Soccer - "The Un- American Activity"

And I hope his tongue was planted firmly in cheek.

 

It probably wasn't. And this fool was entrusted to help lead a school of young people?

 

At our school, soccer sign-ups were right next to the Young Bolsheviks Club sign-ups. The commies knew they could always get a two-fer.

 

I read an article a while back that explained America's rejection of soccer on a variation of that statement about soccer and communism.

When immigrants brought soccer to America, it was interpreted as a political and cultural statement and a slightly veiled rejection of so-called American values. Despite the foreign roots of baseball, football and basketball, soccer was seen as slightly insidious--like trying to  introduce  garlic into mainstream American cooking .

 

Nothing much has changed down here, JR. I've talked with a high school coach, a 30-year veteran, who has heard "soccer is a communist sport" all too much for anyone's liking. And he's black with no accent ... we're not talking about a coach who clearly hasn't left his home country in his rear-view mirror with a thick brogue and such.

 

The 'Soccer is communist' is just a joke.
Some people don't like soccer, and they make that joke.
I don't think there's any harm in the joke.

 

Problem is Buck, I'm not sure all of them are joking.

 

Exactly. Some probably are joking. But I'm not convinced all of them are.

 

Hell, JR, half of those who say that don't really know the true definition of communism anyway. And 90 percent of those who aren't joking. So I wouldn't worry about it all that much.

 

But the frisbee was no joke. That too was brought to america to capture the youth who did not fall prey to soccer. After the Fribee came the hacky sack.  

 

Well I must admit I did feel a twinge when I read the article. I had no doubt that it would generate intersting discussion on SportsJournalists.com.

One thing I think this thread proves is that Toobin is correct on his theory about American soccer fans- they are "evangelical in their fevor."

 

I find it funny that the above emoticon -- which I love by the way -- is from a soccer message board.