Support for or against the USA will always be polarized to the max. I vibes de head SUPA on 100%. Same way I understand sentiment on the other side - especially from those not resident in the US. Same way I vibes Bakes position on moving on from 1989. That said I think there's some usefulness in stimulating a rivalry versus the USA. In my view it could be more useful than the traditional rivalry with Yard.
A rivalry need not be negative. It could be healthy ... and given the state of soccer developmentally in the States I am of the view that placing the US firmly in our sights could only assist our footballing future/culture.
As Trinis we seem to possess a genetic trait for forgiveness or amnesia or something of the sort ... until as Brownsugar suggests - the wider US takes ownership of soccer we should take to the field in defense of a sport that is functionally one of our rights of passage/ a birthright.
There is much from the US program that we would do well to emulate.
I'm a diehard NY Giants fan and for many years I was living plum behind enemy lines in Redskins territory...and so I couldn't stand that team. But after reading about the 'Skins day in and day out in the Washington Post (and especially when they were losing season after season) inevitably you got to know more about the team, the coaches, players etc. As a result of becoming more familiar with them, part of you empathized with them and wanted to see them do well. I have no doubt that that is what happened with me and this US team...cuz trust I too couldn't stand them and hated to even acknowledge the possibility that they were better than TnT.
There are nuff players on that team who I know truly love de sport and sacrificing to make the sport work here. I look at ole vets like Eddie Pope who no longer with them...ten years ago man coulda write he own ticket in Europe but he turn down that chance to stay and play in MLS for $250,000 (the most MLS could offer then...avg. salary was about$50K). He played in MLS b/c the league was young and he knew that in order for the sport to take root, the better players had to stay and help elevate the game.
If I see ah man love something same way I love it and making personal sacrifices to see it improve...I cyah help but root fuh dat man. The sacrifice that Pope made has paved the way for men like Corey Gibbs and Jay Demerit to now ten years later (they weren't even teenagers back then...or barely) to be plying their trade in the EPL. Them can't control what the rest of their countrymen think about the sport...to many Americans win or lose to them soccer will stay second class...so is not them allyuh 'spiting' by hating on de yanks. The more the team progresses, the more soccer in the US progresses. The better the US becomes...the more (hopefully) it will motivate the rest of us in CONCACAF to up our game as well.
...but everybody different, so to each his/her own.
