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U.S. Soccer’

Coaching

Jurgen Klinsmann: The Anti-Rick Perry (R-TX)

by Miriti Murungi

If you happened to miss the Republican Primary debate two nights ago, you’ll be forgiven, especially if you were watching the epic New England Revolution-Philadelphia Union 4-4 extravaganza.

One of the special moments during the GOP debate centered around a Governor Rick Perry (R -TX) sermon on his state’s death penalty proficiency and his own sensitivity.

When Gov. Perry was asked by NBC anchor Brian Williams to defend his state’s record of executing 234 inmates, and specifically whether he lost any sleep over the possibility of executing innocent people, Perry said: (more…)

Coaching | The Game
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Musings

Jurgen’s Corner: Analyzing the Coach’s First Day, Unnecessarily Reading Between the Lines

by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.

About week ago, we learned that Bob Bradley, the U.S. coach since 2006, was being unceremoniously retired from his position by USSF President Sunil Gulati. Apparently lots of people on Facebook “liked” that. The fact that Bradley was being fired was expertly hidden by the Federation. No one had the scoop. But the shock didn’t last long. Soon thereafter, speculation was rife about who would be the next leader of a men’s national team that has been growing in popularity and profile over the last few cycles.

Enter the guy who everyone thought would be the guy. Jurgen Klinsmann. He’s German. (more…)

Musings | Pub Talk
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Uncategorized

Daily Banter – 3.25.2011

by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.

The United States (all of them, collectively) will be taking on Argentina tomorrow (Saturday, March 26) at 7pm at the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey. Yep, that Argentina. Tickets are still available for purchase through ussoccer.com. It’s not too late. But if you can’t attend, at least you’ll be able to attend on ESPN2 and Univision. [Insert new Nike motto all over.]

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Celebrations

Dancing with U.S. Soccer: A Gentleman’s History of the Stanky Legg and a Look to the Future

by Miriti Murungi

Back when I played and regularly practiced, several of my coaches emphasized celebrating. Years of sliding on unforgiving fields, pretending to shine cleats, and awkward dancing indoctrinated a group of us into the school of proper soccer, hammering into us the concept that celebration was as much a part of soccer as goal scoring and Germans. (more…)

Celebrations | Culture
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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.

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
6 Comments So Far

Team Talk

Italia 1990: It’s Gut Czech Time For the Americans

by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.

June 10, 1990 — Control your emotions. I know national anthems can be moving, but there’s a game to be played. In fact, there are three games to play. If you can’t handle these early moments, maybe this isn’t for you. If you find this stressful, you should be concerned because it will take a herculean effort for you to make it through the Backstreet Boys, the internet and financial armageddon, three things that I’m just guessing are on the horizon. What’s the internet you ask? I’m not sure. It’s 1990.

I’m busy typing this on my brand new Macintosh IIci (which will only set you back about $8700). I’ll probably use this piece of technological greatness to process (more…)

Team Talk | The Game
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Uncategorized

Daily Banter – 10.11.2010

by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.

Let the immigration debate continue. Apparently the pathway to citizenship in the U.S. depends on how good you are at soccer. Thankfully for Jermaine Jones, a player who has spent his career developing in Germany, he’s pretty good. This weekend we finally saw Jones make his U.S. debut in the U.S. friendly against Poland. If he had struggled, surely (more…)

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The Future

I Want Debates

by Miriti Murungi

“Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome to the stage, the candidates, Bob Bradley and Coachy McCoacherson.”

(Applause.)

Imagine a coaching selection process where prospective coaches are required to engage in a public debate over their ideas. Imagine coaches having to publicly assess the state of the union and submit a vision for moving forward. Not only would it be great theater, said move would set off a flurry of intelligent, and much needed, debate based on concrete ideas. (more…)

The Future | The Game
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Coaching

The Myth of the Meaningless Friendly

by Miriti Murungi

A funny thing happens during international friendlies, particualrly when a team loses.

Invariably, cries that “this game doesn’t matter” eminate from supporters, conveying a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose of international friendlies. In many ways, it’s self-delusion at its finest. It’s like a jaded boyfriend saying, “I didn’t like her anyway,” after a girlfriend breaks up with him. These are defense mechanisms signifying denial and/or hurt, which is why you rarely hear this refrain after an emphatic victory.

I won’t mince words. Friendlies matter. Sure, the final result is not the penultimate measure of mattering. However, player performances and how players combine certainly matter given the limited assessment opportunities on the international calender prior to the games that really count. (more…)

Coaching | The Game
3 Comments So Far

Uncategorized

Daily Banter – 9.21.2010

by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.

Ah, the Klinsmann mess. For those of you who haven’t been following the saga, former German national team coach was recently interviewed about his conversations with the U.S. Soccer Federation about the men’s national team job. Klinsmann confirmed what many had already suspected; namely that he was engaged (more…)

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secondfig: Dalglish; “For me the most important person, who is under the greater spotlight is Luis… The...
John _in_VA: Miriti, I loved your article. You are an excellent writer. Many US soccer fans wonder how a country as...
Mark Stevens: It’ would be prudent to note that the translation of “calcio e’ un...
Bob: An excellent, thoughful piece. As referenced, it is fair to both want increased Hispanic (and African American)...
Jen: Thank you so much for the answer. We are near Pittsburgh, and he does play on a travel team and cup team, which...
dreamingpixel: “Debussy – Claire de Lune”.. amazing work

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U.S. Soccer’

Coaching

by Miriti Murungi

Musings

by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.

Uncategorized

by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.

Celebrations

by Miriti Murungi

Globalization

by Miriti Murungi

Team Talk

by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.

Uncategorized

by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.

The Future

by Miriti Murungi

Coaching

by Miriti Murungi

Uncategorized

by Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq.

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