Brendon's Mid Unit 3 Post

My Unit 3 Post will talk about the history of soccer as well as the positive aspects of soccer and how it is been a growing sport in countries such as the United States.  I have found many sources that talk about how soccer in the 20th century in the United States was overlooked by other sports such as football and basketball.  Soccer eventually became a foreign and diversely ethnic sport.  For instance, in the past many in the United States had negative opinions on soccer and had decided to distinguish itself from Europe.  Universities began to focus on other sports such as rugby.  However, soccer has been a growing sport and can bring people from diverse cultures together.  Soccer is a sport that is very cheap, which has made it a sport that anybody can play and enjoy.  The "beautiful game" has also shown that it can break down barriers of race, creed, language and color.  Past events have also showed that the simple sport can have an overwhelming effect and even heal divisions in countries.  During the time Ivory Coast had qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup the country was in the middle of a brutal and terrifying civil war.  Difference in religion and ethnics had torn the north and south apart.  The countries national team was nicknamed the elephants to represent what the country needed-unification.  After the team had qualified, Didier Drogba lead the team's pleas for peace.  This team became an example of how people of diverse cultures could come together by putting away their differences and worked together.  Today, clubs all over the world are made of players from different countries, yet teamates are able to cooperate and play as a team.