Great work on this article. I think you are bringing up something about the identity of soccer in the U.S. that is still being worked through. We all know that kids in America make it to the big leagues because of the training and attention they receive at big, well-funded club teams. Groups like the South Valley Chivas Academy cannot compete equally with wealthy clubs nor with wealthy parents. While occasionally we do see talented players emerge from outside of the college and big club ranks, the odds are against them.

This may just seem like bad luck, but it exemplifies the Anglo/Hispanic split in American soccer culture–one of the big reasons why MLS is still considered a secondary aports league. As you have pointed out, soccer is very popular in America, but it is too diverse for its own good. This summer, ESPN is going to put a lot of time and money into educating Americans about the sport so that their decision to start giving soccer prime time coverage will start to pay off. As we know, what this means is that they are educating the English-speaking, traditional American sports loving viewers, vast numbers of whom don;t realize that soccer is taking place all around them.

For soccer to succeed in America–and for kids in places like Porterville to succeed, all the unique groups that play and watch soccer need to find a way to unite. This is for the benefit of MLS, which would get better rating if the quality of play was closer to that of international teams. Reorganization of club funds and the construction of development academies should focus on the long-term goal of uniting soccer people in the U.S.