Cheering for America vs. Your Native Land
 

I'm just going to throw this out there.

Watching USA men's national team games that are played in the United States, it kinda irks me that there's always more of the visitors in the stands, or are at least noisier.

It annoys me especially when we play Mexico, and even playing in Portland looks like you're playing in the Azteca Stadium.

It may bother me, but of course every person has a right to cheer for their country of orgin, or choice. And of course, it IS soccer, so of course there won't be THAT many USA fans.

But, do any of you have a problem with cheering for your native country as opposed to cheering for the country you're a citizen of?

I think comparing countries to cities within a country's different.

So, what you're saying is, if you've had more success on the field, that's who you should cheer for more? Explains a lot of Yankee fans...

Think of the two Glascow soccer teams, Celtic, fans of whom are Catholic, and Rangers, fans of whom are Protestant. So, of course, they have some riots that get WAY outta hand. I remember some dude was launching darts at people.

Like dart-board darts?

That's actually kinda funny...relgious fanatics crack me up.

The United States is my native land. Ireland is the land of my ancestors. I still have relatives there. In fact, one is a well-regarded athlete in Ireland, and I would cheer him on if I had the chance.

There are plenty of Texans that cheer for the Sooners when OU plays Texas. I have no problem with it. I welcome them.

I cheer for Brazil of course and they are not my native country! I didnt cheer for america when they played against my native country of course. It's nationalism. Why is that bad if we cheer for our native country rather than the country we are citizens of?

Since the US is my native country....both now and ancestry (except a small bit on my dad's side) I stick w/the US. Mostly the Columbus Crew :D

Just because one comes here from another country doesn't mean that they leave their ethnicity and traditions behind. Not everyone wants to assimilate. In fact, it's often comforting to be able to root for the national team, eat traditional food, and listen to the music of your homeland. It doesn't mean that you're a bad American or you're not happy to be here.

My sister has been rooting for Lance Armstrong, but her second favorite is Thor, this Norwegian guy. Our Norwegian family has been here less than 100 years (actually they came to the US, went back to Norway, then came back), but we still have that identity. I grew up hearing Norwegian spoken at home and church, and eating all kinds of traditional food.

Conversely, my sister's husband is Dutch, born in Brazil, and never became an American Citizen, though he moved to the US as a baby. He is all about Lance Armstrong, could not care less about any of the people from the Netherlands competing.

With all five of us kids in a blended family, we may leave home, but we keep our family teams. Giants and Forty Niners, and if they aren't playing, the Athletics and the Raiders. Though who wants to be known as an ATHLETIC SUPPORTER?

hijack
During the '98 World Cup, I was driving through Italy in a German labeled rental car trying to get back to France. WHOA!

I think I know where Stan's coming from - I was at last week's US v. Poland soccer game in Chicago. You would have thought that you were in downtown Warsaw, by the cheering - with the grand exception of Sam's Army, who were in fine form!!

Even throughout the second game (Fire v. Revolution), there were still Polish fans yelling, "Polska!" to which we would respond, "US!"

I have ancestry from most of the UK & Switzerland, but I am an AMERICAN. When the US Men's National Team - of any sport - is in the mix, I'm going with the good old USA!!

You do realize that Chicago has the largest concentration of people of Polish descent outside of Warsaw, no? It wouldn't bother me to see Dominicans excited about a soccer game in the Bronx. Having pride in the nation you or your parents were born in and being a proud American isn't mutually exclusive.

Why is it so hard for people to understand this? :confused: As my mama would say, it's not that difficult.

Of course I realize that. In fact, aren't there more people of Polish descent in Chicago than Warsaw? And the Fire games are announced in English, Spanish, and Polish.

But this was incredible - something that had to be seen/heard to be believed.

That was NOTHING compared to when the USA plays Mexico in LA, San Diego....heck, ANYWHERE in the US.

You should go to Astoria when Greek teams are playing. Oh my gosh. There are more Greeks in Astoria than there are in Athens, and they are very proud of their teams. :)

Americans have a lot of ethnic pride whatever that ethnicity is. I see it New York all the time. I think that it's one of the great things about living here. :cool:

I have a good feeling the USA will win the World Series again this year.

Wait.....

Italy HOSTED the World Cup in 1990 dumb dumb (said in a loving way), Germany won it.

Now, if she THOUGHT they won and that's why they hung it, then yeah, I don't think I want to hang around that group of people :D

<--- soccer geek!

The World Cup was played in Italy in 1990, but the last time Italy won was in 1982.