When it comes to sports Americans usually boast that we’re the cream of the crop in athletic dominance and importance. Because let’s be honest, the only football (uh, American) that anybody really cares about is the NFL. Apologies to the families of those in Arena Football or any other professional league, but most interest all boils down to the Super Bowl and Roger Goodell’s band of law-bending stars.

The MLB and its World Series is the most coveted baseball championship and winning the NBA Finals is similarly the biggest accomplishment for professional basketball players. Yeah the NHL is a split between us and Canada, but aside from that we pretty much run things.

Except for one sport, which happens to arguably be the most popular to the rest of the planet; soccer.

The MLS (Major League Soccer) deserves little more than a mention because all the professional soccer that matters takes place in Europe or in Latin American countries. Soccer just isn’t that big of a deal here. We all heard about how the 1994 games in Chicago were finally going to transform us into a soccer-crazed nation or how decent showings in some of the following World Cups would catapult the sport into a higher echelon.

The only problem with that theory is that it never materialized. Sure there was an increase in local youth soccer camps and “soccer moms” came to be, but it was largely still a kid brother in the national scene.

If you’re wondering why, this year’s games give more than enough evidence.

Whether you highlight the awful officiating blunders, FIFA choosing to censor replays during games, ridiculous fake injuries and flopping or the perceived anti-climactic lack of scoring, there are plenty of reasons why soccer doesn’t ever seem primed to capture America’s interest.

This isn’t an attack on the sport, which is immensely popular for great reasons. Similar to those who defend perfect games and no-hitters in baseball, there’s a grace and strategy to be admired in well-defended soccer matches.

Seeing two talented teams trying to exploit advantages that last for only mere seconds with powerful and pinpoint kicks is a thrill. The enjoyment factor rises even higher whenever someone breaks free and rushes the goal or executes a brilliant header or scissor kick into the back of the net.

It’s also a physically-demanding sport that breeds admiration for the conditioning of its players and it’s undoubtedly one of the only sports that can be truly called worldwide.

Despite all its qualities though, it just doesn’t seem to have the right elements for Americans.

We’re a sports nation enamored with constant glamour, big plays (Hail Mary passes, home runs, 3-pointers, etc) and even bigger players. We love superstars, fast action and plenty of scoring. With so many of the world’s major leagues vying for our attention plus competition from Hollywood stars, blockbuster movies and American Idol, something usually has to be a train wreck or shoot-out (sports, not violence) to keep us entertained.

Soccer Players Flopping Even Makes Derek Fisher and Vlade Divac Mad.

As a Latino soccer is engrained in me as part of a cultural tradition. Sure I don’t always watch it, but I remember my dad and uncles playing it and always getting either excited or mad at the sudden burst of ‘gooooooooooooooooal’ emanating from the television screen. It’s those memories and the pride instilled in us by our parents that makes us root for the national teams they grew up loving. That’s the same thing that makes fans of England, Brazil, Italy, etc so dedicated.

It’s not the same for the average American who prefers hot dogs and baseball, Super Bowl parties, Kobe vs LeBron or some beer and Nascar. They have emotions vested in those sports. They remember trips to the ballpark with their dads to watch the Yankees or Dodgers. They remember Joe Namath and Joe Montana, Magic, Bird and Michael Jordan.

Can the same really be said for American soccer history? Cobi Jones and Alexi Lalas don’t pack quite the same magnitude.

FIFA cleaning up all the exaggerated flopping, wasting of time and improving their officiating would help improve soccer’s image here, but they don’t seem to care so it’ll likely always be a fad in America.

There’s a glimmer of hope, as we saw with the classic emotional reactions across the country to Landon Donovan‘s game winner against Algeria. The U.S. Soccer Federation is trying too, saying they’re open to adding goal line technology.

That will all help, but it will ultimately come down to whether or not we ever actually capture a World Cup title. America loves winners and so far we just haven’t had what it takes.

- Will.

The Sports Snob will be published once a week here on YouBeenBlinded.com. Will R. is a journalist/writer who covers sports, news and music for several websites. His music work can be found on www.WestCoastRydaz.com

The 2010 World Cup lasts from June 11 to July 11, which is too long for Steve Nash to wear a sports bra but not long enough to bury all of the LeBron James talk.

The biggest question today is where to watch the World Cup streaming online. Worry no more because I’ve got you covered. There are several places to catch the action whether you’re watching on a phone or quietly at your cubicle.

BBC Sport
CBC Sports
ESPN 3
ESPN Mobile TV
TVU Networks

You can find the entire 2010 World Cup schedule here.

Another sign that the L.A. Galaxy and MLS were put too much stock in an aging David Beckham has been delivered by England coach Fabio Capello. The new man in charge for England made a Mike McCarthy/Ted Thompson like decision by moving Beckham to the bench in favor of young star on the rise Theo Walcott.

It’s usually hard for a superstar player to admit it’s time to move on. Nobody would be shocked if Beckham was pissed about the decision being made for him, but so far Becks is singing the praises of Walcott.

From The Mirror:

“I’m pleased for Theo and the team and I am happy to be here, but I don’t expect to play in every game. That’s the way it is.

“I was happy to get on in both games and would have liked to play more, but I don’t care whether I play or not. The most important thing is England winning and qualifying for the World Cup.”

Becks sounds good now, but if England’s World Cup chances are hanging in the balance you can believe that David Beckham will want to be on the pitch. Although his game is on the decline Beckham deserves to end his career on the field.

In her first interview since ripping teammate Briana Scurry and former coach Greg Ryan, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo talks about what went wrong 3 months ago. She says the combination of her father’s death and her childhood dream being crushed led to her outburst.

“the moment I realized we didn’t have the opportunity to win the gold medal, my world came tumbling down. I had nothing to immediately give back to my father. I was wound so tight emotionally, and the moment after the loss I broke.”

Ok.. That sounds legit. Kinda. Those things probably played a small part, but the biggest factor was Hope was pissed that she got benched.. Here’s where Hope starts lying to us:

“Never did I intend to put down a teammate, and that is the thing that hurts the most. I always have respected and will respect Bri. And that is the thing that hurts me the most.”

She never did intend to put down a teammate?!? What exactly was she trying to accomplish?

US goalkeeper Hope Solo talks about World Cup fiasco. Courtesy of Yahoo Sports

Tags: Hope Solo, Briana Scurry, US Soccer, Goalkeeper, Youtube, Utube

In the wrong hands, rap is a bad and dangerous thing. If you don’t know anything about sports in the late 60s and you don’t mind lyrics being completely offbeat then this is the video for you.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6K-Sz9c2NM]

They’ve got 99 problems and knowing how to rap is about 98 of ‘em.

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