Courtesy: FoxSports.com
In looking at major professional sports, soccer is not categorized as being one of America’s “go-to guys” for entertainment purposes.
Games can be viewed as dull, lackluster, boring and phrases like, “there isn’t enough scoring” often get tossed around like fouls on the pitch. But that is where soccer can also separate itself in the minds of its truest, die-hard fans. The sheer difficulty in scoring goals and preventing them as well are two of the reasons soccer is called “The Beautiful Game”.
But in a game where eleven players are pinned on each side on an expansive field for 90, or more, minutes of play, superstars, as with any sport, drive viewership.
Soccer is a team game to the fullest. It requires patience, physical skills, an ability to communicate effectively – sometimes across language barriers on major clubs – and also an ability to think on-the-fly. Each player has these things, but only the best transcend what some can view as a “tough sport to watch”.
Enter the superstars.
If you have been watching the World Cup and are an inexperienced soccer fan, you have likely learned that many people love to hate Portugese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, that Argentinian forward Lionel Messi is a man among boys, Brazil’s Neymar is an upper-echelon forward with many years of untapped potential ahead of him and tremendous hair, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez while talented, may be have issues beyond soccer that many can’t speak to and rising stars in this World Cup like Colombia’s James Rodriguez has helped his nation make history as they have reached their first World Cup Quarterfinal Round ever.
It’s watching plays like THIS absolute firecracker by Rodriguez that make soccer enjoyable. While that may be an obvious statement and while moments like these don’t happen as frequently as most would hope, the anticipation and watching the development of through balls, crosses and set pieces creates a fan experience as one that is more for appreciation as opposed to the shock and awe factors that exist with sports like football.
Golf goes through the same struggles as soccer. Even though golf is a sport based on individual achievement, the skills required of the athletes in both golf and soccer are so particular that it can seem hard to watch and boring by some who don’t appreciate what they are seeing. The phrase, “These guys are good” is often used in advertisements by the PGA Tour to showcase the sheer abilities and to help introduce people to the plethora of talented athletes that the common man may not know or understand.
If you watched the 2012 Masters, you may have heard of the name Bubba Watson before. You may remember this shot:
And guess who made one of those advertisements soon thereafter with that certain catchphrase? (See HERE)
Like golf, soccer succeeds when it’s top guys succeed. When Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, etc. are playing well, the world is watching more and more. It also helps introduce new and casual fans into potentially becoming dedicated followers of the sport as international play is only one sector of “The Beautiful Game” and it doesn’t come around as often.
Think where the state of golf is right now. Tiger Woods was king and on pace to break every major record the sport had to offer. Then, the scandal, injuries and decline in play happened and now he may be on a faster track to retirement than even he thought. Golf has been searching for that “next Tiger” and still fails in finding someone who wants to grab a stranglehold of that title.
Any idea why it’s hard? Yes, it is an individual sport, but “these guys are good.”
Soccer, fortunately, is a team game that allows for more opportunities for several players to step up and become stars and superstars. For example, think about how much of a worldwide phenomenon former English midfielder David Beckham was during his playing days. Sure, he had the entertainment factor with his wife Victoria, but he also was one of the premiere central players and set piece takers of his time and even of all-time.
Courtesy: Ronaldo7.net
Guys like Cristiano Ronaldo dazzle with their good looks (you’re welcome, ladies), like Beckham, but also have the controversy factor (fouls), the ability to bury goals from anywhere, set up goals – just ask the United States in 95th minute of their second Group Stage contest this year in Brazil – and also the footwork and tricks that make people say “these guys are pretty good.”
Sound familiar?
Soccer is a global game and nationalism isn’t more exemplified in any other sport than this one. While it may always have the feel of a “niche sport” per se, its global icons and superstars will keep the sport from ever losing luster.
