I can kind of see where you're coming from. But at the same time taking dives in a game is totally against anything we're used to seeing in sports. I still roll my eyes every time I see it in a game. And I especially love it when players get taken off in a stretcher in seemingly agonizing pain. Then as soon as they get to the bench they're miraculously healed and jump right back into the game. Whatever.

I'm not sure I agree with your theory about the US though (no offense taken however). But take this into consideration: our best athletes do not play and probably never played soccer. The best athletes in the United States play baseball, basketball, hockey, and American football. It's really only been a short time that kids in the US have been exposed to soccer. Back when I was in gradeschool in the 80's, intramural leagues were just starting to gain popularity around the US. Only in the last 10 years has the US finally had thousands of athletes that grew up playing the game their whole lives. And I think that's a big reason why our team this year is probably the most talented we've ever had.

Still, America has tons of athletes that would be amazing soccer players. Instead they play the other 4 national sports, which remain much more popular in our country.