Studs Up

I kid, I kid. I know plenty of Americans who are passionate and knowledgeable football fans, even just from those of you who read Studs Up. Unlike after USA ‘94 when there was clearly no chance anyone would give a crap about the sport after the World Cup, I think that the proliferation of football access via the web means that 2010 could genuinely be a tipping point for the sport in the US (not to mention ESPN snapping up Setanta’s rights and making their intentions clear). I think the Americans do a fantastic job of sport coverage and would absolutely welcome the opportunity to see what they could do with football if truly incented and empowered to put their resources towards it.

There simply needs to be some big brands out there willing to be a conduit for change whether in the media, entertainment circles or even big business, it’s not going to happen simply through the grassroots football fan community no matter how passion they are. The big boys have taken a “let’s wait and see” approach to football fandom in the US and hopefully they’ll finally recognise that they are the ones who can make it happen.

I’m not one of those who “say it every year” and I genuinely think that there’s about to be a football movement in the US leading up to SA2010, I’m planning to do my part to make it happen.