image credit: Darny
Thierry Henry, one of the past decade's biggest soccer stars, recently took a very strange trip on New York City's PATH railway system. Documented in a recent interview in New York Magazine, Henry's trip was unusual for its peace and quiet. Virtually anywhere else in the world, even a brief trip on a subway would've been impossible for the massively famous Henry. He's almost unrecognized in New York, however, his celebrity dwarfed by local stars like Eli Manning and Derek Jeter.
Henry and his new employer, Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls, hope that will soon change. Recently acquired by the Red Bulls in a trade with soccer superpower FC Barcelona, Henry is part of a massive investment by the New York club which aims to make soccer one of the predominant pasttimes in America's sports landscape.
In addition to Henry, New York's only MLS club recently signed Mexican National Team captain Rafa Marquez. Another aging, world-famous soccer star from FC Barcelona, Marquez represents MLS's push to become relevent to America's Mexican community.
Both of these trades encapsulate the future of soccer in America. Investors are keen to bring soccer to the bright lights of American sports entertainment. They've a long way to go, however, as evidenced by one uneventful subway ride.
P.S.: As an aside, further evidence of America's soccer incompetence can be found in this disastrous interview with Thierry Henry. It is hands-down the worst sports reporting I've ever seen.
I'd be interested to know if the big investors who have the power to bring European stars to the MLS are out to change the game of the soccer here in America by bringing foreign expertise and skill or if they merely wish to build on the buzz that America surrounds its sports with. Either way it is nice to see some big European names willing to make the switch and it does do something for the game here but it's hard to say whether that something will be permanent or a temporary appeasing until more stars are needed to bring the game to the front line again. Henry better enjoy that ride while he can - soon enough he won't be able to go buy his own groceries.
ReplyDelete