Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 8, 1994 TAG: 9407280008
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Happily, we don't shoot players when they lose. And already, as Brazil and the European Seven prepare for this weekend's quarterfinals, the Cup discussions in this country runneth over like it's over. That's because to many of us - spelled U.-S. - the Cup curiosity culminated with the July 4 loss to the land that once loaned us Pele.
Actually, the piqued interest peaked before the end of Monday's 1-0 loss to Brazil. Yes, the United States, on its birthday, played one of the sport's powers very respectably. Actually, the United States played Brazil very respectfully. And because we are a nation of soccer ignoramuses, the game left many intrigued by the World Cup feeling like they'd been yellow-carded.
With an estimated 32 million viewers tuned in to ABC, with the largest soccer audience in this nation's history playing patriot instead of channel-surfer, the sport had an opportunity to sell itself like never before. This really was soccer's Independence Day in this country, but there were no fireworks.
And it wasn't because the United States lost; it was because it didn't try to win. After the first 10 or 12 minutes, in which the Americans attacked and ran the field with the Brazilians, the U.S. team decided it would play not to be embarrassed. And to those who don't care about international soccer, it was worse than disenchanting. It was dull.
To those Americans searching for a reason to embrace the game, it was a good time to flip to Cubs baseball. On a day when only the unrealistic could have expected a U.S. victory, the only disappointment was that coach Bora Milutinovic decided not to play. Bora was boring. And while the score looked good on paper, even the soccer smart weren't fooled.
After the game, the media asked the U.S. Soccer Federation's secretary, Hank Steinbrecher, about how much close counted. With candor, Steinbrecher said the U.S. national team is nowhere near the best in the world, but realistically was somewhere between No.12 and No.24. And there's nothing wrong with that.
It takes generations to change opinions, and soccer's growth is evident in this country. However, Americans are accustomed to nationalistic competitions such as the World Cup only during Olympiads. In the Winter Games, even in the downhill, it's an uphill struggle. The United States still has a go-for-it attitude, however.
In the 1980 miracle of Lake Placid, the United States didn't beat the Soviets in hockey by only backchecking the entire game. Yes, Milutinovic's goal was to play a scoreless tie and get into a penalty-kick shootout, but that isn't what a national federation trying to sell its sport needed. And with fledgling Major League Soccer behind schedule on naming franchises and short on investors, some of the sport's potential interested parties had to be left feeling red, white and very blue.
Already, word is circulating in the sport that U.S. World Cup chief Alan Rothenberg, who is heading Major League Soccer's start-up, has inquired about a merger with the American Professional Soccer League. With many of the U.S. World Cup team stars returning to Europe's pro leagues, many familiar names from the past month won't be selling the sport on home shores, either.
Soccer has gotten a header in this country from the World Cup. However, the real kick hasn't happened. The United States played with pride in its first World Cup at home, but it finished by dribbling backward.
Write to Jack Bogaczyk at the Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, 24010.
by CNB