USA COMPETITIVE?

Lack of Success in Sports Reflects Poor Attitudes

Every four years the world’s attention turns to the World Cup Soccer Tournament. There is no other sporting event that captures the attention of billions of people in nearly every country. Soccer is truly the world’s sport.
Americans have never embraced soccer like the rest of the world. Its fascination is with football, an American-grown hybrid of rugby and soccer. Between college and professional leagues that now span year-round TV and venue coverage, the US adores football. Plus, it is the one US professional sport that has virtually no foreign players and one that the US would dominate should the world challenge us to play. I wonder why it is not an Olympic sport.
When it comes to sports, football is currently the only one that the US would dominate. In all other competitive events, Americans rarely dominate. For example, in baseball, a sport called “America’s pastime”, the American team was eliminated in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Professional baseball in the US has become well-represented of players from the world. When those players represented their home country, the “American” team struggled to win games.
The US soccer team is more competitive, but lags far behind the elite world teams. In winter sports like those on display at the Winter Olympics, American athletes consider third place a triumphant effort. Only in those sports invented in America, such “extreme” skiing, do American athletes dominate. But, the rest of the “winter” world is catching up.
Another American institution, basketball, is also a world sport with many players in the US pro leagues coming from all parts of the world. As a result, US-only player teams no longer dominate at venues like the Summer Olympics. “Hockey?” you ask. US teams rarely win at any age/competitive level.
The ultimate insult came a few years ago in the annual Little League World Series held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In order to insure that the finals would include an American team, the teams were split into “World” and “US”. The message was clear: if the rules don’t favor American players, they don’t have a chance to win.
I believe that sports are a microcosm of society. Over the years we have seen sports break the racial barriers in the US. As stated earlier, sports have integrated players from all over the world, creating “mini-UNs” on many teams. But, from a US-dominating sports standpoint, that may be a 20th century phenomenon.
Success in sports, like education and work, takes time and dedication. It seems like American students and athletes just don’t want to dedicate themselves to the task. Instead of practicing for hours honing physical skills, they would rather play video games or text messaging. Instead of reading a book to build virtual power in their brains, they would rather watch moronic TV programs.
Kids playing sports in America is become as passé as American dominance in manufacturing. Americans love watching sports not playing them. Americans love using technology not creating new applications or devices. Americans would rather drive a SUV or 4-wheel AT vehicle instead of bicycling or running. Americans would rather borrow money than earn it.
Opposing views may point to those few American born that do dominate their respective sport. They will be quick to point out the CEOs of major companies, earning millions of dollars, are American-born. But, winning teams are not just the starting players but the depth and talent that are “on the bench.” Often you will read that the company’s CEO will be hard to replace. Or, that if this player gets injured, the team is in trouble. America is “too thin” in talent to be competitive for a marathon run to the top. Who is available to take the baton and run the next leg of the relay?
And on so many levels, that is the problem. If the only excellence can come from a small percentage of our citizens, the US will need to import talent. Talented people who can think, write, or design; that is, the next generation of problem-solvers. Visit a college campus and you will understand how far we are falling behind. Research departments recruit talented foreign students. Various sports programs, other than football, recruit talented athletes from the world. Add to that the arts, music, theater; the world is pushing Americans aside and it is our own doing.
The only job in America that is not threatened by world talent is the American Presidency. It’s not because Americans can “produce” the best presidents; it is a position protected by the US Constitution. It is like the aforementioned little league rule. But, considering the rise of second and third generation immigrants though the political system, that rule may be amended.
If the best athletes are coming from third world countries and the best thinkers are coming from the new world powers, isn’t it plausible to some day hear Americans say “Madam President Zdislaw.”?

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE
© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC