City Wizards W, 1-0 7,872
07/08 - Sunday @ Houston Dynamo L, 1-0 15,033
these are the actual numbers for each game. only the away games are under 10k.
it probably only felt like 5k b/c this gentlemen has such negativity swirling in his mind he probably had a twenty dollar bill in his wallet and thought it was a quarter.
Loser,
thats all i have to say.
03/15 - Thursday CD Guadalajara * T, 1-1 26,528
April
04/03 - Tuesday @ CD Guadalajara * L, 2-1
04/07 - Saturday @ Colorado Rapids L, 2-1 18,086
04/14 - Saturday Kansas City Wizards L, 4-2 22,358
04/28 - Saturday @ Columbus Crew L, 1-0 13,572
May
05/03 - Thursday New England Revolution T, 1-1 12,908
05/06 - Sunday Chivas USA W, 2-1 14,267
05/19 - Saturday @ Toronto FC W, 2-1 20,183
05/26 - Saturday Houston Dynamo W, 2-1 18,078
June
06/02 - Saturday @ Los Angeles Galaxy T, 0-0 21,069
06/10 - Sunday New York Red Bulls W, 4-2 18,066
06/16 - Saturday Chicago Fire W, 3-1 20,161
06/23 - Saturday @ Real Salt Lake L, 2-1 16,319
06/28 - Thursday Colorado Rapids W, 4-1 14,982
July
07/04 - Wednesday @ Kansas City Wizards W, 1-0 7,872
07/08 - Sunday @ Houston Dynamo L, 1-0 15,033
these are the actual numbers for each game. only the away games are under 10k.
it probably only felt like 5k b/c this gentlemen has such negativity swirling in his mind he probably had a twenty dollar bill in his wallet and thought it was a quarter.
dear ben you are not true american if u feel yhat way why dont you move to east germany.....
"Today I arrived in the nation's capitol for my eight-week internship at the EPA."
figures.
You're A Communist.
Leave the MLS bashing to hacks like Jaime Trecker, Jim Rome, and Dahlberg.
After reading through a few more of your entries, it's apparent writing isn't one of your strong suits. Why you bother to blog at all is beyond me.
did a 15 year old write this?
Give MLS and DC united another chance. Here they are winning away at Toronto FC. I think you would have hard time finding the 'quiet side'in a soccer specific stadium. When DC build their beautiful new ground, you will see how the crowd energy will take the game experience to a whole different level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXkz60_t7Zo
"No one watches, No one cares.."
Which is, of course, why ESPN signed MLS to a multi year contract just last year.
ESPN is after all a charity, not for profit station that only puts on shows that no one watches or cares about...
Only a current college student could know so little and yet speak with such authority...I was as ignorant as you once, then I grew up. Someday you will too.
To all of those friendly people who posted comments in response to my MLS post,
Wow. Your responses, with the notable exception of two reasoned posts, were just as pathetic as the game you love. Since you don't have facts on your side, you resorted to personal attacks on me. Very mature. So what if I'm a college student and I'm here in DC interning this summer. Does that make my observations invalid?
I'm entitled to my opinion. You are entitled to yours. There was nothing "uninformed" or "communist" about my post . It was my observation after going to one game. There were not 15,000 people in RFK. We all know that. They may have sold 15,000 tickets, but that's very different from 15,000 people being there. The place was almost empty.
The MLS is not very popular in DC or across the United States. That is a fact. In DC, they are the fifth team behind the Redskins, Wizards, Nationals, and Capitals. Sure you can say the sport is growing, but that's what unpopular sports everywhere say (see Major League Lacrosse). Even with Beckham coming to the MLS, it's still an afterthought. Wow, a washed up European star. I'm impressed.
So keep attacking me or my writing. That is your right. If you enjoy going to the games and can defend the MLS rationally, good for you. I respect that. But if all you are going to do is go to the games, get trashed, act like a moron, and then launch ad hominem attacks on me while responding to my post in the middle of the work day, shut up and get a real job.
You lost any and all credibility by demonstrating you have ZERO knowledge of the sport, its fans, and your exaggeration of low attendance just proves to everyone you dont like the sport, and will say anything to make it seem like a bad experience
. The only two teams in MLS that even come close to haveing only 5,000 fans in attendance is KC and NY. The attendance for this past saturday's match (the 14th of july) was 20,900. Thier LOWEST attendance for a Saturday match this season has been 18,078. The average attendance last season was 18,252. Get a clue, and do your research before you think.
Also, those "Drunken fans" numbers are much closer to 1-2,000 per match. (and im including the fringe sections both beside and behind us here) Not all of them are drunk either. Sure most drink some, but I rarely have seen anyone so wasted they couldnt stand up or talk or walk. Again, another exaggeration on your part.
My advice to you, is to stick to something your close little "american" mind ( yes im an american too) can handle like baseball ( the most boring sport in the world), and leave the soccer to those with enough intelligence to "get it". Please do us a favor, and dont ever come back to RFK!
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