NR Commentary

Globalization

Globalization

A Friedelesque Patwa: America’s Linguistic Schizophrenia

by Miriti Murungi
Inspired by Brian Phillips and jason davis.
In the 1980s and 90s, there was a distinct soccer language in the United States. We had cleats and middies and …., largely because there was no readily-available alternative. The English would have frowned on our inability to master the proper terms, as many still do.
Back then, many of the youth players who got a chance to venturing overseas for tournaments and tours would come back to the States talking about boots and pitches, but most of the time, it was in jest, a concerted effort appear more in touch with the global game, more worldly and cooler than our domestic contemporaries.
The idea that Americans never had a soccer voice is a fallacy. This discussion starts with a recongition that although we haven’t had years of available professional soccer in the United States, we have been playing the game for years. And to play requires a language to discuss the sport.
Only recently have we become inundated with this discussion of “proper” soccer terminology. For instance, only a decade ago, few Americans walked around talking about football. It was called soccer. End of story. Now, Americans referencing football is commonplace, even for those of us (i.e. me) who grew up calling it soccer, feeling awkward and fake talking about football.
The phenomenon that Phillips and Davis refer to — the changing nature of the language we use — is a contemporary American issue, and a forward-looking one as well. Once we became regular consumers of proper football, out soccer terminolgy teacher/conditioning coach became overseas announcers, overseas writers, and domestic fans eager to use terminology that sounded professional and authentic.  What was once abnormal has become normal, so normal in fact that we now challenge our previous notions of proper soccer terminology, scoffing at ….. A proper media clash of civilizations is taking place, and if history provides any insight, it is that a bastardized culture will be the result. Actually, it already is.
As it stands, we are the pigeon-speaking, creole-like offspring of Anglo-American interactions.  We confuse the English speakers unfamiliar with American terminology, while simultaneously confusing Americans unfamiliar with norms from across the pond. But for those of us conversant in the patwa that we’ve created, this terminolgy 2.0 sounds just right. it’s not perfect, and it won’t help pass a test on either side of the Atlantic, but it works for many of us.
Nostalgia for creating a distinct American culture makes all the sense in the world. But re-creating the past is rarely an option. What is more likely is that American soccer culture will be defined by what it is, a natural schizophrenia that allows for a fluid use of terminolgy and personalities. At the end of the day, it will be nice to exist comfortably in an environment where fluidity is celebrated, where football is soccer. We shouldn’t respond to the English grammar police by creating our own. We should respond by opening the door to the inevitable and welcoming all to participate in the creation of a new language.
We are in the midst of responding to a clash of civilizations all throughout our society. This is our soccer version. I won’t be surprised if our sporting clash mirrors clashes elsewhere. Watch this space.

England USA flag

A clash of civilizations is taking place in American soccer, and history suggests that the winner will be Brad Friedel. Actually, I’m pretty sure he already won.

****

In the 1980s and 90s, we had cleats, middies, fields, fans and goalies. A pitch was something you avoided when MBNA called and tried to give you a credit card, and a kit was an obvious reference to Michael Knight’s preferred mode of transportation.

American verbiage stood solidly on years of isolation from foreign influence. The most die-hard, proper English fan could hardly blame us for willful ignorance.

If you were one of the millions of players during soccer’s Dark Ages in the United States, you probably weren’t regularly reading articles in The Guardian about things like crowd violence at a Liverpool vs. Juventus game, the “nitro-glycerine in human form that is Eric Cantona,”  or Michel Platini doing something worthy of praise (remember, he was once a half-decent player). (more…)

Globalization | Outside the Lines
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Globalization

There Goes the Neighborhood

by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.

Ahsan Ali Syed

The past few years have seen an influx of investors from the Far East, India, and the Middle East looking to break into the English game. Worries about diluting the purity of the English game have become the issue du jour.

These sentiments are not restricted to England. Italy has struggled with the introduction of “others” into Italian society. France’s inverse love affair with African and Arab populations is well documented. This same narrative can be found in immigration debates in the United States where conservatives continuously harp on about our immigrant nation losing itself through, well, immigration. (more…)

Globalization | Outside the Lines
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Globalization

The China 2026 World Cup and Fun with FIFA’s Bidding Timeline

by Miriti Murungi

Chinese Football

Wei Di, head of the Chinese Football Association, has spoken. China wants the 2026 World Cup. Given China’s explosion over the past decade, it might be hard to say no to the world’s most populous nation, even with the recent corruption scandals in Chinese soccer.

According to Wei, “It really moved us to see all the social benefits South Africa got from hosting the World Cup.”

And by social benefits, we should probably assume that he also means financial and publicity benefits.

Wei continued, “Everyone has been debating whether China should bid for the World Cup or when to bid, but seeing how successfully South Africa hosted it, I have to say that China has no reason not to bid and now is the best time.”

And there you go.

So prepare yourself for forty-nine year old Shakira with an umbrella under the hot Beijing sun singing an English version of some Chinese song over and over again in the summer of 2026 if the Chinese bid is successful. But first, there is a bid process to navigate. (more…)

Globalization | Outside the Lines
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Globalization

Samuel Eto’o’s Question: Is the World Ready for an African Champion?

by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.
He leans forward animatedly: “The question we have all the time is whether an African team is able to win the World Cup. But the real question is whether the world is ready for an African team to become champions?”
Does he believe some officials might still subconsciously favour the more traditional European and South American powerhouses over the six African teams? “I’m still a player,” Eto’o smiles. “I can’t say that sort of thing. We’ve covered a lot of ground in the last 20 years and in Europe so many leading players are African. If we prepare properly, then one of the African teams can do something special.”

Samuel Eto'o Wiley

He leans forward animatedly: “The question we have all the time is whether an African team is able to win the World Cup. But the real question is whether the world is ready for an African team to become champions?

Does he believe some officials might still subconsciously favour the more traditional European and South American powerhouses over the six African teams? “I’m still a player,” Eto’o smiles. “I can’t say that sort of thing. We’ve covered a lot of ground in the last 20 years and in Europe so many leading players are African. If we prepare properly, then one of the African teams can do something special.”

– Donald McRae’s interview with Samuel Eto’o (via The Guardian)

Interesting comments by Eto’o.  Eto’o’s struggles with racism in European football have been chronicled. Unfortunately, the only reason his struggles have been chronicled is because he is a bone fide global superstar.   (more…)

Globalization | Outside the Lines
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Globalization

The Challenges of Playing Abroad – Sudanese Edition

by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.

Sudan Football Association

U.S. football fans are all too familiar with the “challenges” Landon Donovan faced when he first went to Germany.  You know, he missed home and all.  And we all know how Americans struggle to adapt to German culture.  It’s soooo alien.

All jokes aside, adapting to new leagues and countries is a common issue in international football.  But the stories that typically hit the wires usually involve players who can’t cope with the weather, or miss their families, or need to adapt to new cuisine, or languages.  Ahem … José Antonio Reyes.

(more…)

Globalization | Outside the Lines
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