How Soccer Explains the World: An (Unlikely) Theory of Globalization - Franklin Foer (c) 2004 Harper Collins
Mr. Mojo loaned me this book (and I recommended Fever Pitch to him), a terrific sampler for the neophyte and the local soccer fan as well of the sociology behind the the most popular sport in the world.
Though a more apt title would be: How Soccer Reflects the World, the author does a stellar job of exposing the forces under the surface of the game and illustrates how they are changing. Through specific examples as far-ranging as the ethnic conflicts in Yugoslavia to insecure bullying talk show hosts (Jim Rome), Foer explores the impact soccer has had in spurring globalization and the result the feedback has had on the sport.
One example: In the final chapter, "How Soccer Explains the American Culture Wars", the author points to America's failure to export its "National Pastime", baseball, abroad coupled with the tendency of soccer to be embraced by the upper-middle class in the US (as opposed to, say, the UK, where it is still a working-class fan base or here in the US where the working-class embraces basketball and football of the pigskin variety) as the roots of soccer's failure to join the ranks of baseball, football, and basketball as a major US professional sport (you'll note the title is not: How Football Explains the World - apparently it's us Americans that are in need of explanation).
Despite no mention of Watford, I can recommend the book for any thinking or curious fan of the sport.
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