Conversion Story

Real Supporter · 04-26-2006, 12:40 PM

I just watched Drew Carey on espn.com, talk about how he became a soccer convert after going to a LA Galaxy match. Then he studied all the rules, and became a huge fan.

Also yesterday on Kall 700, Bill Riley was talking about NFL Draft busts, and a guy called in with a comment, and Riles said, "Do you want tickets to RSL this weekend against the LA Galaxy." The guy responded with an, "Oh Yah! I went to the Red Bulls game, and I have never been so into a sporting event in my life. It was awesome!"

I became a convert in 2000 when the Utah Blitzz played host to the Colorado Rapids in front of 6,000 fans. The Blitzz lost 4-0, but I had become a soccer convert. One of the coolest moments in my short soccer history was the 2001 D3 Championship game. A goal in the 90th minute, as Jorge Estrada headed home the game winner 1-0.

In 2002 my wife became a convert. I had ordered season tickets to the Blitzz, and she wasn't too happy. But as the World Cup rolled around, she was waking up at 5:00 in the morning to watch. In May 2003 she turned to me and said, "There's no World Cup this year, is there? That Sucks!"

What is your conversion story?

Loyal1 · 04-26-2006, 12:45 PM

1986 in Argentina.

Couldn't knock on doors during the WC. Had to watch it.

First game I saw was Colo-Colo v. River Plate. I didn't understand it at all.

After a few more games and even kicking a ball with my toe I started to get it.

Diego Armando Maradona ran through England and raised his fist early to celebrate a goal I was hooked.

knowwonnose · 04-26-2006, 01:09 PM

My conversion was a little different. I didn't pay any attention to soccer until my daughters started playing. Even then, I didn't think the game was much more that a bunch of girls/boys chasing a ball (usually all bunched up). It wasn't until I went to a WUSA game that I became a fan of the sport. Those ladies could really play. It didn't hurt that my daughters got to walk out on the field with two international stars, but the game was very exciting. I found that that league was so fan friendly that it was easy to be a fan. The big sports in America are fan adverse unless you have tons of money to waste on all the extras. Soccer is really working to draw a crowd and the management down to the players see that as a priority.

It's too bad that the WUSA went belly up, but I still see MLS as a great league for the fan. Too bad they started charging for streaming, but the fact that they didn't for years, was good for the fan. How else can I follow RSL from across the country?

Rover · 04-26-2006, 01:13 PM

Not a true convert, since I came to soccer early. Started playing in school and on the local playgrounds in London as a kid in 1973. Our house was within a couple of miles of both Stamford Bridge and Craven Cottage.

I'd played a little in NoCal before I went overseas, but other than playing for fun in London, two events made me a fan. First, the North London Derby. Second, World Cup '74. For an 11 year old American kid, it made all the sports I saw when I got back to the states rather anticlimactic.

Since then I've played, coached, officiated, and run a youth league, as has my wife. All three of my kids have played since they were in single digits, and soccer is the one sport we all enjoy.

In our house, soccer is number one.

Aerick · 04-26-2006, 01:22 PM

I had been playing soccer as a kid for several years, but I didn't really get into the sport until 1994. World Cup - US vs. Brazil. Lalas and Cobi Jones (and I believe Meola). To watch the setup that Brazil had (Bobeto was one of the forwards I remember) and their skill with the ball was absolutely amazing to watch, but I was also routing for the US in that game, and they showed pretty well. That's when I knew I was a soccer fan. However, I went into hibernation again until RSL came to town. That first home opening game was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I still get chills thinking about it...

AreliusIV · 04-26-2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rover

two events made a fan. First, the North London Derby.

Speaking of the North London Derby, last weekend's wasn't too shabby...

I_Believe_In_Kreis · 04-26-2006, 01:26 PM

No conversion - I was born in the faith. My dad played his whole life and reffed high school and college. When I was 3 I ran onto the field when my dad was playing and tried to join in. I played on my first team at 4 and I haven't stopped since. Every time I get hurt or discouraged I try to quit soccer, but I can never stop for more than a year before I'm back on it in some capacity (as a player, coach, or ref). I'm a junkie. It's in my blood, like a crack baby.

My wife got hooked watching me play in college. She's now a full blown addict as well. Our 2 year old son started dribbling a ball around the house when he was 14 months old. Every time I turn on the TV he says "soccer game daddy!" We're all beyond help.

AreliusIV · 04-26-2006, 01:32 PM

I played footy in High School. About the only televised footy was "Soccer made in Germany," in which Toby Charles, with his English accent commentated on the matches that had very poor reception.

My brothers (all-state footballers) and I would stay up late at night to see the show and get our fix. Almost 20 years later, I can still hear Toby Charles shouting "HAMBURG GETS THE EQUALIZER! HAMBURG GETS THE EQUALIZER!"

Those were the good old days when a commentator didn't feel the need to fill the space with boorish babble all the time. They could let the football speak for itself.

About the mid 90's ESPN started broadcasting the Monday EPL matches. After one or two of those, I was hooked on English footy. The passion of the supporters, the end-to-end action, the physicality, etc.

Thank heaven I was born in this day and age when we have so many options to choose from; from FSC to GolTV to ESPN to Univision to Direct Kick, etc.

Now, I can get my Spanish, Italian, English, Brazilian and Argentine footy fixes, not to mention all the MLS I can stomache...

clarette · 04-26-2006, 01:34 PM

I started playing when I was 6 because I wanted a "costume" (oh, the things you can get me to do by bribing me with clothes!) -- started following the Nats around 1990 and the rest is history.

fuegote · 04-26-2006, 01:37 PM

Fan of the World Cup when it was in the US in'94. Watched it every four years with the Brothers Enger.

Always thought of MLS as...wait....didn't really know MLS existed.

Planned on going to the home opener, got free tix from Riles and went. They got me hook, line and sinker. Now I'm a soccer nerd, playing in my first soccer rec league and feel bad I didn't play growing up.