Sorry if I am a bit late to this discussion, but I'd like to chime in. I LOVE soccer, but I didn't grow up that way. I grew up in rural NC, where I slept, breathed, ate, drank, and screwed baseball. All of it, every day, every second, every year. AAU World Series Champions, 7 of my starting 9 in AAU are pro's now, including Wil Myers who is starting RF for Tampa Bay Rays. I know my baseball and I love it. I have been offered by several local high schools to teach and coach at a Junior Varsity or Varsity level. I have been a Braves fan since I took my first breath. I remember all the division championships, the 95 Series, and the horrible late 2000's. Oh yea, and the "Infield Fly" Wildcard Playoff BS with St. Louis. Every second I have spent around baseball has been a joy.
I also love college basketball. I played in high school and I live in NC, so Duke-UNC rivalry is premiere. I am a Duke fan btw. I watch every Duke basketball game, every year. I remember JJ, McRoberts, Langdon, Battier, Parks, Williams, Boozer, Brand, Magette, Dheng, and Irving. NBA is boring to me, but that's me.
The Carolina Panthers were founded in 1995. I have been a Panthers fan since Day 1. I recall the Collins days, Fred lane getting shot, Wesley Walls, Sam Mills, Kevin Greene, woeful QB years of Peete, Buerlein, and Delhomme. We have been to 1 Super Bowl and it was one of the greatest American football games I have ever seen. I cried for 2 hours when we lost. We haven't been since. I watch every game.
My point is that I love all of these sports. Sure, I could sit here with you and tell you my favorites and why. But, the fact is, they are all great. Some folks don't like baseball, I can understand why. I don't watch all 162 Braves games. I can say that I watch 50 a year, usually 3-5 at Turner field in Atlanta. Basketball requires a certain set of gifts. Football requires strength, stamina, skill, and finesse. Baseball requires excellent coordination, stamina, strategy, understanding, chemistry, and in some cases assumption. These are the things that make these sports great. What makes soccer great is it's simplicity.
The fact is, football is played all over the world. We Americans usually do not grow up watching or playing football. We play baseball, American football, and basketball. In some places hockey. But, football is the greatest sport and it is not arguable. It isn't because I say it is or because of the money, women, fame, etc. It is the greatest because it is easy, cheap, and fun. It requires skills and discipline that most sports do not require. It is played all over the world. And once every four years, the world comes together to play this wonderful game of football. This year it is in Brasil. I hope and truly wish that all of you that dislike, hate, or think poorly of football will watch your native country. Even if it is just one game. Watch your native country and pull for your country to win as if your patriotism actually were in question. Somewhere deep inside you, you will feel it. That urge to want your country to win, the need for victory, the appreciation for what your'e watching, the popularity of this wonderful game, the simplicity of this crazy overpaid nancy sport, the love and admiration of football. Watch it with us.
