World's Reaction to Donovan's Decisive Goal

[TheBigLebowski]

If this doesn't give you chills, you better check your pulse because you're probably dead:

YouTube - The World's Reaction to Landon Donovan's Game Winning Goal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbn3rOPmR9w&feature=player_embedded)

[TheBigLebowski]

Covington, KY got a little love in that video...

One thing I have to ask - why do people video themselves watching a soccer game? 2 seperate guys in that clip did that.

[Boston Red]

Honestly, I'm a little surprised there are that many Americans who care THAT much. I figured some people were excited, but I was definitely surprised at the level of excitement in those vids.

[MWM]

I've watched a large percentage of the games in each world cup starting in 1994. It's my favorite event of any kind and I count the days between each one. I've NEVER seen this much interest from people I know like I've seen this year, even before Donovan's goal. It's very cool to see people paying this much attention. I don't know why all of a sudden it changed considering they laid an egg in the last one. But something is defintely different.

[Roy Tucker]

Covington, KY got a little love in that video...

One thing I have to ask - why do people video themselves watching a soccer game? 2 seperate guys in that clip did that.

I think so they can post videos like that on youtube.

I didn't watch the match, but I was a little surprised at the Brazil-Portugal 0-0 score. Was it like 2 NFL opponents meeting in the last week of the season knowing they were playing in playoffs and not wanting to show much? Or was it a sprited game?

EDIT - never mind, saw the comments on the other WC thread.

[improbus]

I've watched a large percentage of the games in each world cup starting in 1994. It's my favorite event of any kind and I count the days between each one. I've NEVER seen this much interest from people I know like I've seen this year, even before Donovan's goal. It's very cool to see people paying this much attention. I don't know why all of a sudden it changed considering they laid an egg in the last one. But something is defintely different.
Some factors:
1) MLS continues to improve (w/ each team having a die-hard cheering element like the Crew's Nordecke). Watch a game from 1995 and a 2010 game and it isn't even the same sport.
2) More and more people are watching European Club Soccer. Particularly kids in college and high school. Every year I see more kids coming to school in Euro-Club gear.
3) Vastly improved coverage and favorable hours. It was difficult to watch the 2002 tournament in South Korea.
4) The vastly entertaining Confederations Cup/Euro 2008 tournaments really gave people a good view of US/World Soccer.

[Caveat Emperor]

I've watched a large percentage of the games in each world cup starting in 1994. It's my favorite event of any kind and I count the days between each one. I've NEVER seen this much interest from people I know like I've seen this year, even before Donovan's goal. It's very cool to see people paying this much attention. I don't know why all of a sudden it changed considering they laid an egg in the last one. But something is defintely different.

I don't understand it at all -- I follow international soccer in passing, and I watch the World Cup when it's on, but I'm by no means an avid fan. Even by that low standard, I'm usually in the upper 99th percentile of "soccer knowledge" among people I know and work with.

This World Cup has been completely different. People are planning parties for the matches -- I had co-workers suggest that we duck out of court quickly this week to catch the 2nd half of the US game over early lunch. I'm wondering if it's just a function of my age group (25-35) who grew up playing soccer finally coming to accept the game on a larger level, or if maybe it's just a passing novelty -- kinda like how everyone was wrapped up in Olympic Hockey when Team USA played (and beat) Canada and then immediately forgot hockey and moved onto the next thing.

It'll be interesting to see what (if any) fallout comes from this. Will it spark new interest in MLS? Will more people start to follow the game internationally? Will the World Cup start to become a huge event here like it is everywhere else in the world?

Curious to see how it all pans out.

[Brutus]

Anyone know the name of the musical accompaniment from that video? I've been trying to remember that composition for several years and I can never figure it out.

[Brutus]

I don't understand it at all -- I follow international soccer in passing, and I watch the World Cup when it's on, but I'm by no means an avid fan. Even by that low standard, I'm usually in the upper 99th percentile of "soccer knowledge" among people I know and work with.

This World Cup has been completely different. People are planning parties for the matches -- I had co-workers suggest that we duck out of court quickly this week to catch the 2nd half of the US game over early lunch. I'm wondering if it's just a function of my age group (25-35) who grew up playing soccer finally coming to accept the game on a larger level, or if maybe it's just a passing novelty -- kinda like how everyone was wrapped up in Olympic Hockey when Team USA played (and beat) Canada and then immediately forgot hockey and moved onto the next thing.

It'll be interesting to see what (if any) fallout comes from this. Will it spark new interest in MLS? Will more people start to follow the game internationally? Will the World Cup start to become a huge event here like it is everywhere else in the world?

Curious to see how it all pans out.

It's funny you say that. I also have never been a soccer fan, despite a few of my best friends being huge fans and trying to get me to follow it for several years. I tried following the Columbus Crew and it didn't take too much. But this year I have genuinely been into the World Cup. And not just following it but actually finding myself having a real sincere vested interest.

I think the build-up has been coming for a few years and somehow Americans bought into it. I think by America winning a few more games in the knockout rounds, there could be some serious momentum for the sport going forward.

[Roy Tucker]

... I'm wondering if it's just a function of my age group (25-35) who grew up playing soccer finally coming to accept the game on a larger level ....

This would get my vote.

*Lots* of US kids have played some form of soccer for a quite a while now.

