Sports are ubiquitous in the American South. It’s on TV everywhere, all the time. And that’s particularly true in Birmingham, Alabama. We consistently rank at or near the top of ESPN’s ratings – and that’s for almost all sports, not just college football. It’s tough out there if you don’t like sports. You’re going to get left out of a lot of parties. So, I’ve learned over the years to gather just enough knowledge to not be bored silly whenever a sporting event is on the TV. (Except for NASCAR. I refuse to watch NASCAR. It’s just stupid. Sue me.) I was never good at actually playing sports. (Ok, to be fair, I was on the tennis team in high school. But they were desperate.) But I could always feign interest. And then, in my old age, I discovered soccer (Sorry, but I’m American. That’s what we call it.).
Soccer, unsurprisingly, is not on the list of most watched sports here in Alabama. You can expect people to make fun of you if you admit to watching it. And you can expect people to make serious fun of you if you admit to being hooked on an English soccer team, getting up at all manner of ridiculous hours on weekend mornings to watch them play. Your co-workers will buy you gag gifts related to said team for your birthday, to include a squad photo of your favourite player (which you will proceed to put up in your office, because, hey, you’re a good sport). You will become an oddity to your friends. Every time they see you, they will say, “So. How’s Arsenal doing these days?” And you will regale them with the exploits from the most recent match, and they will smile and nod, indulging you in your odd hobby. But sometimes, they actually do become interested. After all, enthusiasm can be infectious.
One of the things I’ve loved the most about becoming a ‘rabid’ soccer fan, is bringing people along with me for the ride. It started at my house, when my husband finally stopped making fun of me and started watching with me. It was at first a case of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”, but he’s now as big a fan of Arsenal as me. (Well, almost. I still think I win that contest.) I also have a co-worker who actively follows Arsenal now. Another who follows Chelsea. (I tried, really I did. I consider it my biggest failure to date.) And now, when people stop me in the hallway to ask about the weekend’s games, they often start with “I saw part of the Arsenal game on TV on Saturday.” Baby steps, people.
All this leads up to my experience with the World Cup this summer. I’m sitting here on Saturday afternoon, surrounded by a house that needs cleaning, laundry that needs doing, dishes that need washing. And I’m planted in front of the TV, watching the World Cup, as I have done almost every day for the last two weeks. If you asked my husband, he would tell you that it doesn’t take much to distract me from housework…Martha Stewart I am not. But almost everything in my life (except work, darn it) has taken a back seat to soccer in the last two weeks. I’ve been to a bar to watch an England game with 200 other people, to a barbecue restaurant to watch a US game with some friends from church, and, on Thursday to a long lunch with 11 co-workers to watch the US play Germany. Now, if I’m honest, I was more interested in Mesut and Lukas and Per than I was in Dempsey and Bradley and Zusi. But it was fun. Everybody was talking about it. Even my daughter watched it. And I know that it has as its roots the patriotic fervour that I normally despise (USA! USA!…please stop…). But I hope you’ll forgive me if I’m just a little excited at the prospect of even a percentage of these folks getting hooked on the game that I’ve come to love so much. Maybe I won’t get funny looks the next time I ask a bartender to turn the TV over to an Arsenal Champions League match on a Wednesday afternoon. Hell, maybe when I walk in, it’ll already be on.
Sorry, Skipper, but Tuesday I’m gonna be all “USA! USA!” when we play Belgium. I hope you’ll forgive me
This post is by alabamagooner ( @kmwood02 )
Positively Arsenal 
well it might be a new concept for usa but they definitely approach it correctly … they impressed me in last world cup ..bradley and son… and wishing them all the best.. they certainly have a better set up than some supposedly european powerhouses…
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It’s the FOOTBALL World Cup. I don’t care what you call it; it’s not what it’s actually called by anybody else. Please don’t impose your narrow views on the rest of the world; despite what the US may think, you are not the arbiters of everything.
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Mike, I wrote the headline as sarcasm. Lighten up.
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LOL..
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Well finally, Kelly. What a wonderful and enjoyable piece!
(Shame Mike didn’t get it).
It is so interesting to read about how people develop an interest in sports. I am still baffled how people in another part of the world would get so much enjoyment from a specific soccer team that has not realized it’s potential these last 8 years. I mean, I signed up when I was just out of diapers (Mike, that’s nappies in England) and became a member of a tribe, but you Kelly? When did you start following Arsenal and how much of the attraction is down to the playing style?
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Great Post, AlabamaG. 🙂
There is a US male prejudice (in some guys anyway) that soccer (football) is a girls game, and certainly if you visit Hawaii there are what seems to be hundreds of soccer pitches with teams of girls of all aged playing at the week ends, in particular.
If the guys give it a try or just sit and watch, they soon find out that soccer is not for the faint-hearted, and can come around to the best game and club in the world.
