Soccer has its kicks, but something’s missing

Darling, Raiders find scoring balance
2/12/12
WSU’s victory good for the sole
2/12/12
Hall finding groove after concussion
2/12/12
OSU women back in Big Ten race
2/12/12
Hey coaches, recruits are still kids
2/12/12
> More sports headlines

By Greg Billing, Staff Writer 12:35 AM Tuesday, June 30, 2009

I admit it.

I watched a good portion of the U.S. men’s soccer team’s 3-2 loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup on Sunday, June 28.

And I’ll do it again, but not until there’s a compelling reason.

I sometimes think I would like to be a soccer fan and not just hop on the bandwagon when a big match rolls around. But honestly, I’m not ready to make that commitment.

The game still hasn’t totally grabbed hold of me. Maybe if it was broken into quarters. Maybe if the field was shorter. Maybe if they scored more.

Whatever the reason, soccer has a long way to go before winning me over from auto racing, football, baseball and family time.

I’ve covered a couple of the U.S. men’s and women’s matches at Crew Stadium in Columbus and loved watching the strategy unfold live in front of me. I covered Major League Soccer’s championship game in 2001 — won by San Jose and led by newcomer Landon Donovan — and was impressed by the passion.

A small pocket of Chicago Fire fans sat near me, banging a drum the entire match and having a great time rooting for two teams from the West Coast.

I thought: “Man, I’ve got to get to a Fire game in Chicago. These guys know how to have fun.”

But I’ve never gone. I’ve never even made the trip along I-70 to watch the Crew play.

But I want to. I’m just not there, yet. Until that time, I’ll be looking for the bandwagon to roll back around for the 2010 World Cup.

Save me a seat.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2400, ext. 6991, or gbilling@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Share this article