When Ricky Rubio enters the NBA draft in preparation for leaving a top European league and finding a home in the best basketball league in the world, it's big news on this side of the Atlantic. When Jozy Altidore, one of the brightest young players in American soccer, leaves Spain and heads to play in the English Premier League, it's not exactly stopping the presses (if there were, you know, presses left to stop).
But is Altidore's move to England good for American soccer or what's wrong with it?
Bill Simmons contends it may be time for European soccer to take off in the United States. Paraphrasing, he suggests Americans just want to see the best athletes in the world in any sport, and in the age of streaming video and satellite dishes, it doesn't really matter if the road trips are from Hull to Liverpool instead of Minneapolis to Chicago.
In the aftermath of Altidore's goal in a historic United States win against Spain, SportsNation didn't think mainstream stardom awaited him. But if he starts scoring goals for Hull, where he's likely to see far more time than he would have with Spanish power Villarreal, might we all start paying attention?
- Better to see American stars in MLS or EPL? SportsNation can't make up its mind.
- Chat: U.S. captain and former EPL player Carlos Bocanegra chats at 3 p.m. ET.
“The competition alone that Jozy will see will help him to blossom into a better and stronger player. Going to Hull will allow him to get real quality PT...and at this stage in Jozy's career, playing time is paramount.
” -- jeffs_
“Another American goes to Europe. Great for the national team, not so great for MLS, but MLS seems to be actively hampering the development of some of America's best footballers.
” -- monsterdog5
“anytime any our boys can play overseas only means great things for us when it comes to USA's long term success and the skills they develop across the pond. GREAT NEWS and so them that the yankees can play!
” -- pchatty2701
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