[TheBigLebowski]

I'm 33 and have played soccer all my life. There might be something to that theory.

One thing about soccer is that it's the one sport in the US in which girls might participate as much as boys. Girls freaking love soccer, hence the proliferation of "soccer moms" across the country. Watch that video closely and you'll see just as many women hooping and hollering as men. Doesn't hurt that the US probably has the preeminent women's soccer side in the world.

[reds1869]

Anyone know the name of the musical accompaniment from that video? I've been trying to remember that composition for several years and I can never figure it out.

It is the theme from Rudy.

[Brutus]

It is the theme from Rudy.

Thanks, I just figured it out a few minutes ago. Appreciate the help anyhow!

[westofyou]

I'm 33 and have played soccer all my life. There might be something to that theory.

One thing about soccer is that it's the one sport in the US in which girls might participate as much as boys. Girls freaking love soccer, hence the proliferation of "soccer moms" across the country. Watch that video closely and you'll see just as many women hooping and hollering as men. Doesn't hurt that the US probably has the preeminent women's soccer side in the world.

Womans soccer is a industrialized country game, most teams are from countries that support womans rights and hence more woman are free to play games (as opposed to work 15 hours a day)

[Hoosier Red]

This World Cup has been completely different. People are planning parties for the matches -- I had co-workers suggest that we duck out of court quickly this week to catch the 2nd half of the US game over early lunch. I'm wondering if it's just a function of my age group (25-35) who grew up playing soccer finally coming to accept the game on a larger level, or if maybe it's just a passing novelty -- kinda like how everyone was wrapped up in Olympic Hockey when Team USA played (and beat) Canada and then immediately forgot hockey and moved onto the next thing.

It'll be interesting to see what (if any) fallout comes from this. Will it spark new interest in MLS? Will more people start to follow the game internationally? Will the World Cup start to become a huge event here like it is everywhere else in the world?

Curious to see how it all pans out.

The more I think about it, the more I believe it will be about a generation before soccer takes another huge step.(It's already taken one in the past 20 years.) But I realized as I heard people call in to shows that people 40 and older don't really like soccer, but they've coached their kids, and the game has grown. What will the next generation of kids be like when they're not being coached by some neighbor who doesn't really like soccer or care that much, but rather they're being coached by people in my generation who love the sport and are actively interested in seeing it grow.

Obviously this is an oversimplification but still I think as the level of fandom grows in my generation, it will continue to grow in the next generation.

With that said, I wouldn't expect too much, MLS's numbers won't get hurt by this in anyway, but I wouldn't expect them to start selling out Crew stadium every night either. But if you compare MLS attendance now to 14 years ago, and compare it again in 14 years, I think the audience will have grown even more.

[Yachtzee]

The more I think about it, the more I believe it will be about a generation before soccer takes another huge step.(It's already taken one in the past 20 years.) But I realized as I heard people call in to shows that people 40 and older don't really like soccer, but they've coached their kids, and the game has grown. What will the next generation of kids be like when they're not being coached by some neighbor who doesn't really like soccer or care that much, but rather they're being coached by people in my generation who love the sport and are actively interested in seeing it grow.

Obviously this is an oversimplification but still I think as the level of fandom grows in my generation, it will continue to grow in the next generation.

With that said, I wouldn't expect too much, MLS's numbers won't get hurt by this in anyway, but I wouldn't expect them to start selling out Crew stadium every night either. But if you compare MLS attendance now to 14 years ago, and compare it again in 14 years, I think the audience will have grown even more.

I think soccer is growing its fans gradually, which is the best way. Nothing worse than being an overnight sensation (see the NASL).

As far as MLS goes, some cities are doing better than others, especially with the growth of supporters groups. Check out a Crew game now with the Nordecke in full song waving black and gold banners and you can't help getting excited. The best games are with hated rivals Chicago, DC and Toronto.

[Hoosier Red]

It is the theme from Rudy.

I thought it was Hoosiers.
Well some Angelo Pizzo movie anyway.

[reds1869]

I thought it was Hoosiers.
Well some Angelo Pizzo movie anyway.

Nope, definitely Rudy.

[Razor Shines]

Who films themselves watching a soccer match alone?

[Donder]

Am I the only one who thought the title "World's Reaction to Donovan's Decisive Goal" was a bit misleading? You've got a bunch of videos from America, plus one from South Africa of American fans, plus one from France. So actually it's American's (and France's?) Reaction to Donovan's Decisive Goal.

Which brings me to my point. Please help me out because I'm ignorant and haven't watched a minute of the World Cup. Are other countries rooting for America here? I would imagine not, but the title of this video made me wonder.

[ThornWithin81]

As a lover of Soccer that has always wanted the game to get more attention in this country, that video actually made me cry.

Unexpected.

[Yachtzee]

Am I the only one who thought the title "World's Reaction to Donovan's Decisive Goal" was a bit misleading? You've got a bunch of videos from America, plus one from South Africa of American fans, plus one from France. So actually it's American's (and France's?) Reaction to Donovan's Decisive Goal.

Which brings me to my point. Please help me out because I'm ignorant and haven't watched a minute of the World Cup. Are other countries rooting for America here? I would imagine not, but the title of this video made me wonder.

Yeah, it was really more Americans and Americans Abroad.