There are many Americans on the Arsenal blogs, men and women, and the chat, the discussions, the arguments can be fascinating, so well done with your Post.
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What a brilliant piece and thanks Kelly for it. I love this worldwide family thing that The Arsenal has got going. Wonder if Zelalem will be encouraged to take up US citizenship to help grow the Stateside brand? I am pretty sure that when I was growing up in the 60s in the South of England lots of people called it soccer. Was that to distinguish it from Rugby Football or because of the many US soldiers who had been stationed in the UK some 20 years previously?
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You remind me Kerry that football or soccer, whatever, is a game to be deliberately, consciously enjoyed. And I find Americans I have met and I know seem to be really good at enjoying things, celebrating things, and generally shooting the lights out.
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Fantastic write up Kelly,something very likeable about this USA team,I wonder if they won the thing,how much of an effect it would have on the country,we know the people there love it (especially with the increasing Hispanic population) but will the media machines be happy with it overtaking the traditional sports?
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Sorry, Mike, if I offended you with my use of the word ‘soccer’. But I’m guessing if it hadn’t been that, I would have pissed you off some other way. Sounds like you’re not much interested in having me join the party.
I thought for a minute that was my own husband, Mike, yanking my chain. But 1) He would never get up at 4:00 am just to play a joke on me, and 2) I don’t think he would use the word ‘arbiter’. So, I guess it’s not him…
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Who’s Kerry? John Kerry? Kerry Kantona? County Kerry? Who’s Kerry?
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Mike,
I know that PG has already explained the headline, but in fact the origin of the word ‘soccer’ was originally English.
In 1863, the newly formed Football Association formally organized the game and produced the original constitutional and the Laws of Football.
The term “soccer” was colloquially used as an abbreviation of “Football Association” – the last word being shortened to ‘assoc’ and then to ‘soccer which was used at first, until the first word “Football”, from the title, was adopted more widely in the UK instead.
There was at that time (and still is) also a related game of Rugby Football in the UK, and in that case ‘Rugby’ is now more widely used to distinguish it from our ‘football’.
The original English abbreviation ‘Soccer’ was eventually used in the US simply to distinguish it from ‘American Football’, and the body finally formed to control the game was called ‘The US Soccer federation’.
Just saying.
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Thanks, guys. One day, G-P, I’ll write the complete story of how Arsenal took over my life. But I’ll have to get brave, because it’s a rather odd progression of events. A bit of a mid-life crisis story. To answer your specific questions, though: I haven’t been a fan very long – only about 2 years. And why Arsenal? Two things, really. Style of play, and class of club. If I told you in the end it came down to choosing between Arsenal and Liverpool, you’d understand what I mean, right?
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for gods sake this media van gaal dutch manu love -in….have they no shame ???
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@ everyone – particularly Henry B
there were a lot of names used by people in the US and elsewhere in the 1860’s which are totally unacceptable today. Be that as it may, the game today is governed (and has been for many years) by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) (which the US chose to joing in 1914). I don’t see the word soccer there…………………….of course maybe the US Soccer Federation is affiliated to SIFA too……… In terms of distinguishing the two sports it’s quite easy for me, we have one that’s played mainly in America……..we call that “American Football” and the game of “football” that’s played all over the world. I’m sure you’ll correct me but I suspect the majority of the other 207 countries affiliated to FIFA call it football too.
in terms of me “lightening up”…………….i think you guys need to take a look at yourselves. It’s quite clear from some of the responses that you feel that because I’ve challenged the statement it’s touched a nerve. I guess as a member of the rest of the world I should know my place – I apologise for my audacity.
I’m off to kick a soccer with my socc now….have a nice day.
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stop biting people
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cant belive how we let costa rica win that….suffering…….a once in a lifetime chance to go to top8 of the world ffs….. they couldnt even walk ..they were begging us to score the second and finish it…and that bastrad disgrace of a man shoots on the keeper on a 5 vs 2 situation?? pass it you bastard…pass it…wanted to be a hero….as for penalties…lol gekas? wtf? he cant even score against a sack of potatoes let alone a goalkeeper….. we would have given the ddutch the humiliation they deserved. they expereince a mental block against us…..van gaal wouldnt know what to do…..and before i forget ..free suarez. ..its ok he is out the wc..the children are safe… muahaa
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A simple “sorry” would have sufficed Mikey.
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ok i have looked at the case again….a sorry from mike because alabamagooner is not the one who deserves to be told the difference. this is not some hipster regista trying to ‘get with the crowd’ and fucking it up.. and a quasi- sorry from PA for surrounding new posters and kicking them. we can all share the playground. fifa fair play. all agree? i can be the mediator, yes i can.
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That’s a well written and lovely insight into being a US Soccer supporter Alabamagooner.
