The Trouble With Americans
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by user CaptHowdy
By now everyone will have heard about and formed an opinion on the MLS' aquisition of probably the hugest international soccer star in history, David Beckham.
Many see it as a ploy by MLS, many figure it's the Becks' way to get out and get something good while his skills deteriorate. It is a little of both I would think but a lot more.
People outside of North America always question the U.S. and Canada's facination with sports nobody else plays. It's easy to figure out. If you are an American sports fan, or team owner, or whatever you are you must be the best, period. Americans have no interest in coming in 'second' place or even really having to compete on the international stage. Take NFL football... the Super Bowl proclaims the annual winner as the 'World Champions'. I always howl with laughter whenever I see a league do that. "Hey it's the WORLD Champions of Aussie Rules Football"... you don't see that...only in America. Out of curiosity, is there a "World Champion of NASCAR" or a World Champion of Arena Football? I am kind of interested to know. I know there is no "World Champions of Canadian Football". But there is a "World Champion" in baseball even though I think only like Japan, Cuba, Canada, US and maybe a couple other places even play the thing.
Anyhow, I've lost my place. This Beckham thing. Reminds me an awful lot of the Wayne Gretzky deal that saw him leave godlike status in Edmonton to head down to L.A. All for money, and what the Kings and NHL really wanted, promo for the league in a country that had absolutely no interest in hockey.
Whenever non-North Americans ask why can't we get into real international sports like Soccer and Rugby...you know stuff that EVERYONE except Canada and the US seem to care about? I always like to answer 'Don't wish for that, that is the reason you still have star players in your countries. If the U.S. gets interested they will suck up all the key stars. Look at hockey, Do any of the REAL stars in hockey from Europe play in the Swedish Elite League, etc.? Would the NFL really send a good player to the NFL Europe? If a star Japanese baseball player is that good...does he stay to play for the home country? No. And that is why all you international soccer fans should be at your wits ends and try like hell to protect your sport from getting too interesting to the North American market. Because before too long, there'll be too much money in it for any good players to not be playing for a U.S. team. They may not ever wish to compete internationally anymore... Look at the non-importance Hockey is internationally to a decent amount of NHL players.
Americans have the money, they like to spend it, and they want to win. If they don't get the opportunity to spend and win all the time, their interest wanes quite fast, unless the other winning team is an American one as well.
P.S. Americans... you don't like Rugby... please remember that. And by the way, could you please lose more interest in hockey? Canada wants their NHL teams back soon!
