While fuming with disgust over national personality Ann Coulter's recent column on America's moral decay due to the game of soccer, I decided to ask some local soccer personalities what they thought of the piece. They've forgotten more soccer than I know, so I thought I would share their thoughts.
I got some interesting responses.
• John Brown University men's soccer coach Scott Marksberry:
Ms. Coulter is clearly writing for ratings and responses here.
Once I saw her opening remark regarding the length of a soccer match, I will admit to having low expectations for the rest of the column. Does she watch NBA games at an average of 137 minutes per game (160 in the playoffs, based on nba.com)?
Does she watch NFL games at an average of 190 minutes and 34 seconds (most of which the ball is not actually in play)?
How about a 178-minute Major League Baseball game (which was a league stat from 2013, BEFORE the implementation of reviews has taken the league average above 3 hours)?
Soccer, at the professional level, is played in two 45-minute halves (90 minutes total). Referees can add a little time, based on goals, injuries, or delays. But that's it. The clock does not stop. There are no timeouts. The players who start the game are, fundamentally, the players who end the game. All adjustments to the game plan must be made on the fly. My goodness! It sounds like real life! Perhaps this why it is uncomfortable for some folks?
"No heroes" she says? Tell John Brooks.
"No losers" she says? Roberto Baggio will be thrilled to hear that!
"The blame is dispersed" she believes? She's probably right on this one. I'll bet several of Luis Suarez's teammates have been accused of biting Italians this week.
If she would like a better understanding of the game, Ms. Coulter is welcome to come out and train with our women's team (or, I suppose, with our men's team since "athletic talent finds so little expression that girls can play with boys").
• JBU women's soccer coach Kathleen Paulsen:
It seems as if Ann is looking at sports and specifically soccer through only one lens -- through the lens of a spectator who desires entertainment.
While I disagree with her regarding the entertainment value of soccer -- I think it contains all the drama that basketball, baseball, hockey, and football contain -- she is also failing to acknowledge the positive aspects of soccer that teach teamwork, discipline, and many other character traits.
Likewise -- soccer is unique in that every woman, man, and child -- regardless of their socio-economic level can participate in this sport. All that is needed are people, a small area to play in, and a ball which I have seen made out of plastic bags.
It seems as if the spirit of the article is exclusion, rather than inclusion of peoples based on culture, gender, and socio-economic level. Rather than viewing soccer as an enemy in America, it should be embraced as a unique tool that develops character, creates opportunity and has the ability to unite nations.
• Siloam Springs head soccer coach Jason Bowen:
Immoral decay? When have you ever heard of a college soccer player getting their school placed on probation for receiving improper benefits like you do in football and basketball?
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There's only a few more weeks left of the World Cup. The United States played Belgium on Tuesday in the Round of 16. Unfortunately, results of the match weren't available by presstime.
-- Graham Thomas is the managing editor for the Herald-Leader. He can be reached at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Sports on 07/02/2014