This is the open letter I promised in Media Watch #2, a missive to the newspaper editors of America to cover tomorrow's game. I'm not asking for a lot, and I expect that most of you would agree that the request the latter makes is both fair and realistic. While it is an open-letter, there is surely no harm in sending it along to the listed email addresses for editors (and specifically sports editors) of major newspapers across the country. I realize that my reach here is limited, so if you feel the urge, or believe the letter makes a good case for covering the game, please forward to your heart's content.
Dear Sir or Madam:
As the editor of a major news outlet, you are in uniquely powerful position. With the choices you make, you directly impact the individual focuses of millions of Americans everyday. It is the undeniable influence you wield, and the impact that influence can have, that is the reason for this letter.
Believe it or not, soccer is a rapidly growing American sport, with millions of fans spread all across the country. Though often marginalized, rarely taken seriously, and never in the forefront of the American sports consciousness, the game nonetheless continues to grow at a rapid pace. Major League Soccer, the top tier American competition, has expanded significantly over the past few years, and ticket demand, despite a flagging economy, has outpaced most predictions. While television viewership has been less than stellar for the domestic product, broadcasts of European matches have drawn respectable ratings. A significant and ever-growing Internet community of passionate soccer supporters exists, and new fans are gravitating to the sport everyday.
Unfortunately, the sport, and the grassroots movement behind it, continues to be largely ignored by the mainstream American media. While a few major dailies have dedicated a modicum of their resources to the sport, the reporters assigned to cover soccer often do so only on a part-time basis. Even this coverage comes with a caveat, as it is generally relegated to the back pages of the sports section, or to areas of websites that are difficult to get to or are simply beyond the normal path of the average reader.
If you were not already aware, the United States Men’s National Team is facing Mexico in a crucial match tomorrow night in Columbus, Ohio. For American soccer fans, the game against Mexico is the highlight of the National Team’s annual schedule, and tomorrow’s match comes with the added excitement of being a World Cup qualifier. The USA-Mexico soccer rivalry is as intriguing as any on the current American sports landscape, with a rich recent history and an intensity level that meets or exceeds that of any of the most celebrated head-to-head match-ups.
We understand that perhaps you did not grow up or cut your journalistic teeth in an environment in which soccer was a relevant sport. We understand that soccer has a long way to go before it can be listed among Americans’ most popular sporting passions. We also understand that the support for the game in the United States is neither obvious nor overwhelming. Despite these understandings, we believe that soccer has both a strong base and a bright future here, and as such should be given a higher profile in our mass media outlets.
Therefore, our request is a simple one; please include a story, a preview, or a simple note on either your newspaper’s main web page or the main sports page focusing on the USA-Mexico World Cup Qualifier. Even if you don’t believe the item will appeal to a majority of your readers, there is no doubting the attractiveness of the rivalry. American sports fans are addicted to rivalry, and we believe ours to be one of the best; so give the sport a chance to shine on the one day that it is at its best, the one day that it should truly be among America's biggest sports stories.
Regards,
America's Soccer Supporters
