Here in the states we are largely indifferent about the world’s most popular sport so here are 8 reasons you should get into soccer (football) through the English Premier League…
1. The Time
Live sports starting at 4:30am pacific. The opportunity to have a full English breakfast with beans and a 20oz imperial pint early in the morning. Watch some football before American football starts.
2. Relegation
No more tanking in American sports, if you are at the bottom of the standings you go down. Imagine AAA baseball teams fighting to get to the bigs and MLB losers desperately trying to stay up. There is a lot more at stake than just who wins it all.
3. Pick your team!
Your American fandom not producing championships? No problem as you now have 20 new squads to pick from. Jump on the bandwagon with one of the big six shadily funded clubs or be like me and support Newcastle because of the city’s famous Brown Ale.
4. The Beautiful Game
The rules of the game are so simple even small children and my fiancée understand everything, minus offsides. No ticky-tack rules (looking at you NFL), minimum stoppages minus the hilarious injury faking, and simple scorelines and stats for beginner fans to understand.
5. Tradition
These footballers wouldn’t dare play on fake turf. No commercials for 45 minutes straight. Organized groups of supporters who would do anything for their club.
6. A Global Sport
It’s not all fish and chips in the Premiership as the league has one of the most diverse groups of players in the world. The international flare of the Premier League gives you a global geography lesson every match and clubs participate in European competitions thought the season.
7. Club vs. Country
While club football pays the bills and entertains the locals almost year-round, playing for your nation is the highest honor in professional soccer. Watch countrymen compete and play on the same teams knowing their ultimate goal is to win the once every 4 years World Cup.
8. Make some new friends
Grab a beer with a strange accented gentleman at one of the many US supporters’ clubs nationwide. Embrace the community aspects that Premier League clubs promote and feel welcomed in rivalries and traditions even as a new supporter.