The Growth of Soccer in the United States

This is a guest post by Annette Lyndon. Annette Lyndon is an avid sports blogger who enjoys writing about topics relating to current events, athletics and popular culture. She is a contributing writer at Your Source 4 Sports.

The 2010 South African FIFA World Cup is fast approaching. Fans from all over the globe will be flocking to South Africa to watch their countries compete. Excitement is building as the opening match approaches (June 11th). Football, or soccer (US), is the world’s sport, and mounting anticipation can only be expected. However a high level of enthusiasm is coming from an unlikely nation this year, the USA.

While sports are an integral part of American culture, soccer never really gained popularity as a primary spectator sport. For many years soccer was accepted as a popular team sport for youths and never caught on in the mainstream arena. But recently soccer has taken flight and is becoming more than recognized as part of the American sports lineup. Major League Soccer (MLS) was founded in 1993 and today has 16 major league teams. The sport has also attracted a large number of individuals from many backgrounds. Soccer teams and clubs are increasing in popularity in US inner cities. Role models, like Cobi Jones from the LA Galexy, have demonstrated minority involvement within the sport and are encouraging youths from different ethnicities to adopt playing it as well. Soccer has also developed as an important sport for women. In the US, 35% of all soccer players are female, one of the highest percentages of women participants around the world. Soccer in America is helping to cross racial, as well as gender, lines.

While the United States has their own teams, fans are broadening their horizons and watching international play as well. Many American soccer fans have begun to follow popular foreign teams like Spain’s Real Madrid and Britain’s Manchester United. Yet, when the World Cup begins, you can be sure that the majority of the country will be supporting the USA. As of March 31st, the USA ranks 16th out of the total 204 world teams who entered to take part in the games and qualified for the tournament. The USA is scheduled to play its first match against England on the 12th of June. An overwhelming number of American fans are traveling to South Africa to see the US play. It is reported that Americans stand second after South Africans as primary ticket holders for the tournament.

While American fans may have to fly overseas this year to attend the festivities, in the future they may not have to leave their own backyard. The United States is being considered as the host country for the 2018 World Cup. Former President Clinton’s top counselor, Doug Band, has accepted an invitation to join the Board of Directors as a member of the USA Bid Committee in an attempt to bring the World Cup to the US in 2018 or 2022. Adding him to the committee should increase the chance that the U.S. has at winning the bid since Doug Band is known worldwide for his international philanthropic initiatives, thus improving the relationship the U.S. has with over 170 foreign countries. Ultimately, the hope is that the committee effort will continue to boost soccer enthusiasm in the US and bring the nation to the forefront as a serious contender for the bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

Felipe Lopez Gone - Reno Aces get Better

Well the good news as the Dbacks start to sell off their top players for prospects is that the Reno Aces - the Dbacks Triple-A team, are going to get real good. Brandon Allen has already helped the team since coming over from the White Sox organization in the Pena trade. Now the Aces retain the services of outfielder Cole Gillespie.

Right-handed pitcher Roque Mercedes, also acquired in the trade for Lopez, will most likely be sent to Double-A Mobile. Mercedes is a reliever, something the Dbacks disparately need.

“Kirk Gibson Bench Coach, Arizona Diamondbacks by Dave Pratt If you were trying to convince Tommy…”

“

Kirk Gibson Bench Coach, Arizona Diamondbacks by Dave Pratt

If you were trying to convince Tommy Lasorda that Arizona is one of the most beautiful places in the world, where would you take him?
Everybody knows how fond Tommy Lasorda is of pasta, so the first thing I’d do is take him out for a night on the town in Old Town Scottsdale. There are a lot of great Italian places there, and we could probably convince him to keep coming back to Arizona.

Favorite spring training ballpark in Arizona?
Scottsdale Stadium has a great atmosphere. They get a lot of our fans out there, and it’s usually a sold-out game. After the game, there are several great places to go around the park.

Who would do a better job of steering a raft through the rapids on the Colorado River: Stephen Drew or Justin Upton?
Stephen Drew. He’s an avid hunter and fisherman, so his outdoor experience would probably benefit him on the rapids. Plus, if we got stranded someplace, he’d be able to get us some food.

