Daily Soccer Fix: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: SB Nation MMA Rankings for August 2010

A high five for the good writers at Soccer America Magazine

An article I wrote over the weekend appeared at ESPN Soccernet on Monday, detailing the puffy praise pouring fourth over Landon Donovan, who really is having a grand time and performing splendidly at Everton.

But if you’ve ever cooked up a really great soup or a particularly yummy dish, only to realize you omitted one ingredient that would have truly applied the finishing flourish, you know how I felt on Monday afternoon.

That’s when I read a similar piece by Ridge Mahoney, the veteran writer from Soccer America properties. Ridge and some of his longtime fellow Soccer Americans have been doing Yeoman’s work for longer than I can remember, reporting intrepidly on the American soccer scene. These guys are regular Walter Cronkites, I tell you, doting on the reporting and then spending time to add perspective and package it up just so.

As he wrote about Donovan, Ridge put the perfect exclamation point on the sentence, so to speak, when he noted this irony regarding the American’s dashing run at Goodison Park: With every strong performance, he drives up the asking price from MLS, which probably diminishes the chances that thrifty Everton can round up enough coin to make an appropriate bid.

Damn! How could I not make that point?

Star-divide

In the bigger picture, it reminded me of how much I wish those smart kids at Soccer America still had their places at the top of domestic soccer’s media totem poll.

Ridge, Mike Woitalla and Paul Kennedy at Soccer America have long been the leaders in providing smart, moderated voices in domestic soccer. It was always a shining example of how specialized media can work exactly as it should, with intelligent people using their access to influencers to help readers (and the outside media at large) develop a better understanding of it all.

They’re still doing the same good work, but their influence has waned. Their diluted voice has nothing to do with diminished skill or desire. Rather, it’s about their platform. Soccer America, like so many other print platforms, has simply struggled to keep pace in a rapidly changing media world. The words and wisdom still exist – but it gets short shrift, frequently obscured among the everyday tsunami of quasi-informed opinions.

In all honesty, I truly don’t know of anyone who gets the magazine anymore. Ridge’s excellent MLS Confidential is known and respected inside the industry, but I don’t know how many fans/readers it reaches. Same for Woitalla’s good work. (If you’re interested to any degree in youth soccer, you absolutely must check out his ongoing work on kiddoes in soccer. It is truly terrific and essential reading.)

There are other good sources of information and opinion on the U.S. soccer scene out there. But only a precious few have the ability and inclination to layer it all with context, perspective and supporting data. It’s much easier, after all, to fire off a few sentences, sprinkle in some outrage in the appropriate places (but with no consideration for offering alternatives) and then head out to lunch.

What sounds good today? Thai? Tex-Mex?

I’m not just talking about print/internet media here. I’m also including some voices on TV.  I won’t name names today, but some of the guys who toss out opinion willy-nilly … well, let me just say this: I sure hope they pin their name and address to their jackets whenever they leave the house – so that nice strangers can help them find their way home. They really make things hard on those who seek out the reasonable middle ground in it all.

Even after all the nice things I’ve said about him, Ridge will still be happy to tell me when I’m wrong.  (zing!)  Frankly, I’m just glad that he and his Soccer America pals are still in a place where they can, in fact, keep me in line. I hope they can stay there.

0 recs  |  Comment 4 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Soccer America writers

Steve, I couldn’t agree more. I’ve touted Ridge, Liz Mullen and Mike Woitalla on several occasions and keep links to their posts for reference.

by Peter_C on Feb 16, 2010 1:40 PM EST reply actions  

Super Duper

Steve, I really enjoy your blog and, especially, its tone. This post is classic SD and it makes me want to buy you a beer (in a totally straight, fan of quality way). I’ll be in South Africa and I’m quite often in New York and Detroit; let me know if you would like to become a strange part of the Free Beer Movement.

by geoffersen on Feb 16, 2010 10:50 PM EST reply actions  

Sad to see Soccer America go

I know exactly what you mean. I was sad to learn that they’re stopping monthly print issues and only going to put out special print issues in addition to the email services (which honestly you can get by subscribing to their twitter now for free). I’ve been subscribing for a few years now — I started after the last World Cup when I started getting the daily digest emails of their take in the mornings and everyone else’s in the evenings. I hope they go back to the montly issues — I love how they cover the National teams — no other magazine has done as good a job of that . But honestly, 90 minutes, Soccer Magazine, Striker, etc all seem to go by the wayside. Sad to see Soccer America heading that way as well.
But maybe with Grant Wahl going to full time soccer, SI will fill the void with more mainstream coverage (I know, keep dreaming)

by Matthew E. on Feb 17, 2010 1:55 AM EST reply actions  

Hmmm
With every strong performance, he drives up the asking price from MLS, which probably diminishes the chances that thrifty Everton can round up enough coin to make an appropriate bid.

Paging Sir Alex…

by Nate on Feb 17, 2010 2:53 AM EST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

SB Nation's soccer blog is heavy on the domestic game -- flavored with a dash the global greatness
Start posting on Daily Soccer Fix »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Prosser_small
No more draws in the World Cup
61g1kk9uxel
A very early look at possible 2014 starters for the US
Aerial_20view_20of_20slough_20trading_20estate_20a_small
If I Ran The Vancouver Whitecaps
Yosef_small
Keeping Bob
Tiger_eats_chicken_small
A humdrum World Cup Final
Tor_201_small
World Cup Controversy
Mostdiggity_small
Do Americans Really Hate Soccer?
Tor_201_small
What I Hope to see; Spain v. Netherlands
Small
Bah! Brazil lost b/c they were dressed like France!
Soccer_ball_small
Coaching Options for USMNT

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SBNation.com Recent Stories

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 12:  Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany controls the ball during the Germany training session ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa match against Australia at Moses Mabhida on June 12, 2010 in Durban, South Africa.  (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) +1 updates

Euro 2012 Qualifying, Preview: The Journey To Poland-Ukraine Starts In Earnest Tomorrow

CARSON CA - AUGUST 28: Jimmy Conrad #12 of the Kansas City Wizards volleys a pass to teammate Shavar Thomas #6 under pressure from Landon Donovan #10 of the Los Angeles Galaxy in the second half of their MLS match at The Home Depot Center on August 28 2010 in Carson California. The Wizards defeated the Galaxy 2-0. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

SBNhanced Power Rankings: Major League Soccer, Week 22

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 24:  Head coach Bob Bradley of USA looks on as his team warms up during training session on June 24, 2010 in Pretoria, South Africa. United States will play their second round World Cup match against Ghana on Saturday, June 26, 2010, at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa.  (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

United States Soccer And Bob Bradley: New Challenges, New Contract, Same Coach

More from SBNation.com >


Managers

Daily_soccer_fix_crest_small Steve Davis