NBC’s wall-to-wall coverage of the Premier League, which starts tomorrow, is terrific for soccer fans. However, if the network is going to get a bang for its big investment ($250 million over 3 years), it has to bring in people like me.
Despite several attempts, I never have bought into soccer. I watch the World Cup and perhaps a big game or two, but not much more.
Yet I am intrigued by the Premier League. After covering the British Open all these years, I have become a fan of most things British (notable exception: some of the food). So given all the hype, I might be willing to give the Premier League a try.
However, I started thinking about it. The initial reason why people become fans of a sport is that they develop a certain connection to a team. I grew up in Chicago. Thanks to my father, I became a White Sox first before becoming a baseball fan. A Bears fan before football; Bulls before basketball. The resurgence of the Blackhawks has made me a hockey fan again.
I likely won’t watch the Premier League much if I don’t have a rooting interest. Otherwise, it will seem like random players running around on a pitch.
I went for advice to an old friend, Mike Mulligan. The Mully of The Mully and Hanley Show on WSCR-AM 670 in Chicago is a long-time soccer fan.
I told Mully I want to follow a team. Since I grew up in Chicago, I have an underdog mentality when it comes to my favorite teams. I can’t see myself rooting for Manchester United, aka, the Yankees.
I asked Mully for his recommendations. In an email, he replied:
I am something of a Premier League fan, but much more a Manchester United supporter.
You are out of your mind, i.e. a Cubs fan, if you are looking for a team to support, but dismissing United because of their success. Nothing except my family has brought me consistent joy and pleasure like the Red Devils. I could weep thinking about it.
The League is a three team race between United, City and Chelsea. Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs are in the next level. Couldn’t make an argument for anyone but United, the world’s greatest football team.
I don’t know Mike. Following ManU seems too easy. I need other options.
Dan Levy in Bleacher Report did a post: “Five Big Teams a First Time Fan Should Root for in the Premier League.”
He writes:
If a new fan wants to follow a team in the EPL and has no preconceived allegiance to any club, wouldn’t it be prudent to suggest a team that might actually win something?
If you follow that logic, the choices are slim. There are really only four, maybe five, clubs with a chance to win the EPL this—or any—season.
Since the inception of the Premier League, there has been only one league champion from any club other than Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester City. When Blackburn won the EPL in 1994-95, it marked the last season one of the current top four clubs didn’t win. That’s nearly 20 years ago!
Really? For as much as the Yankees, Red Sox win a lot of games because of their wealth, the World Series bounty really gets spread around in baseball. It even included my White Sox in 2005. For the most part, the same is true in the other American sports.
Sorry, Dan, I’m not a frontrunner guy. Can you provide another option?
Levy writes:
The club outside of those four with the best chance is Tottenham, surely. Spurs will either benefit from Gareth Bale on the field or the money from Bale in the cupboards to reload with talent to get them into Champions League position. As currently constructed, Spurs may have the talent to compete for the EPL crown this year, lacking only a bit of depth to sustain the rigors of a long campaign.
Tottenham? Don’t they have a new coach from the states? A fellow by the name of Ted Lasso (aka Jason Sudeikis).
Seems like he knows what he is doing.
Plus, I like the sound of Tottenham. Seems so very British.
OK, it’s Tottenham for me. Go Spurs!
stop in an irish or english bar on saturday morning (fado on dearborn is a good one) when one of the big four are playing. worst thing about EPL is games often end in a tie, best things about EPL is games are often decided in “stoppage time.” so watching the last 2-3 minutes is often the most exciting…just like the NBA
You picked the same team Bill Simmons did a few years back!
NBC ran a club guide on air a few times to help people pick a team. Interesting enough, they completely glossed over the top 4 teams. For me the decision is based on which team prominently features an American player. Tottenham would have been a no-brainer for me had Clint Dempsey stayed. Instead, I am very interested in Sunderland with Jozy Altidore and Everton with US goalkeeper Tim Howard. It may be the English Premier League, but for me it’s all about the Americans and the success of the US Men’s National Team.
Great article. Soccer is its own culture and this culture is fostered in Pubs and Soccer bars around the country. Ratings definitely wont grow if fans dont make connections. Fans can make those connections when they watch a match with 100 other guys and gals on a Saturday morning at 8am over a pint (not at home in their PJs). Cheers!