Names and Branding

As several of my friends know, I've gotten into soccer with the World Cup recently. So much so that I'm looking for major league teams to follow. I figure I need to pick a few: a German team, since I lived there and have an affinity for Germany; an American team, because I am an American; a women's team, since I am a woman. I find myself baffled by my choices.

First, in Germany, I take it that Bayern Munchen (Bavaria Munich) is the big team. I actually drove through a town watching a cup game between Bayern Munchen against Milano; Milan won, and I spent my late dinner dodging young, drunk Bavarian men defiantly singing their team's anthem. My kind of team! But the more I think about it, the more I think I need a team from a place I lived, which would actually put me in to Nurnberg FC's camp. I looked for a Heidelberg team, but the closest I can come is a team from another Rhine city.

In the Americas, again I look for a home team, but am dismayed by my choice: the New York Red Bulls. Now In understand corporate sponsorship, and I understand the desire the name a team something exciting, but seriously, this is too far. Imagine the New York Doritos, or the New York Burrito Supreme. It's a little too close to Idiocracy for my taste, so I look elsewhere. I could go for the Sounders, since I lived in Puget Sound, or the NE Revolution, since they're not far off (though that would be like picking the Red Sox bc you hate the Yankees). Please, Red Bull, give your team a proper name. Even the Red Bull Knicks would be acceptable. I just can't root for a team that is named after a product.

When it comes to women's teams, there are fewer choices, but a bit more sensible. I've ruled out FC Chivas, for reasons similar to the Red Bulls. I like FC Gold, based in Santa Clara, and could go for them based on my work in technology. But that's about it. I also find myself tempted to pick by team colors.

So that's it! I have a new sport to watch. Heck, I have a sport. I am not a sports fan, but soccer has really grabbed my attention. I've discovered I actually like to watch the game itself, and not just root for countries. Finally, something to do over the next four years while we wait for the next World Cup.

USA Out, 2-1 Ghana

I am not a sports fan. I understand the basics of most major team sports - football, baseball, and soccer. I understand the softball is baseball for girls, with an underhand pitch and generally associated with lesbians. I understand that NASCAR is racing cars, and the Formula 1 cars are faster.

I say all this to say, I do not follow sports.

That said, I started following the FIFA World Cup. About four years ago, a Brazilian friend of mine invited me over to watch their match (against whom, I forget). It was exciting, and interesting, and full international pageantry. Thus, this year I tried to follow it from the beginning.

Knowing how soccer is not as big in the US as it is elsewhere, I expected to have to follow another team. I thought I would follow Germany, since I live there as an adolescent. To the surprise of many people worldwide, the US did well, advancing to the Round of Sixteen. This is how I found myself in a midtown pub Saturday afternoon, watching the US play Ghana.

Sadly, they lost. From what I saw with my own eyes, diluted by my general lack of knowledge, the US gave up an early point and had trouble maintaining possession of the ball. The only goal scored was from a penalty kick, and an easy one at that - not the one where four or five guys get to line up in front of the goalie. So it was with a large group of moderately drunk Americans that I saw the US lose to Ghana, the same nation that had thrown them out of the World Cup in 2006.

It was great to watch though. I'll keep a closer eye on soccer, pick a team or two to following in the intervening years between World Cups.