Soccer, The US Women’s Team, and Globalization

The United States women’s soccer team won an astounding victory over Brazil yesterday in Dresden, Germany. In World Cup competition, the team places in the semi-finals now, and plays France this Wednesday.

Sunday’s game contained many firsts, among which was the latest goal ever scored in game time–a header by Amy Wambach, from a long and perfect pass from Megan Rapinoe. That tied the game, in overtime, 2-2. Then in the shoot-out, Alex Krieger made the winning goal. All this, after Rachel Buehler was ejected from the game after 66 minutes. The girls played a man down for the last 40 minutes of the game. (Yes, Carli Lloyd used the common soccer expression, “a man down.”) Abby Wambach considered the win an example of the American spirit. “That’s is a perfect example of this country’s all about. We never gave up.”

Magen Rapinoe’s pass to Abby Wambach for the tie header, in the 122 minute of official overtime.

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So, how is it that top conservative commentators poo-poo the came of soccer? When did it become trendy to dis soccer, men or women’s? We’ve heard women like Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham show more than comedic disdain for the game itself, as though they actually understand teams sports. But their comments are only political. The suggestion is that soccer is some how un-American, or that it is a sign of globalization and one-world government! Coulter dramatizes her digust for the game with vehement contempt. She’s simply mistaken on her points about soccer, but, hey, she’s not an athlete. (She prefers to watch tennis.) She does, however, articulate, more than anyone else so far, some kind of visceral aversion to soccer.

Why? Would conservatives have it in for soccer? Soccer is the most inexpensive team sport in the world. Indeed, it is the world’s sport. All you have to have is a ball, really. An American high school football team can pay out as much as $50,000 dollars to outfit a team. A professional soccer ball costs around $40.00.

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