English
team bringing soccer craze to U.S.
By Oscar Montealegre
On-line Forty-Niner
Soccer
in the United States is gradually gaining
more popularity. However, for some bizarre
reason it is more often looked at as a woman’s
sport than a man’s. In fact, by my observation
soccer is extremely popular among women,
which explains why the women’s national
team is the defending world champion. However,
across the world soccer is not just a sport,
it is a religion and moreover it has the
amazing capability of uniting cities and
entire countries.
Fortunately for soccer fans Manchester United,
one of the world’s most popular soccer clubs
that competes in England’s competitive Premier
League will bring its stars and fast pace
style to the United States this summer.
The club will play four games, two on the
East Coast and two on the West Coast; with
Los Angeles’ brand-new Home Depot Stadium
being one of the sites where Man U will
display their artistic style of soccer.
Manchester United coming to the United States
for a summer tour is an indication that
people in the U.S. (including me) want to
see more soccer. And we not only want to
view MLS (Major League Soccer) but we also
desire the opportunity to watch the highest
level of soccer in our own stadiums, regardless
if they are exhibition games. Manchester
United must have overheard our wishes and
the officials for the Reds decided to put
on the Santa Claus hats early this year
by giving us a summer tour that not only
involves Manchester United, but four world
renowned club teams from Europe and Mexico.
In two hours the games at New Jersey and
Philadelphia were sold out. If this does
not raise a few eyebrows then I do not know
what will. Also last summer super giants
Real Madrid and AS Roma competed in an exhibition
game at Giant Stadium and the word through
the grapevine was that Giant Stadium had
the potential to sell all their tickets
twice. Astonishing for a sport that is looked
upon as in its infant stage to plenty of
sports writers and commentators.
We all know soccer is extremely popular
with our Latino community here in Los Angeles,
maybe that is why Manchester United is playing
Club America from Mexico because there is
no doubt that this game will reach its maximum
attendance capability. However, in my experience
playing soccer for the last 18 years in
numerous leagues, I have observed that other
ethnic groups in Los Angeles are feeling
the passion that soccer instigates.
Now, back to Manchester United. In addition
to Manchester United coming to the United
States, the competition that is making the
trip to our shores is a bonus gift in itself.
The team’s roster boasts nine players who
have played in one or both of the last two
World Cups including David Beckham, perhaps
the most famous player in the world besides
Real Madrid’s Ronaldo. Its other superstars
are Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy who has
scored 72 goals in the last two years combined
(wow!); Irishman Roy Keane, the engine of
Manchester United; Argentinean Juan Veron,
considered one of the finest players in
the world, and Welshmen Ryan Giggs, nicknamed
‘The Prince of Wales’.
In New Jersey they will play against Italy’s
Juventus, last year’s Series A champion
that is currently competing in the Champion
League’s semifinal. In Philadelphia they’ll
battle against Spain’s Barcelona, considered
one of the most glorious club teams in soccer
history. Manchester will also play their
United Kingdom rival Celtic of Scotland
in Seattle, Celtic is last year’s Scottish
Preimership champions and recently qualified
for the UEFA championship game. Last but
not least, United will play Mexico’s Club
America, which will be quite interesting
to see two completely different styles of
soccer dueling at a neutral site.
Now you might be wondering what my rhetoric
is all about. Well let me tell you, soccer
has already made an impact in the great
nation we live in. Its popularity is already
tremendous and it is growing on a daily
basis. Since we live in this capitalistic
country, soccer has already proven to produce
profits. Remember the World Cup in 1994
that for the first time in history sold-out
every game in the tournament. The Gold Cup
in ’98 in which Brazil participated and
helped create enormous profits for the North
America Soccer Federation. In short, soccer
like other sports here in the U.S. does
generate profits, you just have to bring
the quality teams and players and in result
the seats at stadiums will have fans seating
in them.
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