Greater than a game?
By Joe Anthony Curtis, writing from Miami
The Northwest Derby is regarded as the biggest game in England and features the two most successful and popular clubs in football history, Liverpool and Manchester United. Ryan Giggs refers to this clash as “probably the most famous fixture in English football”.
The roots of the rivalry between these two cities, which are 30 miles (48km) apart, can be traced back to the industrial revolution when Liverpool and Manchester where fighting for economic superiority in Northwest England. The rivalry transfered onto the pitch and grew as Manchester United supporters watched in envy as their neighbors reigned supreme for the majority of the 1970s, and 80s. This successful run over two decades resulted in Liverpool becoming the most decorated club in English history, and in 2005 they added their record 5th European Cup title.
What’s wrong with the MLS?
By Joe Anthony Curtis, writing from Miami
“If you ain’t first, you’re last.” These wise words from Will Farrell’s character Ricky Bobby in the 2006 film ‘Talladega Knights’ sums up the Americans mentality towards sports. In the United States we are obsessed with the domination of one team over another and the statistics that prove it. This is a country where American Football is King, and slower paced sports such as baseball are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Yes baseball, the sport that is supposed to be “America’s Pastime”. Americans expect to be entertained 24-hours a day and if the activity doesn’t fulfill this constant need then it is not considered worth our time. As a result Television programs, Sports, and even Schools have evolved to become more entertaining to keep their audience attentive. So how does Major League Soccer survive and grow in this type of environment? I believe there are two main changes that need to take place in order to build on the post-World Cup soccer frenzy in the United States: The Designated Player rule and how the league crowns it’s Champion.
