1. Kids play soccer because moms believe there’s much less chance of injury in this game than in football (or even baseball).

2. American sports fans who pump money into athletics (buying tickets and merchandise, watching games on TV) have a hard time watching a sport that involves such a small “Wow” factor.

We marvel at the athlete who can hit a home run, survive a tackle from a 350-pound man, dunk a basketball, hit a 300-yard drive and then sink a 20-foot putt, ace a 115-mile per hour serve, or avoid dangerous collisions while racing around on skates with a small puck and a stick.

Occasionally, a soccer player can elicit the same response with a powerful or well-directed kick (or an athletic save). But most soccer action involves dribbling, passing, and running at three-quarters speed.