Sounder At Heart: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
New Blog: Along The Olentangy for Ohio State Fans!

Are you ready to be a soccer evangelist?

Are you ready to convince the non-believers that this game is worthy as a game? That the climb up the ladder in a Champions League to World Club Cup title is as worthy as the NCAA Tourney?

Are you willing to not just get up early on a Saturday Morning to watch the Premiership, but to take the time on Thursday and Saturday nights and watch Major League Soccer in its final few weeks as literally every team in the league still has a shot at the playoffs with the right play of luck? Are you going to invite your non-footie friends over to watch as well?

MLS is our league now. It not only deserves our support it desperately needs it. It needs the better TV ratings, it needs full stadiums, because that's the only way it goes from being the 2nd best league in CONCACAF to being a league that ranks in that second tier underneath the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Brazil and Argentina. While all of those will likely be above MLS for eternity, there is no reason that the Dutch League or the MFL ranks higher than MLS in a decade, unless you just don't care enough to convince your friends to care.

Evangelism, its quite simple. You leave your comfort zone and convince people that they are better off following your code than not.

As American Soccer fans we have certain rights and responsibilities. I abbreviate Greg Lalas' suggestions below;

Rights
The Right to only see the markings of the game we are watching
The Right to have a say in our local clubs - SSFC is doing this quite well
The Right to quality referees - every Seattle fan knows what this means
The Right to teams that want to compete by bringing on the best possible players

These are the ones that I feel need to be highlighted

Responsibilities
Support your local club - this is for you Eurosnobs. Sounders FC exists. Live is always better than memorex
Watch MLS on TV
Don't despair because the sport becomes popular enjoy it
Support establishments that support soccer
Evangelize, convince the masses to love the game - this is how we fill a 67,000 seat stadium

It is up to us to fill the stands. We can no longer blame a minor league front office. We can no longer blame a lack of advertising. We can no longer blame a lack of recognition of the players on the club.

We have been asked to help spread the love of the game and the club will clearly reward us and the ECS for doing so.

Welcome to Democracy in Sports Seattle. It isn't just a vote on a name, or the ability get elected to a Council. We are the Ground Game. We are the passion and the future of the sport.

We are the reason the upper deck will be opened in the future.

0 recs  |  Comment 0 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Sounder at Heart is a blog about the Seattle Sounders FC, with occasional forays into Democracy in Sports, Roster Management, Soccer Statistics and Life in Puget Sound.
Start posting on Sounder At Heart »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Img_0349_small
A look at the playoff chase (and PPM standings)

Recent FanPosts

Small
Semi - OT: pickup games in Seattle?
Small
T!mbers Sponsorship Deal
Tv-head_sm_small
US Open Cup Final Ticketing Cluster [  ]
Sounder_4_small
Site Survey Going Into Year 3
Img_0349_small
PPM [and whatnot] standings
Small
Did anyone notice...
Img_0349_small
alternatives to friendlies?
Sounder_4_small
CONCACAF Champions League Group Rd 1 Open Thread
Seattlesoccerscene_small
Grass vs Plastic

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SBNation.com Recent Stories

Maryland's Adrian Moten (1) celebrates with fans in the stands after Maryland defeated Navy 17-14 during an NCAA college football game, Monday, Sept. 6, 2010, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Rob Carr) +1 updates

Maryland's Goal Line Stand Stops Navy, Terps Win 17-14

Wyoming head football coach Dave Christensen,foreground, leads his players onto Jonah Field to start an NCAA college intersquad football scrimmage Saturday, Aug.21, 2010, at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyo. (AP Photo/Laramie Boomerang, Andy Carpenean)

Wyoming Freshman Ruben Narcisse Killed In Car Accident

Washington Nationals' Danny Espinosa rounds third on his way home after he hit a grand slam during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 6, 2010, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Sunday's Roto Roundup: Danny Espinosa Homers Twice And Drives in 6

More from SBNation.com >


Managers

Sounder_4_small Dave Clark

Editors

World_small Kirsten Schlewitz

Fight_club_small Jeremiah Oshan

Authors

Small CarlosT

Weaint_small Graham