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Cheers, alabamagunner. I know quite a few country boys who play and appreciate the beautiful game. One of my mates I play pickup with played at Ole Miss and I really do believe the game transcends politics to a certain extent. I started supporting via my ex girlfriends family but became interested in Arsenal far more as I learned more about the tradition an philosophy of Arsene Wenger. What a great man
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looking for two maybe three season tickets at club level…..anyone? the guys on the phone are saying they have 15 scattered around but i want 3 in same block and with seats next to each other…who has connections in the highest hierarcy at the club? fins i thought i heard you say the other day you play backgammon with ivan at the local…can we ask him…???
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Well, I said it right after the Holland Chile match–van Gaal is going to be awful in the PL. He’s the original Mourinho and is going to fit in perfectly at MU. Not good news and the disgust factor has gone up massively to neat Red Nose levels.
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Interesting BamaGooner. It sounds like at least a few people are interested in non-US matches in the group stages. That is the difference between football fans and US supporters. As long as it is mostly a matter of supporting the US national team, it doesn’t strike me as necessarily the same culturally as in other football countries where the sport is really big. It is obviously growing in the US especially among the young who play, might attend or watch an MLS team, and have a favourite international club that they also follow in the CL. The Red Bulls-Arsenal friendly sold out in a matter of hours!–I tried to get a ticket to no avail just a couple days after tickets were put on sale. But it will be some years before it displaces other winter US sports like gridiron and basketball, I think.
To me, the fervour is still mostly patriotic love of US winning more than love of Futbol. But hopefully at some point that will change. I think the excessive attention going to the record crowds viewing the US games fails to ask the question: are they watching the other group games? Sounds like there is some of that going on, but probably still not to the same degree as in other countries.
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I dont know I leave the door ajar and a werewolf sneaks in.
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It’s full moon WC fever, PG. Why would you leave the door ajar?!
Btw, Canada calls it soccer, and I believe so too do the Australians, New Zealanders? Socceroos!? Perhaps Sav can enlighten on that score for Anglophone Oceania.
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He’s the original Mourinho
not so sure … nor his ajax not his barca played like scopeballing cunts..the opposite in fact…. i just hate the idea of “hope” and new beginnings/dynasties being thrown around and some imaginary “manu-ajax-holland -total football – we are one” that is being milked to death
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I mean as a person and personality, not tactically. He is a brash, arrogant bully.
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Soccer, Suker, Checkers with feet, I really don’t give a crap what people call it. As an American supporter it’s nice to see so many people into the sport now. Since I speak Spanish, the Spanish language station used to show Serie A, which kicked ass back in the day. I got to watch Gullit, Rijkaard, Van Basten, Maradona, Klinsmann, Matthaus, Breme, Baresi, Bergomi, Baggio and other immense players. I also got to watch a lot of Argentinian football, which was pretty good. For the English speaking fan, however, it was Siberia. One game a month from the Bubdesliga on the public tv channel, that was it. This is why I love to see kids from cities like St. Louis or Cleveland who are soccer mad. Like me, they had to truly love the sport in order to seek it out and follow it.
P.S., Mike,people like Alabama Gooner and I say the word soccer to annoy morons like you.
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LSG; MY mum was holidaying in the states when the Olympics was on. She loves the Olympics! But was appalled by the coverage “over there” She didnt have a clue how the British, or anyone one else was doing because the American coverage was solely concerned with US involvement or success! If the yanks didnt have a serious chance of winning a medal, they didnt bother showing it.
Suffice to say, I never heard the end of it!
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He has a red face, seems a bit snarly, has undeserved penalties called for his team, the association bends it’s rules to accommodate his team (cooling breaks!? Just so Holland can get through!?), and he gets loads of extra time when needed. Shades of the other manager I have most come to despise!
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“I mean as a person and personality, not tactically. He is a brash, arrogant bully.”
oh yeah..and he is pretty mad too… but not as rude and disrespectful as the sensitive one… tactically i think he schooled europe for a while ..especially that canu litmanen kluivert era
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Des, that’s how it is. It is awfully annoying if you actually like the sporting events themselves. Similarly the coverage is always filled with personal stories and profiles in “courage” and so on. Often inspiring in a sappy way, but meant for the casual viewer who might not be interested in the sport itself. Very distorted coverage. My favourite experiences following the Olympics was in France and the WC in Tunisia and Syria when I was working/studying/researching abroad because the coverage on TV is better and because the WC feels significant as a whole, not just one’s own country’s matches.
I wonder what the event will be like if, say, the US doesn’t qualify for Russia in 2018. It might feel totally different. Sure, if England don’t qualify, some aren’t paying as much attention, but the WC will still be pretty biig. I don’t know about in the US. Some will watch, for sure.
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Dex, not Des!
