From Jen Hubley, your About Today Editor The World Cup tends to sneak up on me. My friend Luke blames this on my country. As an Englishman, he feels offended at what he perceives to be a relative lack of enthusiasm about soccer in the US: "You're a backward nation. The whole world is excited for the World Cup, except for the States."
(taken from the newsletter About.com)
http://specials.about.com/service/newsletters/todaysl/1276189200.htm
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World Cup. Filipinos don't even care enough about the World Cup to ask the question "what about us?" The Summer Olympics they do. Even if for the most part they are nowhere near a medal in almost any event. They feel really left out from the Olympics. All that pansin going to other nations in the World Cup and the Philippines is a non factor. I have no shortage of Philippines and their lack of relevance in the Olympics blogs. You can read them here:
http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/263/The_Filipino_Olympic_Effort_and_Results_my_reaction_
http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/266/The_Mentality_that_leads_to_Zero_Medals_for_the_Philippines_
http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/267/Reality_of_why_the_Philippines_is_nowhere_near_a_medal_as_of_now
Much is also made of the US and how they don't care about soccer. My answer is so what? They love football. They love baseball and basketball. Some cities like Detroit, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia really love their hockey. Not one major U.S. city loves their soccer. Not one. Despite all the immigrants from Europe and Africa soccer is irrelevant? Why? When you have the best football, hockey, baseball and basketball in the world there is only enough fans, money and TV to go around.
I just want to tell you that I am not really coming from a position of ignorance here. Here are my previous musings about soccer in North America.
http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/597/Beckham_is_Back._Ho_Hum._
http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/614/Timing_is_Kind_of_Weird_Isnt_it_
Here are some third party links:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/06/americans_not_interested_in_th.html http://www.cantonrep.com/opinion/columnists/x1834549114/For-Americans-World-Cup-runneth-over-with-apathy http://bleacherreport.com/articles/31493-the-state-of-united-states-soccer-top-athletes-just-arent-interested Offside: soccer and American exceptionalism
By Andrei S. Markovits, Steven L. Hellerman
Soccer has officially struck out in the US.
- Strike One: In the 70s the North American Soccer League tried star power: Pele, George Best, Johan Cruyff, and Franz Beckenbauer. By the mid 80's there was no more league.
- Strike Two: 1994 The World Cup is hosted by the US. The World Cup is well received but local soccer did not experience any kind of momentum,
- Strike Three: David Beckham. It got them more publicity but did not manifest in any league wide boost. In 2009 local soccer came in last in terms of TV ratings. 21 out of 21 different sports leagues. Proof that many pinoys migrated to the US, the NBA came in 4th.
What does the World Cup have to do with the Philippines? I truly believe that one should like what they like and not worry about emulating anyone else. Don't like something because _______ likes something. Like something because it appeals to you. You may notice the quote I lead off this blog with. Taken from the newsletter About.Com. Everybody says the US is behind for being like the rest of the world in appreciating the World Cup. They forgot the Philippines. Granted a lot of people forget the Philippines when it comes to anything relevant world wide. I don't count any pugilistic endeavors. Someone who does not care about education and deprives another man of brain cells is not heroic in my eyes.
My point is that the rest of the world is soccer crazy. For most of the world, soccer is not the dominant sport. It's the only sport. For the Philippines, basketball is not the favorite team sport, it's the only team sport. The Philippines is the only country where basketball easily dominates the attention of athletes, fans and coaches. Yet we beat no one. Every country that beats us, their best athletes go to soccer or some other sport, the left overs play basketball. In this country basketball competes with the couch and we can not be internationally relevant.The one thing we care about above all else and we are not even competent competitively.
The Filipino only loves basketball. That's a fact. But they get beat at their dominant sport by countries that prioritize soccer and baseball over basketball. What glory is there in being the only basketball myopic country in the world when you other countries left overs beat you ? None really. Just remember that if you think PBA is quality basketball. Besides one of the most prominent PBA players is married to Kris Aquino. Shows you how little prestige there is in being a professional athlete in this country. Kris Aquino is your wife. Some honor.
