This Is American Soccer, US Soccer, MNT, WNT, and MLS - Tackling the subject of Soccer in the US, and worldwide.

Michael Toole of Sam’s Army. Shot for the first TIAS post, almost two years ago.

I noted a few of these stories in Barometers over the past weeks, but I’ve been remiss to not wholly address this topic that has been bouncing around the internet recently: the rise of hardcore soccer supporter, which in part is bringing some Brits to respect their U.S. brethren.

How far we have come from the days - it’s still happening!! - where opinions were more in line with Stefan Szymanski, an Imperial College economist in London, who, having specialized in the economics and business of sports, said, “There is a cultural objection to soccer in the United States.”

Note just some of the appearances here, here, here. here, here, and here.

Some thoughts on what it all means after the jump…

I’ve learned three things from this mini media explosion. One I knew for a long time, one I didn’t see coming, and one I didn’t know, not exactly anyway.

First, MLS and USL clubs have supporter’s groups that are hardcore, even European-esque. OK, a worthy point, but certainly not anything new for those of us who have attended or even simply followed MNT, MLS, and/or USL games.

Second, I didn’t expect English fans, even objective ones, to begin accepting American soccer. Not yet anyhow. No matter how slow the creep, it’s nice to see. But supporter groups and hardcore fans have been around for awhile, so why the attention now? Coincidentally, i’ve also been receiving a serious increase in e-mail from England. It’s hard for me not to think that Beckham has already wielded his power, prying contented eyes to follow him westward.

And third, can we get a few more soccer blogs?

Nearly two years ago when I started TIAS – by no means the first or best soccer blog - there were very few soccer blogs. But in the year leading up to and since the World Cup, that number has exploded. I’m two parts pride - of the community for standing up - and one part curious - to see if it’s just another post-world cup bubble. Given it’s already been one year since the Cup, and what with momentum continuing with sites sprouting left and right, I have a feeling it’s more than just a momentary explosion. A lot of the English e-mails I mentioned before were writers and bloggers from England looking to either spread their wings state-side or simply gather some information on the New World. I’m at a loss to nail down some specific reason why this is, but I will begin to take Over-Under bets on the first appearance of the ‘Beckham Blog’.

Do you see a theme here?

The Beckhams, courtesy of the BBC

Kill me if you must, but I felt obliged to say this…

I highlighted in a short post a couple of weeks ago, framed inside the knowledge of Florida Gator basketball coach Billy Donovan backing out of his contract with the Orlando Magic, that David Beckham was reportedly – using the term loosely – having second thoughts on coming to MLS. Well, we had an actual bit of reporting, in which Beckham’s agent says the star winger is ready to move to America and take on his newfound challenges. Finally, everybody gets it.

Well almost.

Fabio Capello, the coach that once said Beckham wanted to “go to Hollywood to be half a film star,” before announcing his star would never play for Real Madrid again, before then starting him, now wants him back. But Beckham appears intent on taking his good word and that league medal with him to the U.S. (Real Madrid could be hurting if they lose all the guys they are in danger of losing, and Henry goes to Barcelona. Yikes!)

With all the hoopla surrounding Beckham over the course of his career (forget the last few months), I’d like to note before he arrives here that MLS is getting much more than a celebrity or a solid soccer player. They are not getting a savior, but they are getting a good man

(Besides the supposed adultery claim, I can’t think of another instance where Beckham has proven even marginally criminal. Am I missing something?)

So while some of us are glad to have a new celebrity, and some of us are happy to have a solid soccer player, I’d like to focus my little bit of light on the fact that we are getting an athlete that by and large is a man of his word, a man of class. That kind of class - not that which determines the neighborhood he’ll reside in or the color of his hair – is rare today, and it is what America is missing most. And it is something that can last a lot longer than a bending cross.

added note: Lalas’ heart is likely in the right place - i.e. selling MLS - but this isn’t helping.