How do you make red-blooded conservatives even more suspicious of soccer? Allow MSNBC’s Chris Hayes to demonstrate.
After the United States fell to Belgium in agonizing fashion on Tuesday in the opening round of the World Cup’s knockout stage, Hayes offered an explanation for some of the politically charged criticism toward the global game.
“The aversion that some hold to joining the world in embracing soccer is often weirdly tied to American exceptionalism,” Hayes said on his program, “All In.” “And once again, this year, a few anti-soccer trolls reared their ugly heads. But they really don’t matter, not when the World Cup brings so much joy to many people.”
A liberal bringing up “American exceptionalism” will always set off alarm bells on the right, but Hayes still didn’t cross the proverbial red, white and blue line until a few moments later.
“And while we didn’t win, that’s ultimately alright because part of embracing a truly worldwide competition is accepting the fact the U.S. cannot simply assert its dominance,” he continued. “Turns out we have to play just like everybody else.”
Turns out conservatives didn’t like hearing that.
RedState’s Erick Erickson, who tweeted Tuesday that “the same people who complain about American jingoistic tendencies during the Olympics are all about USA in soccer,” thought Hayes proved his point.
Yesterday I noted that ppl who hate the jingoism of cheering on America in the Olympics are all in for soccer. Yep. http://t.co/qWeFXuRIcI
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) July 2, 2014
Breitbart and the Washington Free Beacon surfaced the Hayes’ commentary, though the conservative outlets slightly mischaracterized his words.
The Washinton Examiner’s T. Becket Adams wrote that while Ann Coulter’s anti-soccer screed “inspired groans everywhere,” Hayes was “overthinking an issue.”
Watch video, via the Free Beacon:
It goes to something that I’ve always believed: I don’t think that America is certain to be great, just because. I want America to be great – to walk its talk.
In other words: greatness is not inherited or predestined. It is earned, and it can be lost. That we could lose our greatness ought to be something that does not inspire fear or loathing, but challenges us to be better, and get even better than that.
It’s like soccer is the Untied Nations of the sports world.
It’s got to be some kind of socialist conspiracy to take everyone’s guns away, and force people to wipe their asses,and wash their hands after taking a shit.
Add the June 2014 jobs report to Obama’s hate list.
Most other countries are “all in” with soccer all the time. Americans, not so much. No surprise that support can come across as half-hearted.
Another thing, which Rachel pointed out yesterday, was how bad American players are at acting like they were seriously hurt. Basically, if you can’t unabashedly lie, you can’t fool the refs into awarding unwarranted penalties that could give your team an advantage.
And while everyone knows there’s probably a snake in every boot, the American brand says we don’t lie. At least not when playing soccer.
Hayes was overthinking the issue a little bit, but at least he thought about it. That is more than I can say about Erickson.
I have truly enjoyed this World Cup. The difference between the top teams and the rest is not nearly as great as it was a few cups ago. All of the games have been terrific. I just wish FIFA would do something to stop deliberate diving. The Mexicans were robbed.