FourFourTwo Decides Race is the Reason Soccer Sucks in America.

In the July issue of FourFourTwo magazine, there is a good sized article focusing on whether or not David Beckham will have a positive impact on exposing soccer to otherwise less-inclined audiences. Read: "Inner city black kids." No, it actually says that.

The writer of the article is an English ex pat and although he plugs in a few quotes from sociology professors who have academia-eonized the hell out of how race plays into Americans general ignorance and disinterest of the world's game, it isn't the substance on the issue that is of importance, but that it is included in an article about why America doesn't like soccer.

Why did this writer have to turn to the issue of race to determine why soccer isn't succeeding in a bigger way in America? While its encouraging to know that he realizes that "inner city black kids" are an important part of our American culture, it shows on a larger scale that you can't look at America without seeing or noting "racism" as a reason why something isn't succeeding.

Frankly, racism is a massive problem for America, but its also a huge problem for soccer abroad: its no secret that Germany (will they ever learn?) has shouted and showcased some of the most abrasive and abhorrent racial slurs during games against teams that have players that are not of Anglican descent, even displaying swastikas. You don't see that in the US and you never will. Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o has not been shy that the Spanish fans were not kind to him and Spanish fans have been known to make "monkey noises" at players of African descent. Yet this doesn't seem to be stopping black players from countries in Africa and beyond to play and succeed at soccer. It doesn't seem to stop European clubs from welcoming African players into their clubs and cities. It doesn't seem to stop soccer from being a massive sport in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Racism exists in soccer but its not a barrier to exposure to the game abroad and it is not a barrier Stateside, either. Is soccer being marketed to "inner city" kids? Is it being marketed as a sport that kids can actually make a living from? Is it a sport that American kids, black OR white continue after the age of 10? No, No, No.

Race is not and should not ever be a focus on why American's don't like soccer. There are not many black hockey players that easily come to mind, but hockey is a sport that seems to do just fine here in America. American's who dislike or like soccer should not be categorized by their racial makeup, nor should answers be looked for in sociological ethnography's. There are African and Asian and Latin and Anglican players on the US national squad, and there are plenty of fans who are not white and middle class that resent any indication that a certain racial segment of our society is holding back an entire sport. To suggest anything to the contrary is an indication of the hypersensitivity that we have towards including race as a factor in absolutely everything happening in America.

The MLS needs to focus on exposing the sport as a viable professional athletic career. Soccer needs to be thought of in the popular culture as a "real" sport. The MLS needs to encourage more competition among the teams and abandon this all fair, all equal, sort of "family" that encircles the entire league so that individual owners (right now there are about 3 owners, 2 of which are huge sports conglomerates and not individuals or boards) can dump as much money in the team as they want, to buy, advertise, and promote their teams. As much as this would be nice, no amount of "inner city black kids" will help those goals along. That label encompasses a thinking, breathing, choice making populace that probably well knows soccer exists but that they don't care has nothing to do with their racial make up.