"Gone are the drum-beat prompts that attempt to start a "defense" chant. Likewise, the synthesized horns that signal fans to yell "charge" are nowhere to be found. The music supervisor for Sun Life Stadium has mercifully left the Jock Jams playlist at home and a prerecorded team theme song has yet to be played during the match. No announcer shrieked a soccer version of "Another [insert your team here] first down!" after every positive outcome for either team.
In place of all these things are actual cheers. Unsolicited, unabashed, unscheduled cheers. Whistles and chants and claps and legitimate "oohs" and "aahs" and boos and rowdy taunts are heard when, and only when, the on-field play deserves it. It's entirely organic and completely refreshing. It's a major sporting event that treats adults like adults. It's fandom without training wheels.
And maybe that's exactly why soccer's window of opportunity in America appears to be opening -- it is inherently free of so many of the most popular annoyances hoisted upon us by the owners of our favorite sports."
Read the whole piece. It's well worth it.
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