It's A Numbers Game

An estimated 300 million people watched the Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United yesterday.

That's a lotta people.

Whenever I peruse North American sites, the subject usually tackles some crazy thing or things soccer fans have committed or performed. It's a kind of "see how stupid this sport is? That's why it'll never work here" routine.

To me, it's a numbers game. Soccer is the gargantuan on the world block. No sport comes close to it in terms of popularity. Basketball, rugby and cricket garner large audiences but nothing like soccer. North American pro football is massive here but it's restriced to one geographical location. Baseball has a bigger international following stretching into places like Canada, Mexico, South America, the Carribean and Asia.

With hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of millions of people connected culturally, emotionally and financially to the sport, it shouldn't surprise anyone at how many nutcases there are.

Soccer is the United States of sports. No nation is more scrutinized than the USA on the planet. Both its blemishes and beauty are simultaneously exposed for all to see 24/7. And so it is with soccer. There are so many teams and players that play it (on an given day, just observe how many fans are packing stadiums around the world) it's bound to make the news for violence - despite that given the numbers I just cited, the overwhelming majority go off peacefully.

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I wanted to explore the difference in the North American and European sports fan. NFL or NHL fans seem tame compared to what we see in Europe. One thing I will say as I don't have time to expand on this subject, is when it comes to overt racism in public, the Europeans have North Americans beat hands down.

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As for the sport itself, the game does indeed need tweaking. No doubt about it. But until that moron Blatter leaves, and FIFA ushers in a dynamic person, the sport will remain mired in a 20th century mentality.

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By the way, Barcelona spanked Man U. 3-1. It was Barca's third title in five years. Talk has begun as to whether this is the best team ever.

While I won't go that far (Inter Milan showed what it takes to beat Barca. That is, take away spaces where Barca like to play), they're no doubt the best team since the dominant powerhouse AC Milan side of 1989-1994.

Indeed, they're among the greatest sides ever (judged as teams who have won successive titles in any combination of major titles). A list that includes Real Madrid (1950s), Ajax (1970s), Bayern Munich (1970s), Juventus (1980s), Liverpool (1970s-80s), Inter Milan (1960s and 1990s), and the aformentioned AC Milan. Now, whether they're better than each is a matter of debate.

Last, I do think Barca's Lionel Messi (who scored a sick 53 goals in 55 games) is one step away from becoming one of the greatest ever. He just now needs to win a World Cup for Argentina.