TRUE COLORS; SOCCER'S POPULARITY GROWING IN U.S.Byline: Eric Moses Daily News Staff Writer Talk about daring. Seth Shore wore a red United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. soccer team jersey Monday to The Fox and Hounds, an English pub on Ventura Boulevard Ventura Boulevard is one of the primary east-west thouroughfares in the San Fernando Valley; as it was originally a part of the El Camino Real (the trail between Spanish missions), Ventura Boulevard is the oldest route in the San Fernando Valley. It was also U.S. in Studio City where patrons have promised to shave their trademark beards if England is ousted from the World Cup tournament. But there Shore sat, a pint of Tennant's in his hand, allowed to watch America's noon match against Germany on television, and cheer the USA without getting hassled. The West Los Angeles
``In every other country in the world, when your team is playing it is kind of your duty to watch the game,'' Shore said. ``Someday, I hope it will reach that point in the U.S.'' Even non-U.S.-born soccer fans were pulling for the red, white and blue. ``We want to see if the U.S. can beat up Germany,'' Claudia Alejos, a Guatemalan native who works in Studio City, said in the early moments of the match. ``For the U.S. to be big in soccer, that has to happen.'' For the first time in World Cup history, all 64 games will be broadcast live, in English, in the U.S. More youths are enrolled in soccer leagues now than when the World Cup played here in 1994. The Hawthorne-based American Youth Soccer Organization says participation in its leagues nationwide has risen to 800,000 players, up 200,000 in four years, said AYSO AYSO American Youth Soccer Organization AYSO All Your Saturdays Occupied AYSO Alabama Youth Soccer Organization AYSO Albuquerque Youth Soccer Organization (Albuquerque, New Mexico) spokeswoman Sandy Volkert. The West Valley Soccer League has grown from 800 players to 1,200 since 1994, said president Mitchell Hyams. The sport has become so popular in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , the city's Recreation and Parks Department can't keep up with soccer field permits. ``I can tell you there are not as many (fields) as we need,'' said Jan Zatorski, acting assistant general manager for the department's Valley region. Throughout the lunch hour Monday, soccer fans could catch the U.S. match just about anywhere there was a TV, including Bally's Total Fitness in Encino. ``They called ahead to see if it's on,'' said manager Kathy Marich. At a McDonald's in Tarzana, three employees on a break watched the end of Germany's 2-0 win on a set that usually airs children's shows. At The Fox and Hounds, bartender Gary Richards said more Americans are interested in the sport. But he doubted any Yanks would show up at his bar to watch a 5 a.m. game, whereas 85 English expatriates did so for their nation's opening game earlier Monday. ``We're talking about it all the time. It's in our blood. It's not second nature for you (Americans) yet,'' said Richards, who described himself as a former midfielder in a top English league. If it's not in Heather Buchta's blood, it's in her bones. The 22-year-old youth pastor at Bel-Air Presbyterian Church in Encino played soccer at the University of Nevada University of Nevada could refer to either of the universities in the Nevada System of Higher Education:
``I like that it's a constant, physical game,'' Buchta said while watching the game and eating a chicken fajita fa·ji·ta n. A dish consisting of strips of marinated meat, poultry, or vegetables that are grilled over an open fire and served in a tortilla, usually with spicy condiments. Often used in the plural. at Chevys in Encino. ``There's not a lot of starting and stopping, like in baseball.'' Across the room, Encino resident Regina Chalk, 35, sat with her mother, Nan Balzer, ignoring the game. ``We're football fans,'' Chalk said. ``Tackle football, rugby-style.'' At game's end, Graham Rose Graham David Rose (born April 12, 1964), in Tottenham, England, was an English domestic cricketer for Somerset between 1987 and 2002. He was a right handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler. , the English owner of Pickwick's Pub in Woodland Hills, consoled three teens, including his son, Chris, on the U.S. loss. He said there is hope for the national team as more people from soccer-playing nations immigrate im·mi·grate v. im·mi·grat·ed, im·mi·grat·ing, im·mi·grates v.intr. To enter and settle in a country or region to which one is not native. See Usage Note at migrate. v.tr. to the United States. ``Americans can usually throw money at any sport and win,'' Rose said. ``This is the one sport where you can't do that. The Brazilians play at 2 years old on the beach.'' Nick Burry burry said of wool when it contains plant burrs, the adherent seed pods, usually of Medicago polymorpha. , one of the teens at the table, was inconsolable. ``I was a little bit mad. I was a little bit angry with the starting lineup,'' the 19-year-old said. ``Then they got the early goal. It was a little bit fluky fluk·y also fluk·ey adj. fluk·i·er, fluk·i·est 1. Resulting from or depending on mere chance. 2. Constantly shifting; uncertain: a fluky wind. . The second goal just killed us.'' Kicking America Interest by Americans in the World Cup continues to grow, though lower ratings for televised games are predicted because live games from France this year are broadcast in the morning, compared to evening telecasts from U.S. stadiums in 1994, media analysts said. Item World Cup '94 World Cup '98 Games televised in US 43 of 52 64 of 64 (first time ever) Ratings 5.3 for 11 games ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. 4 for ABC telecasts xx Players in AYSO 600,000 800,000 nationwide xx Estimated CAPTION(S): Photo, box PHOTO (color) Soccer fans show their allegiance to the U.S. team Monday at Parc des Princes UEFA 4-star rated football stadia • • [ stadium in Paris. Elise Amendola/Associated Press Box: Kicking America (see text) |
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