St. Louis, Part 2
By: Jeremy | November 20th, 2009
Let me first start by thanking everyone for their comments and generous words of advice. It is your comments that make this blog worthwhile. Whether you are complimenting me on a humorous post or telling me to go fuck myself, I cherish every word.
Now, let’s get to my St. Louis Soccer United post. There is this statement on their website:
St. Louis and soccer are synonymous. No city in North America has as long a tradition, or as deep a heritage as St. Louis, Missouri, the soccer capital of America.
This is on a St. Louis website, it’s not something I made up. Let’s break it down a little so I can better communicate my thoughts when I read that particular statement.
St. Louis and soccer are synonymous.
Well, I’m just going to take their word for it on that one. I’m not sure Louis IX would agree.
No city in North America has as long a tradition, or as deep a heritage as St. Louis, Missouri.
At the time I wrote the original post, I wasn’t very educated about St. Louis’s impressive soccer history. If you have read my posts before, you would know that I have described this blog as a chronicle of a new fan’s understanding and appreciation of the sport. I have gained some knowledge since the last post, but a deeper heritage than any city on the entire continent? Even any city in Mexico? That sounds a little boisterous, but that’s still not where my post was directed.
St. Louis, Missouri, the soccer capital of America.
Ah, that’s the part that gets me. I fully understand there is great history in St. Louis. The kids play and the World Cup players and on and on, but this is my question…
HOW DID ST. LOUIS RECEIVE THE DESIGNATION AS THE SOCCER CAPITAL OF AMERICA?
By definition, a capital is the city or town that is the official seat of government in a country, state, etc. From what I know, and most of you may argue that it isn’t much, The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois.
Again, was there an election that gave St. Louis that distinction? Who votes? Is it a national vote? A computer formulated vote? From my point of view, it appears that St. Louis Soccer United is trying to pass off some false information to help popularize their presence.
Am I saying this in all seriousness? Hmm, how many of my posts have I written and expected them to be taken seriously?
And don’t come at me with the Houston bashing stuff. I never said Houston should be the capital of soccer. That’s ridiculous. There are probably 50 cities more deserving.
I’m sure most people that are offended it’s because of my “high and mighty know-it-all douchebag attitude comment.” You know, the one I quickly recanted in the next sentence? Anyway, ok St. Louis, you aren’t high and mighty know-it-all douchebags. Whatever is the opposite of that description, that’s what you are. Better?
FOREVER ORANGE
Dallas sucks
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Wow – kinda bummed I missed the drama here! Here’s the bit I find interesting and I keep forgetting to write about it over at the WPS site: Jeff Cooper is a principal owner of the new not-USL league & also owns the WPS team. Jeff Cooper also tried and failed to bid for a MLS team. So he decides to form a new league? Damn. DON’T FUCK WITH JEFF COOPER!
Posted from
United States
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I agree with the first post, this second was took quick in retracting your stance.
Portland calls themselves Soccercity USA, and have since the 70s. Per capita Washington state has been one of the highest youth soccer programs in the entire country for years. Maryland and the DC region has produced probably the most international club players and college stars. Southern California was long a hotbed of soccer talent and professional leagues. There are probably a bunch of other places that would take that name or add another variation.
I don’t really count St. Louis the Soccer Capital because of a bunch of amateur NCAA teams and having a few people born in regionally proximate location who made the national team. None of the comments really helped to support their cause, they just seemed to imply you were saying Houston was the top soccer city, that seemed to be their only response.
Posted from
United States -
Yeah, Jeff, a little strange that asking what governing authority St.Louis has over America generates responses of how Houston is a dump. I didn’t say, imply, or hint that Houston should be this supposed capital city.
Posted from
United States -
Soccer exists outside of the realm of MLS.
The 4 biggest areas for soccer historically in this country are St. Louis, Seattle, Philly, and New Jersey.Until this year, only one of those areas had a MLS club and that one had horrible attendance.
Professional soccer has nothing to do with being the “Soccer Capital” if such a thing exists.
That being said, St. Louis just had 5500-6000 fans for the State High School Championship game. How many other cities do that?
Being a soccer city means incorporating soccer into your lives from the ground up. St. Louis has one of the most successful youth programs in the country.
Being a “soccer city” has nothing to do with buying a ticket to a professional game.
Posted from
United States -
Did you read the article? I am not questioning the history, tradition, heritage, youth programs, and all of that “soccer city” stuff. It has nothing to do with MLS, high schools, fans, or attendance. My question is solely about the term “capital”. Capital implies government. What governing power does St.Louis hold over America? That’s my question.
Posted from
United States -
Hey Doucheboy,
One definition of “Capital” implies government.
However, another and more appropriate definition is “a city that is the center of a specific activity or industry”.We can argue all day as to whether this is still true about St. Louis. (every US World Cup team has had at least 1 player from St. Louis on it, highest per capita youth participation, etc)
However, if you are going to start a bitch rant over a term, at least be intelligent enough to know the applicable definition.
My God you are dense.
Posted from
United States -
Jeremy’s point is valid. He’s a guy who obviously pays enough attention to footie to write a soccer blog and had no clue as to St. Louis’ impact on the game nationally. That gives us all a good idea of how important St. Louis’ impact on the national game is.
The sexist-whiny-name-caller claims that buying tickets to a professional game has nothing to do with being a soccer city. That’s stupid. Soccer-supporting cities buy tickets to pro soccer events and if you claim to be the “capital” then you better buy a lot of tickets to your pro team.
Next, guy-who-didn’t-comprehend-the-post quotes the dictionary and name-calls while failing basic grammar. If you’re going to nit-pick definitions then you should have correct grammar in at least one of your sentences; glass houses.
Socrates once went to the sandal-maker and asked him who he thought the smartest guy in town was. The shoemaker said, “It’s me, because nobody else can make sandals like me.”
He then asked the oil-maker the same question. The oil-maker said, “I am! I’m the guy only guy who can make oil from olives.”
He then asked the carriage-maker. “I’m the smartest because I’m the only one who can make carriages so well.”
Socrates thought to himself, “maybe I am the smartest, because I’m the only guy who isn’t sure he is.”
Then, he asked what the “Soccer Capital of the USA” was and Guy-Who-Needs-To-Swear-To-Make-A-Point said, “ME! ME! ME!”
Nobody questioned St. Louis’ claim to be a soccer-city. Jeremy took offense to the term “capital” claimed by St. Louis Soccer United on behalf of St. Louis, and rightfully so.
At the very least, anyone claiming to be a “capital” of any sort needs people outside the “capital” to recognize them as such. St. Louis, Portland or anyone else for that matter declaring themselves the “capital of soccer” is just plain dumb.
St. Louis is no soccer capital. You don’t even have a top-flight team.
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United States -
And with that, Sammy, I am laying this to rest.
Posted from
United States
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