Progression of a Recovering Eurosnob

By: Laurie | April 9th, 2007

A funny thing happened to me this week. I didn’t plan on it. I didn’t expect it. It just…kind of… happened. Amid all of the hype and excitement about the opening games of MLS…

Well, I kind of forgot about Champions League.

Okay, granted, my French clubs both got knocked out last round. (If Olympique Lyonnais were still playing, I’d be arranging my life around seeing the game this week.) But I do still have several French players on other teams, like Chelsea and Roma and ManU. And normally, well… It’s Champions League!! All roads lead to this competition. Its the pinnacle of European club football. Or soccer. Or whatever. (And do other fans struggle with those two words when you’re talking about the game played outside America? Say “football” and you’re being pretentious. Say “soccer” and you’re being inaccurate. But that’s a topic for another time.)

Now, though, for the first time ever, I’m more excited about American soccer. I called up the cable company today and made a date with the cable guy for Wednesday, so I’ll be able to see Thursday’s game. And I did this pretty much only so I can have access to the channels that will be playing MLS games. (Shhh. Don’t tell. My husband thinks we’re doing it for the Sci-Fi channel.)

I can’t remember where I read the dismissive comment in favor of ESPN’s new soccer ads geared towards fans of other sports. It was something like, “You’ll convert a baseball fan long before you convert a Eurosnob.”

(Oh. Ouch.)

I’m here to tell you that’s not the case.

(P.S. Tom the Brit at Chicago Fire Offside and I are debating whether our affliction should be called “Eurosnobdom” or “Eurosnobbery.” What do you think?)

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Josh

Our use of the word "soccer" isn't a sign of American exceptionalism or anything. In Australia they call aussie rules football. We just need to differeniate American football from real football, hence the different name.
fergie

The word soccer, was actually used in the UK in the early days of the game and is derived from the full name given to the sport when it was invented (in it's modern day form at least), Association Football. The name Association Football was given to the sport due to the fact that the teams (schools) who played the game formed an association that governed it's rules. A similar abbreviation can be seen with the game of Rugby, it's full name actually being Rugby Football, owing to it being invented by pupils at Rugby school. The reason the game is called soccer in places such as the US, Canada & Australia is likely to be down to the fact that these countries already had there own sports already called football, which were played much more before "soccer" became popular, as in the case of American Football and Aussie Rules Football.
Nick Sindt

I vote for Eurosnobbery. I'm a long time sufferer, and am trying my hardest to become an MLS fan again. I was once a DCU fan before I found European leagues.
Martha

You know, I used to hate Americans who said "football," but now I'm one of them. And I'm not even ashamed anymore! The thing is (in my experience, anyway), when you're obsessed with European SOCCER and read and watch and talk about it with like-minded folks? You just start thinking "football," because that's what you hear. Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

And, on a totally different topic: Laurie, are you telling me I'm not going to be able to watch the RBNY game on MLSnet Saturday when I'm out of town? I'm so confused.
Jeff Bull

Just run with the colloquiallisms and you'll be fine. Still, totally fair point, Luis...though I doubt no one will look at us more kindly till we stop offering to "help" the rest of the world.

I'm also with Laurie on this: Brits can say "football" all day long; there's no conflict.

As for the bulk of Laurie's comments, it's a really funny thing she's talking about. I mean, it's a personal preference and, therefore, shouldn't matter at all to anyone else. I know why MLS execs care, and why MLS fans care by association, but it's a consumer preference, right? For all that, though, it's all too real, that sense of having to choose and feeling some sense of identity with it.

I'll only say this: I got around the question by not really caring one way or the other. And that just makes people crazy for some dang reason. But I watch MLS 'cause that's what interests me these days - and, yeah, Europe looks better, they play better, etc. And I still don't care. Will we catch up? Dunno. Probably? I'd like to see it, but it wouldn't change anything.
Luis

Laurie - I love eurosnobs. You can say football instead of soccer. I won't mind. :-) The fact that we choose to name the world's game something other then football speaks volumes about our attitude toward the world. Not too get all political and all, but if we wanted to improve our standing in the world, the first thing we should do is call the beautiful game what everyone else calls it.
Tom

The thing is, I actually quite like using the word soccer. I like the sound of it, and also its very odd origins as a word - a lot of English people don't even realise we used to say the word soccer a lot ourselves instead of football.
Laurie

Tom, you can get away with "football." You're a legit Brit. I'm quite certain it sounds right coming from you.

From a former Colorado cowgirl, though? Can you say, "pretense"?
David

See I'm not restricted by that feeling, MLS was my first taste of soccer. Then it was MFL and then it was barca....so me im a MLSnob if there is anything like that.

But that is good Laurie embrace the feeling it's good for you, means the league is growing and if we can help one Eurosnob, the world is next!!
Tom

I have been trying to solve the football/soccer word usage debate in my head by referring to soccer in the American context and football in the European context, depending on who I am talking to/what I am talking about.

But then I find some American soccer fans are offended when I say soccer, as if I'm patronising them, or I'm not being British enough.
Susan

I'm excited about the new MLS season too, but my Eurosnobbery is still alive and well--big match in Manchester tomorrow. I hope that I see your Evra and Louis-Louis on the field. But my favorite French player will always be Monsieur Henry...so sad about his team this year.
I vote for Eurosnobbery, as in "vive la Eurosnobbery." (or is it "le?")
Laurie

And this is coming from a woman who still has two teams in the competition? I don't think you're a fair judge.

But I really do want to see Mexes tomorrow. Now that I've remembered. And he's playing against Evra and Saha w/ManU. (If either is playing. That's how out of touch I am.)

P.S. Thanks for rubbing it in. I'm going to go watch incomprehensible French art movies and drown my sorrows in French wine now.
Martha

You forgot about Champions League?! That's not a sign of fading snobbery, it's one you're losing your ever lovin' mind! Ahem.

And just so you know, Mexes can sense your neglect. He's not happy.