United States Secretary of State John Kerry was known as “The Camel” in his days playing soccer for Yale. The long-striding runner preferred to play direct, would rather dribble than pass.
Vice president Joe Biden isn’t known for soccer at all, but he sure is known for being direct as well. For example, he’s not tip-toeing around the issue of how the USMNT can fare at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
Well maybe not this specifically this summer’s World Cup. The vagueness is still a thing there.
From the AFP:“When it comes to soccer, America is coming on,” Biden said.
“It’s not historically been our game... but 25 million people in the United States play soccer, 80 percent of them are young people who will be players and fans for years to come.
“The world should know, we’re coming ready to play.”
The two American politicians were on scene Monday for the World Cup trophy’s first stop in the US as “part of a global tour before heading later to Brazil.” Biden also served as a walking commercial for attending the tournament.
“You have to attend the World Cup to [understand] what it means. It’s the most unusual sporting event I’ve ever attended, and I’ve attended thousands. … It’s in the air, it’s a palpable sense of energy that I’ve never quite experienced. It’s the most consequential sporting event in the world. … We have our Super Bowl, we have our World Series, the NBA Finals, March Madness, but my Lord, there is nothing quite like the World Cup.”
Politicians don’t generally strike a good tone when it comes to sports, and really what clear space do they have in most sports fans minds? But credit where it’s due: the U.S. has a former college soccer player in its highest ranks and a VP who knows how to stoke the fire for soccer.
