The American Stereotype

Written by: Gabe

Johnette Howard seems like a competent sports writer. I mean, she authors books and gets paid by NBC for her opinion. So, why does her recent MSNBC World Cup primer read as shallow and smug? Did she actually skip the 1. Research step, or is she pandering to the anti-soccer American stereotype?

Some issues I have with her piece:

The proposition that one can enjoy the World Cup in spite of soccer. Would you date someone just because they wore cool shoes? To ignore the fundamental aspect of the event is to belittle it. So, if you are considering Howard’s advice to watch the Cup for inane or ironic reasons, save yourself the afternoon. You’re doing no one a favor by tuning in. Except maybe ABC (gasp!).

The characterization of “Euro-snobs.” “…more sophisticated than us,” she projects? Soccer is the working-man-and-woman’s sport around the world. Its popularity is—no hyperbole—without parallel. Elitism is intrinsically exclusive, and there is no activity more inclusive in Europe than soccer. In fact, I would argue that the most abrasive snobbery over soccer exists in countries where the sport’s popularity is small enough to exist as a minority—like the USA.

The perpetuated injury myth. Yes, sometimes soccer players dive and feign injury. Like it or not, it is a strategy with real, game-changing potential. But, players also actually get hurt. Players who often make as much or more money than the biggest American football or baseball stars, for whom physical condition is the difference between the good life and early retirement. With soccer’s minimal padding, flowing play, and delicate fouling rules, personal safety is often one’s own responsibility.

The denigration of foreign names. This is silly, and in my opinion, unprofessional.

I would bet Johnette could write an amazing piece highlighting the FIFA World Cup as a respectable and exciting event. Such an article would at least help to counteract this one.

Tags: johnette howard, msnbc, world cup