Support Your Local Team

I am doing my best to make this blog a regular thing for me, otherwise, what's the use?

As mentioned earlier - I'm going to be posting a lot about the Galaxy season this year. I don't expect much info to be "insider" unless you don't really follow the Galaxy at all. I would expect it to be somewhat exasperated commentary. You see, I don't expect my team to do very well this season, but I still plan on being a soccer evangelist - especially here in LA.

I love soccer, yet there is no obvious reason why. You cannot say "oh, well you grew up playing it". I played it a little bit growing up - mostly in after-school rec leagues, etc - but nothing serious. No one in my family is particularly interested in the sport, nor were my friends.

I love soccer because it still largely untouched by modern technology and it is still largely untouched by ridiculous bureaucracy.

To explain what I mean - think of the NFL. Television cameras are written into the rules of the game! I'm sorry but that's crazy. Coaches can challenge referee calls? How is it that the referee could be so fundamentally flawed that coaches can challenge them, yet have such an important role in a game? Then there are time-outs just so television networks can have commercials. The ball goes out of bounds, but then is placed back in the middle of the field? There are so many rules as to what parts of the body a player can tackle, tackle with, and when they can tackle.

The very concept of the game is so flawed that constant revision is needed.

Soccer on the other hand is organic. Human. You don't stop the clock ever. Foul? Well, we'll add a little time later, depending on how long the delay is. The ball is round. The game is roughly 90 minutes. And you never stop playing until the whistle blows. Soccer is like life. You can play whatever style you choose - for chrissakes, there are countries known for particular styles of soccer (Italians=defensive/highly tactical. Brazilians=loose, individualistic, stylish. England=run run run, kick, run run run).

It helps to think of soccer like the menu of In-n-Out Burger. If you want constant scoring (or, say a spicy chicken sandwich) you're in the wrong place. If you want simplicity with the ability to personalize your own excellence. . . then welcome to flavor country.



(Think of animal-style being the stylistic equivalent of Portugal - sometimes messy, but always effective and enjoyable. A 4x4, however, would be something like Argentina - great organization and looks good on paper - but usually ends up as its own worst enemy)

You see, I came to love soccer as an adult. While in college, I was friends with many international students who each introduced me to their teams - and I was equal-parts mystified and intrigued by this new universe of rivalries, hatreds, passions. There were hundreds of teams representing cities, towns and neighborhoods - many smaller than my little corner of the San Fernando Valley. I was dumbstruck by the history these teams had - many older than my Red Sox. And the team names. . . holy christ. . .

Me: So where in England are you from?
English Friend: London
Me: Oh, so what soccer team do you like?
English Friend: West Ham
Me: Ah. . . where are they?
Friend: London
Me: Oh, I thought Arsenal was the London team
Friend: [speaking as if I was a 5-year-old] well. . they are both in London. But Arsenal is in North London.
Me: Oh, how many teams are in London?
Friend: Dunno. . 20?
Me: [mouth open in shock]
Friend: well, they're all in different neighborhoods, you see. Like Spurs, Chelsea. . .
Me: Are any of them named "London"?
Friend: er. . .no.

What I found, though, was that history had nothing to do with me. I had to find my own team.

And I did. The best decision I ever made was to ditch my lifetime of supporting Boston teams - a habit instilled in me by my father. I don't regret my love of the Red Sox or Patriots, but time and distance has diluted my support.

Instead, I decided to direct my love of my city towards my love of soccer - I am an LA Galaxy fan first and foremost.

Being an LA Galaxy fan has become an important part of my life. The friends I've made, the experiences I've had - they cannot be matched. Imagine being a Yankee fan when Yankee stadium was being built. Imagine what its like to be a basketball fan when the NBA was formed.

We are at the beginning of something massive and beautiful.

So if you are talking to someone from the U.S., and they claim to like soccer. Ask them what their favorite team is. If they say "Manchester United" or "Chelsea", do me a favor - punch them hard, square in the teeth.



*****Admittedly, many of my friends and neighbors here in Mid-City LA are not from the US, and bring their loyalties from other countries and leagues. No harm done.