Table of Contents

Preface vii Introduction 3 One The Argument: Sports As Culture in In ustrial Societies--American Conformities and Exceptions 7 Two The Formation of the American Sport Space: "Crow ing Out" and Other Factors in the Relegation and Marginalization of Soccer 52 Three Soccer's Trials and Tribulations: Beginnings, Chaos, "Almosts," Obscurity, an Colleges 99 Four The Formation and Rearrangement of the American Sport Space in the Secon Half of the wentieth Century 128 Five From the North American Soccer League to Major League Soccer 162 Six The World Cup in the Unite States 201 Seven The Coverage of World Cup '98 by the American Media and the Tournament's Reception by the American Public 235 Conclusion 264 Appendixes 273 A. A Statistical Abstract on Recreational, Scholastic, and Collegiate Soccer in the United States 275 B. A Sample of Opinion from American Sports Columnists and Journalists regarding the 1994 World Cup 282 Notes 299 Bibliography 341 Index 353

Promotional Information

The vexing question of why soccer struggles to establish itself firmly on the American sports landscape is brilliantly and persuasively answered in this groundbreaking work. Sociology scholars and soccer aficionados alike should be intrigued by this painstakingly comprehensive analysis, made especially accessible by the lively and enthusiastic style of the authors. It is remarkable as a happy marriage of the scholar's methods with the fan's passion for the world's game. A must read for lovers and observers of the game in America and in the totally converted soccer community occupying the rest of our planet. -- Seamus Malin, Soccer Commentator, ESPN and ABC

About the Author

Andrei S. Markovits is Professor of Politics in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures and Adjunct Professor of Sociology at the University of Michigan. He is the author of numerous books, including The German Left: Red, Green and Beyond and The German Predicament: Memory and Power in the New Europe. Steven L. Hellerman is a sports journalist and a doctoral candidate at Claremont University's School of Politics and Economics.

Reviews

"Warmly recommended to all those who want to understand and appreciate ... popular culture in the United States."--Roman Horak, Der Standard (Vienna) "The text is well referenced, historically grounded, and offers excellent insight into US soccer and its past, present, and future potential as a major sport. Highly recommended for both the general population and those interested in sports studies and sociology of sport."--Choice "This is the first adequate sociocultural history of the sport in the United States... Sports sociologists will look to this book for soccer material and also for the author's fresh conceptualization of sports culture. Sociologists with more general interests in culture and institutional analysis might also find it useful and informative as a case study."--John Wilson, American Journal of Sociology