”

- -Arizona Celebrities, Local Celebrity Interviews | Arizona Highways Photography-

“Kirk Gibson Bench Coach, Arizona Diamondbacks by Dave Pratt If you were trying to convince Tommy…”

“

Kirk Gibson Bench Coach, Arizona Diamondbacks by Dave Pratt

If you were trying to convince Tommy Lasorda that Arizona is one of the most beautiful places in the world, where would you take him?
Everybody knows how fond Tommy Lasorda is of pasta, so the first thing I’d do is take him out for a night on the town in Old Town Scottsdale. There are a lot of great Italian places there, and we could probably convince him to keep coming back to Arizona.

Favorite spring training ballpark in Arizona?
Scottsdale Stadium has a great atmosphere. They get a lot of our fans out there, and it’s usually a sold-out game. After the game, there are several great places to go around the park.

Who would do a better job of steering a raft through the rapids on the Colorado River: Stephen Drew or Justin Upton?
Stephen Drew. He’s an avid hunter and fisherman, so his outdoor experience would probably benefit him on the rapids. Plus, if we got stranded someplace, he’d be able to get us some food.

”

- -Arizona Celebrities, Local Celebrity Interviews | Arizona Highways Photography-

Dbacks have won 6 out of the last 7 and are scoring lots of runs.

Dbacks have won 6 out of the last 7 and are scoring lots of runs.

No Shawn Marion

I didn’t believe it was going to happen, but the idea of Marion coming back to play with Nash and Amare was intriguing. Instead, he’s on a stacked Dallas Mavericks team. It’s going to be the Spurs, Lakers and Mavericks this year.

“Doug Davis, Diamondbacks (4-8, 3.13 ERA) The Diamondbacks lead the majors in errors and rank 26th in…”

“Doug Davis, Diamondbacks (4-8, 3.13 ERA) The Diamondbacks lead the majors in errors and rank 26th in bullpen ERA. Factor in an acute lack of run support, and Davis, Haren and Max Scherzer are all stuck in a Bermuda Triangle of despair. Johan Santana is the only full-time starter who has received punier offensive support than Davis this season. Opponents are hitting .188 against Davis with runners in scoring position. He has the best pickoff move this side of Andy Pettitte and Mark Buehrle, he’s always thinking several hitters ahead, and he usually finds a way to wriggle out of his messes. “He’s a bend-don’t-break type of guy,” said a National League coach. “The difference between Doug Davis and a fifth starter is, he’ll pitch his way out of jams. He controls the game and he doesn’t give up the big inning very often. If you can give him some run support, he can win a lot of games.” Davis also takes the ball, as they say. Since 2004, he ranks second in the National League to Roy Oswalt with 180 starts. He goes deep into games consistently enough to save bullpens, and his numbers stack up well against the more affluent Barry Zito over the past several years. Davis can help get a team to October, but can he make a difference in the postseason? Potential suitors will be debating that question as they decide whether to pursue him in trade between now and July 31.”

- Javier Vazquez, Ubaldo Jimenez and Doug Davis among starters who should have more W’s - ESPN

Let’s root root for the home team.

Let’s root root for the home team.

Darnell Dockett tried to set some fireworks by announcing on…

Darnell Dockett tried to set some fireworks by announcing on Twitter yesterday:

“Dockett fans, CARDINAL FANs, AND ALL SPORTS WRITERS AND ALL BLOGGER and any one else who wanna know I WILL MAKE AN ANNOUCMENT 2day @ 8:15.” - @ddockett

When 8:15 rolled around, no message. A little bit later, this is what he tweeted:

“I am happy to announce that after meeting with the team recently, I have full faith and confidence in the Cardinals organization-cont” - @ddockett

Both these messages are in regards to his contract dispute. The Cardinals have him locked up until 2011, however, Mr. Dockett would like to tear that contact up and get a new one. This seems to be a common occurrence in professional sports today. A player signs a contract, does well, and wants a new contract. No risk by the player and no reward by the team.

I’m glad to see that Dockett is doing the right thing here. He has a contract and he’s going to report to training camp. Let’s hope it isn’t lip service and he does play under this contract for at least the next 2 years. Teams need to get a backbone and it looks like the Cardinals have exerted theirs.

Home vs Road

Why do some players like Montero hit so much better on the road than they do at home?

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