Comments on: The Globalization of Soccer http://newley.com/2006/01/25/the-globalization-of-soccer/ Dispatches from Bangkok Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:23:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Newley http://newley.com/2006/01/25/the-globalization-of-soccer/#comment-1075 Newley Wed, 25 Jan 2006 16:50:49 +0000 http://newley.com/2006/01/25/the-globalization-of-soccer/#comment-1075 I don't know if I'd say the American fascination with our own sports is dorky or exclusionary -- after all, the Japanese, for example, have their sumo and that's cool with me. More power to 'em. One element of American sports culture that does rub me the wrong way, though, is that we refer to our league winners as "world champions." The world series, after all, is NOT a global tourney. If we opened it up the Asians and Cubas, for example, than the "world champions" designation would be fine. It's sort of a truism that for Americans, America IS the world, so this shouldn't be surprising. I don’t know if I’d say the American fascination with our own sports is dorky or exclusionary — after all, the Japanese, for example, have their sumo and that’s cool with me. More power to ‘em.

One element of American sports culture that does rub me the wrong way, though, is that we refer to our league winners as “world champions.” The world series, after all, is NOT a global tourney. If we opened it up the Asians and Cubas, for example, than the “world champions” designation would be fine. It’s sort of a truism that for Americans, America IS the world, so this shouldn’t be surprising.

]]> By: Michael http://newley.com/2006/01/25/the-globalization-of-soccer/#comment-1074 Michael Wed, 25 Jan 2006 16:44:49 +0000 http://newley.com/2006/01/25/the-globalization-of-soccer/#comment-1074 Newley: Looks like a cool book. Did it ever cross your mind that us Americans with our football-centric sports culture are kind of like a dorky, elitest sect that is only interested in our own exclusionary games? Might not the same be said of our singular interest in those things American? Newley: Looks like a cool book. Did it ever cross your mind that us Americans with our football-centric sports culture are kind of like a dorky, elitest sect that is only interested in our own exclusionary games? Might not the same be said of our singular interest in those things American?

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