After watching the United States versus Ghana World Cup soccer match, I was a little surprised to discover that I was feeling disappointed to see the U.S. lose. I rarely find myself rooting for America in international sporting events, such as the Olympics. In light of this, I began seeking to understand why I felt drawn to watch that game in the first place.
What, I wondered, was so appealing about soccer? And why did I find myself rooting for the U.S.? There was something endearing about watching the U.S. team play; something that I don’t see in other sports, such as basketball, baseball and American football.
My grandfather alluded to something along these lines when he recently starting taking an interest in soccer and introduced my family to it. He talked about the camaraderie among the players that is present both within the teams and even between opposing teams. He suggested that such amity might be why it is a popular and appealing sport in so many other countries.
He mentioned how America has been slow to catch onto the sport, perhaps for the very same reasons that other countries appreciate it so much. We are proud of our own sports, what with all the big egos, personal shows of strength, and the determination that have made those sports possible, not to mention the condoned vio-lence and infighting between players.
So it is with this intriguing introduction of his that my family began watching the World Cup, interested to see America out of its element, watching a sport that has been largely dominated by other countries and about which the U.S. has, on the whole, cared very little.
After having heard this background from my grandfather, I was interested to watch how the U.S. played, and especially how they interacted. Would they try to change the sport to be more crude and macho as in most other American team sports, or would they submit to the rules and ways of playing that had already been established? Would I find myself rooting for the U.S. or against them?
I was surprised (and encouraged) to discover that I was cheering for America to win, spontaneously jumping out of my seat and cheering whenever a good play was made. I was attracted by the behavior of their players. There was a certain humanity and even, perhaps, vulnerability, that I found appealing about the American team specifically.
Despite basketball, American football, hockey and baseball all being team sports, I rarely get the feeling that the team is working together, as one body. They all appear to be playing on their own, out for their own personal gain and glory.
The other day, I was listening to the sports radio station in the car and the announcer was talking about one of the men who play for the Red Sox, and how he had purposely not played well in one of their recent games because of some objection he had to his contract. Incidents such as that seem to happen a lot in American sports, and I find it so unappealing.
It’s ironic that people, in trying to promote themselves, often end up looking all the more ridiculous for doing so. And yet, as my grandfather pointed out, isn’t that the very kind of attitude that America has nurtured? We, as a country, like to see the tough, do-it-yourself kind of attitude, full of pride, pomposity and pretension.
And yet, that is not what is appealing to the human heart. I found the U.S. soccer team endearing because of their camaraderie, their honesty, and the humanity that was so evident in each of them. I found endearing how they play together and encourage one another, how they show their excitement, and even their disappointment. It’s appealing because it’s human.
I’m repulsed by someone who is trying to be separate, independent or egotistical. There isn’t anything admirable about that. I’m drawn to those who are humble and human — those who don’t try to get their way by being macho or tough, but who accept where they’re at, doing as well as they can.
I admired the U.S. players who, though injustice seemed to be dealt to them in the form of those recalled goals, didn’t get bitter, but played on.
Now I’m beginning to understand why I watched those games with such enthusiasm. I learned the human virtues that are revealed in our humanity and humility. And so, I learned something about myself in the process.
Gabrielle Clemons of Hermon is a former intern for Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.