Ed
http://www.soccer-training-info.com/why_did_the_nasl_fail.asphttp://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/25/mls-unpopularity-a-scientific-sampling/ http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/06/americans_not_interested_in_th.html http://www.cantonrep.com/opinion/columnists/x1834549114/For-Americans-World-Cup-runneth-over-with-apathy http://bleacherreport.com/articles/31493-the-state-of-united-states-soccer-top-athletes-just-arent-interested Offside: soccer and American exceptionalism
By Andrei S. Markovits, Steven L. Hellerman
http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1142/Pinoys_Only_Dig_The_BBall_
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travelblogs/664/59969/World+Cup+2010+Fever%3A+Is+the+Philippines+Ready+to+Catch+It%3F?destId=357304http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/294/Who_Thinks_Basketball_Rules_The_U.S.  | England 's expected to win over the US the other night until the draw... Yeah! It's the most popular team sport in the world, but not in the US so I'm sure the Brits must be fuming mad. Thanks for this nice blog and you included, your bud, Harold and I hope Hazel will not complain, hahaha! Nice one! |
 | i can't remember when have i ever appreciated any type of sport. |
|  i can't remember when have i ever appreciated any type of sport.  Nothing wrong with that , like what you like. But there are many like you who have the same level of apathy towards sports but difference being, it becomes life or death because so called national pride is at stake. You are consistent. |
| you included, your bud, Harold 1) That is a good picture for this post even if you did not know hi. 2) If I included her, I might have all this guys asking who she was. |
 | true, this may be only about sports, but "national pride is at stake", and not many are aware of the connection... much to our loss at some opportunities of gain (which gains only a few are able to appreciate). sigh...
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| About including Hazel's picture, you could be right, haha! Me, just really a big sport spectator but not really played although I've tried dribbling the basketball and practiced how it's like to pitch a ball and tried how to hit ball with a wooden bat in the early 90's. I just knew how to swim but not that good of course. In high school, I've researched different popular sports around the world but not all of course. I just had interest on it when I was in first year maybe coz of our PE teacher. But I really did enjoy during the 90's when I can watch on cable tv and learned about espn sportscenter at 2 pm and my work place's just walking distance from the house so I always out for an hour everyday to watch, haha! Now, I am not that too updated but I try to check once in a while or ask you, Gogs. But it's really exciting when your rooting for a team or player for you experience the joy of winning and the agony of defeat. Thanks |
| "national pride is at stake", For me national pride is more importantly manifested in things like infrastructure. quality of public officials, pride in our surroundings, quality of country men. Besides, history has proven Olympic Gold often goes to the best cheat. |
| But it's really exciting when your rooting for a team or player for you experience the joy of winning and the agony of defeat. Thanks Every year I enjoy the finals of baseball, football , hockey and basketball because I know the teams, players and coaches. It has nothing to do with nationality but because the stories are interesting. For me sports is the ultimate reality TV. I am so jaded with these World Cup teams because a lot of them started practicing together 2 weeks ago. |
| I just missed those finals because I can't go home to watch it anymore since maybe 2004 can you believe that? Just get everything from the news or when there's replay at night. I even bought sports mgagzines at the start of the season usually baseball and basketball. I even had superstitions at that time so that my team would win haha! About Harold, he just got shy I believe seeing his picture but settlted down after realizing that was cool and nice. Hazel said that's the manager of Boulvar. Don't tell Harold in fb you deleted his picture, he might get confused that he had caused trouble. Sorry |
| I did what he wanted. Don't want him resenting me. We all have superstitions. I think its so cool you know baseball. I can talk about baseball all day |
| But he deleted what he wrote asking you to change picture so I believe that's fine with him already. But I am not as updated as before because the Braves' not like what they used to be... |
| But I am not as updated as before because the Braves' not like what they used to be... The Reds have not been good for the most part in 11 years. But baseball is good. Despite all the other idiocy like inequality and the boorish Yankees and the drug scandals. Baseball survives. |
| I know and remember the strike in 94 I think where Braves doing well and could have been back to back in the World Series... Missed those days... |
| Alright... But I still love the game, very exciting from start till end... |
| Because Inquirer is so used to kissing Noynoy's A@@ |
| Because I will always choose you... |
| Isnt that a Dolly Parton/ Whitney Houston song? And IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Will Always Choose Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu |
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