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I”ve heard he can be just as rude. But we’ll get a close up next season. I’m not looking forward to that, I have to say…
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My condolences, Hunter. The Greeks of the Danforth in Toronto are in mourning but also proud of the team. Either way, the Dutch were in good shape. Now with CR knackered, it might be an easy win. I hope not. I’d like to see JC score again this WC.
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yeah well….. pride ..whatever…i think we should have won that..the costa ricans were barely breathing at extra time….a missed opportunity to progress further relatively easy i reckon….then again had the ref seen that handball ( torosidis is ex olympiacos player btw…..thats what they do) maybe there wouldnt even be extra time…..
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The world cup becomes more enjoyable once England are knocked out (or do not qualify!) I guess that could be construed as unpatriotic!
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It would be quite something if an exhausted Joel Campbell manages to score a goal against LVG’s Netherlands team, following on from the goal he scored against the Evil Mancs last season, and the goals that he will score against them and LVG in the future.
Oh, I would love it, just love it…
–
Huge game for Koscielny tonight. If he has been carrying an injury I think that’ll hopefully end any prospects of Tommy V leaving. Not after a WC, not on my watch!
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In the early nineties I had the pleasure of working in the USA (Rochester, New York). Even back then ‘soccer’ was the most popular sport played in the entire country up to the age of 18. People opined that the lack a local heroes playing in a home-grown professional league explained the lack of take up and sustainability of the game. That is plausible.
Οk, I have a solution for the name of the game. It is based on a ‘proposed’ solution for the choice of language of the newly liberated, from British colonial rule, United States of America (although I have not tried to verify this event!!!). Apparently, the ratio of citizens of the fledgling state that were of German or English extraction was close to one. So why should the official common language not be German, asked the Germans? No fuck off said the English. And so, the disagreement raged. But both major groups tended to be people of the Christian faith, hence reverering the Bible. So as a compromise somebody suggested the common language should be the ‘koini’, the Ancient Greek of the old and New Testament! (I shudder to imagine George ‘dubbya’ Bush speaking to the world in ‘Grecian’…..
So let’s not call the beautiful game ‘soccer’ or ‘football’, let’s call it ‘Episkyros’ (Επίσκυρος) an early version of the game played in Attica (region around Athens). Can you imagine dubbya trying to pronounce that!
Is Mike really that sensitive?
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I would also love it, if Campbell and Costa Rica knock out this dutch team.
I also hope there is sod all truth in the Vermealen rumours. It really would not be a wise move by the club to sell another player (captain even) to those Manky gits. I can understand Tommy V being frustrated, but he definitely will get more game time next season, due to the players’ exertions in Brasil.
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i dont know who to support this aftenoon. nigeria or france? incidentally, giroud ang kos are starting together for the first time in this tournament.
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mike, would you rather like to see england do well for a change in the world cup for the first time in decades even if americans continue to call it soccer, or see england continue to make the rules for the rest of the world while they continue to be shit on the pitch?
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Kos and Giroud to play well but Nigeria to win. That’s my rooting allegiances.
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We definitely need to keep Vermaelen. Doesn’t make sense to let him go. Are we going to have another season without any serious I juries to our CB’s? Experience PL players in that position is very important. We were soo lucky no injury to Mertesacker or Giroud. Next season we must be prepared for this luck to run out. As unlucky as we say we were due to injuries, mostly those were in midfield where we had much more cover. I don’t expect a repeat.
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Haway the Frogs
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2So let’s not call the beautiful game ‘soccer’ or ‘football’, let’s call it ‘Episkyros’ (Επίσκυρος) an early version of the game played in Attica (region around Athens). Can you imagine dubbya trying to pronounce that!”
pmsl …. episkyros ….is that true .? even 10% ? well…after all and aghhmm being modest as ever…without us the world would still be eating eachother..muah….citizens of earth where would you be without the pythagorian theorem i ask? we discovered the first robot also….reports in crete talk about talos….a machine that would patrol the island of crete. perimeter and north to south west to east twice a day….. i say aliens from syrios 7 in the aphrodite vortex…. all of todays suffering is thanks to us and democracy…yeah baby! fuck the banks & crash the system. unite!
“The world cup becomes more enjoyable once England are knocked out (or do not qualify!) I guess that could be construed as unpatriotic! ”
nah…just common sense ….muahah 😛 …dont bite only kidding…
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or see england continue to make the rules for the rest of the world while they continue to be shit on the pitch?
how dare you?????????????????
shit on the pitch?????????? take that back! ….still even if its shit on the pitch….suarez cant go round biting people…..no sir no…..we will put an end to this….psychological evaluation NOW! ian holloway has spoken….
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but dex seriously …it got me thinking…do you gauge your patriotism or non-patriotism according to the national football team and its results? why suffer like that?
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LSG; Not only keep Vermealen, but I think we need a new CB too. Preferably one who can play alongside Kos (or TV), to allow Per a rest etc.
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