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[QUOTE="billsin01, post: 1080662, member: 837"]
Someone in these 20+ pages kept arguing that in 10 years soccer would surpass NBA/MLB. I just don't see that which has been my primary argument. But I think we're generally on the same page.

My theory on the resentment some feel toward soccer is this: soccer is one of those sports that has a fan base that is always insisting it's an incredible and beautiful game and it occasionally feels as though they're trying to make you like it or at least insinuate that you may be insane for not liking it.

I mean, the US got thoroughly out-played vs. Belgium but the only stories you hear are how amazing our 1-1-2 performance at the World Cup was, how great Tim Howard played in goal, and how much soccer is growing in america. Think about that -- how crazy is that? You never hear about how great it was for an American team or athlete to simply compete at a decent level.

As for the MLS thing -- I don't know. At some level it's immaterial to our discussion because if I'm way off base in using MLB vs. the minors as an analogy, then the MLS has some serious work to do to change the perception b/c I'm pretty sure I'm not the only US sports fan who sees that as a fairly reasonable comparison. Regardless, it's fair to suggest that the vast percentage of elite soccer talent plays in Europe, right? Is that a fair assumption? That's generally my point -- I think for soccer to zip past the other major sports, I really feel like the MLS needs to be the place the best athletes play. Otherwise it's going to be hard to get wide-spread buy-in.

But, it's probably not worth discussing since I think we both agree the sport will continue to be a larger part of the US sports landscape.
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