So long as it will stop this sort of argument, which has the unfortunate habit of popping up any time the U.S. does something remotely important in the international game:

Wilbon was the first to shoot his mouth off, claiming that the international perspective towards Team America will barely have shifted, arguing “you’ve gotta win the World Cup. Winning this tournament is not a world impact. Winning the World Cup is a world impact.” That lead to Kornheiser making his main point. While accepting that there will be “a small bubbling up of soccer in America” the commentator then quickly squashed suggestions that soccer could one day rival the US’s main sports claiming soccer “will never touch baseball, touch basketball, touch football in America. It’s just not gonna happen! You’ve gotta win the World Cup!”

I’d go even further. I’d argue that even if the U.S. does win the World Cup — which, come on; World Cup upsets basically never make it to the final — soccer won’t become as popular in the U.S. as football, basketball or baseball. Why? Because of the U.S.’s domestic league. The MLS is just poor. And without that sort of year-round, day-in day-out interest, even the interest generated by a World Cup victory, as profile-raising as it might be, would eventually peter out and give way to which running back you should take first in your fantasy draft this year. Perhaps greater exposure to the English Premier League could help nascent American fans stay interested. Maybe a bunch of young kids will have a formative sports experience watching the U.S. win the World Cup. But it’s hard to imagine soccer “taking over America,” as people say, without a high-level league of our own. The MLS ain’t it.

But that’s OK! There was maybe a time in my life when I cared about whether or not the U.S. was a “soccer country,” but honestly, at this point, I’m fine with it. I want the U.S. to win. I root for them to do so. Likewise, I root for Arsenal, and I have the ability to do so. I was fortunate enough to be born at a time and place where my entertainment decisions aren’t totally limited by geography or demographics. I can watch soccer on my own. So can you, if you care. If not, in the immortal words of Peter Gibbons, that’s cool too.

Wishing the rest of the country would care along with me is roughly akin to hoping Fleet Foxes become the most popular band in the world. I mean, sure. Whatever. Great. But it doesn’t make their music any less enjoyable now.