It's only one game, and sixtieth minute substitute appearance at that, but Jozy Altidore's English adventure has gotten off to a rousing start. His first touch set up Hull's winning goal in their victory over Bolton on Saturday, and the Tigers fans took to their new American starlet immediately.
From afar, it looks like Jozy might be the new American idol, the player that kids all over the US (and there are millions of them) will look up to; running around fields from California to New York, more and more young players will be emulating Jozy Altidore.
That can only be a good thing for American soccer. The sport has needed a young star to capture young players' attention, and as good as Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan are, neither is in a position to fill the role. Dempsey lacks the "it" factor, that indescribable charisma that brings public attention. Donovan, at least until he returns to Europe, isn't on a big enough stage to have the impact that his talent should allow him to otherwise. When kids look for footballing heroes, it makes sense that they would look to the world's highest profile league.
Hull is by no means a massive club, and it would obviously increase Altidore's impact if he was playing for a world-renowned name like Manchester United or Liverpool; but short of a starting role in the lineup of a Champions League contender, which Jozy is clearly not ready for, playing against those clubs and on television gives him enough of a spotlight to elevate him quickly to soccer idol.
For many of us, growing up in a country where soccer was widespread as a participation sport but was not yet a major spectator sport, there simply was no major American star to emulate. The connection that exists between young dreamers and idols in baseball, football, or basketball aids in turning those dreamers into serious athletes, and when they can no longer play, rabid fans. The United States' dearth of those connections in the sport of soccer is just another factor in why the game is only slowly taking root here.
Altidore has the potential to be America's first breakout, crossover, media star. The Lebron James of soccer, if you'd like, a player who's image is perhaps even better know than his considerable talents. While Lebron is arguably the best in the world at what he does, Jozy is just a young player with natural talent still learning his craft; but that doesn't mean that he can't capture America's attention while he performs in a top European league.
Whether Jozy transcends soccer and becomes a popular culture icon is yet to be seen. The place of the game here still makes it an impossible thing to predict, no matter that Altidore possesses all of the attributes to do so. Still, young American soccer players may finally have an player truly worth idolizing; a young star who will score goals in the world's biggest league, against some of the world's most recognized footballers, all the while growing up before our eyes.
I can only imagine what it must be like for a twelve year old American soccer player to watch Altidore play on television while Hull's home supporters chant "USA! USA!" over and over.
Jozy Altidore, American Soccer Idol.
