Dear Mr. Gardner,

I am writing because I feel your Soccer Talk column titled "How to counter defensive tends"; (Soccer America, November 15, 1999 issue) unfairly labels the Midwest. The appearance of a simple question

"-well, what is it about Midwest teams?"

As an appreciative fan of skillful soccer and intelligent soccer journalism, I always devour Soccer Talk before investigating the remainder of Soccer America. In the past you have often felt obligated to mention how teams from the Midwest are hard working. This "compliment" that you give is obviously just a way of saying that Midwest teams, at various levels, are lacking in the skill department. I believe a statement that implies such accusations toward the Midwest is not only false but also incredibly broad and therefore inappropriate for a writer of your insight and influence. I'm not going to argue that some successful Midwestern teams haven’t possessed more braun than brain, but that was then, soccer in the Midwest is maturing.

I am from Kansas City, a city that exudes Midwesterness. KC is now producing skillful players that definitely deserve more than a negative blanket stereotype. The following are a few examples. I'll start at the youth level. This past summer's inaugural U14 National Camp (project 2010) included two Kansas City natives: William John and Scott Case. William is the son of former Nigerian international and MISL veteran Emilio John and Scott received extensive training from former Greek professional Kostas Kariotis. Both 14 year-olds move and play in a style that is uncommon among most U.S. players (regardless of region) and very easy to appreciate.

At the college level talented players from all parts of the country are proving invisible boundaries and stereotypes should not exist. KC residents Ari Rodopolous (Santa Clara); Jason Cole (St. Louis U.); and Jamal Seale (Wake Forest); have each garnered Soccer America "Team of the Week" honors this year. Sean Walker (UCLA); and virtually half of the undefeated Southwest Missouri State squad also represents a corp of Kansas City high school grads excelling for NCAA Division I national championship contenders. None of these players should have to hide their roots. Kansas City is very proud of them. Their schools, be it Midwest, ACC, or West Coast surely are aware that Kansas City, not to mention the "Midwest" is not barren of skill.

One of the notable professional players who participated in high school and college soccer in Kansas City is the Chicago Fire's Diego Gutierrez (Blue Springs H.S., Rockhurst College). Although Diego has roots to Colombia, he became a special part of Kansas City's soccer history in a similar way that Tab Ramos (Uruguay) became a special part of New Jersey's history, and Maryland University stars Siba Mohammed and Sumed Ibrahim (Ghana) became special to Kentucky. Joe-Max Moore (Tulsa, OK); Brian McBride (Chicago, IL); Jason Kreis (Omaha, NE); Steve Ralston (St. Louis, MO); Manuel Lagos (St. Paul, MN); Chad Deering (St. Louis/Dallas); Brian Maisonneuve (Detroit, MI); and Ross Paule (Memphis, TN) all grew up in towns associated with Midwest qualities. USA U17 national team standout Demarcus Beasley hails from Fort Wayne, Indiana. All have been accepted in the United States' professional ranks due to their ability to create scoring chances. Their physical attributes, unlike midwest natives Scott Vermillion (Kansas City), Matt McKeon (St. Louis), and Tony Sanneh (Minnesota) are complimentary qualities, not primary qualities.

Are any of the previously mentioned Midwest players a Marco Etcheverry? No. But if being a skillful player means that you must have the touch and vision of "El Diablo", then no corner of our country should be void of criticism. The United States needs to produce a lot of Etcheverry like players if we are to ever truly mature into a complete soccer nation (Like I need to tell you). I'm afraid that all regions of the United States may be farther from this goal than the media and USSF want to believe. National awareness has improved, but we still have room to grow culturally. If the Midwest is playing catch-up to the rest of the country, at least there are signs of great progress.

Hopefully from my magnified report of Kansas City, a small section of the Midwest, you understand my point...Promising players are popping up from everywhere these days. Midwestern soccer does not deserve to be associated with, nor should you continue to "promote" the Midwest simply as "hard workers". I have seen many "hard working" teams. But this style, or lack of other qualities, is not mandatory or exclusive to the Midwest. We probably both agree that too many teams from all parts of our country, at all levels, overemphasizes and prioritize the work-rate factor compared to the creative, skillful aspects. Hopefully the Midwest, and all other areas of the country will improve their recognition, promotion, and challenging of instinctive, unpredictable, skillful players

You are no stranger to soccer from all areas, so you should be able to recognize change, be it positive or negative, from the Midwest. Without sincere critical examination of the sport, the health of attractive soccer in this country would be at further risk. Thankfully your columns consistently give the soccer community a valuable injection of desperately needed soccer medicine.

Sincerely,

Jefferson Roblee