In the early 1980's Soccer in America is telling its familiar story. The North American Soccer League (NASL), a once symbol of hope that Soccer could be a major sport in the hearts of Americans, is in rapid decline. Extending itself too far with rapid expansion and its lack of Soccer Specific Stadiums to produce revenue, it is deep in the red. Even with men like Lamar Hunt operating teams, an heir to a multi-billion dollar oil fortune, the league is clearly out of time. The days of the New York Cosmos averaging over 40,000 fans to Giants Stadium were over. Average league wide attendance was now under 11,000. By the end of the decade, it will have been six years since the league “temporarily suspended operations”. However, in Kearny, New Jersey eight miles away from where Pele and the Cosmos played, the NASL has left its mark. It provided what N.C. State gave Michael Jordan by winning the NCAA basketball championship in 1974. It had provided what Dave Winfield running the bases at Yankee Stadium gave to Derek Jeter. What seeing Joe Montana winning four super bowls gave to Tom Brady. To three young boys: Tony Meolo, Tab Ramos and John Harkes. Second generation Scottish and Italian immigrants raised to play and love soccer, it had given them a blueprint. Instructions for how they could grow up and still play the game they loved. It sparked a soccer revolution now in its 24th year.

When talking about what it takes for the United States Men’s National Team to win a World Cup, it always seems like the plot of a science fiction novel. Of a time in the distant future when the boys of Red, White and Blue will take the field against Brazil and Spain and finally be equals instead of underdogs. In 1998 Alan Rothenberg, the then president of the United States Soccer Federation, laid out his plans for this future. He unveiled Project 2010, a 12 year objective that outlined what needed to be accomplished for the United States to win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Nations such as Brazil, England and Italy consider the World Cup a failure if they do not take home the trophy. And here was the United States Soccer President, presenting a plan that conceded three World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006).

In a realistic world though even contending for a World Cup by 2010 was being optimistic. In the previous tournament in 1994 the United States did advance out of its group. Though, after losing two Kearny boys, Harkes (yellow card suspension) and Ramos (injury) in their round of sixteen game, they were hopeless. Facing the eventual World Champions in Brazil is a viable excuse. But the injury to Ramos had earned Brazil a red card and placed them a man down. Thus, seemingly providing the U.S. with the upper hand. Without Ramos and Harkes holding the ball in the midfield though the U.S. could do nothing but defend. They would lose 1-0 and bring home pride instead of a trophy.

The plan now was to create more John Harkes’ and Tab Ramos’. This was how the United States was going to win a World Cup. U.S. Soccer would move forward by identifying and training players at a younger age. Using the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL the USMNT would finally establish a youth development program. Also Major League Soccer, established two years earlier to replace the twelve year defunked NASL, now provided a professional soccer league in the United States. Quality players playing year in and year out at a professional level would make the USA elite.

Throughout the next twelve years though what was built was not a World Cup Champion. In fact in South Africa only six players on the World Cup roster had been produced by the IMG Academy. Only four players on the team at the time played in Major League Soccer. Throughout those years U.S. Soccer would not be World Champions. But they would leave a mark.

It would leave its mark in the image of a sixth grader named Tim Howard who was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome. Who would grow up to be the starting Goalie for Manchester United.

It would leave its mark as a young boy living in a trailer park in East Texas who would chose European Football over American Football. Clint Dempsey, who would have to drive 170 miles to play the game he loved.

It would leave its mark as a boy from the Projects in Bunnell, Florida raised by a single mother. Eddie Johnson would spurn the idea of being the next Michael Jordan his friends had, to follow a different path.

It would leave its mark in the image of a Canadian whose father played semi-professional Ice Hockey. Who would find his love in another sport. And would become the All-Time leading goal scorer for the United States National Soccer team. Landon Donovan.

For the youth of the United States these are the new blueprints. Men to follow and exceed. So when asked what will it take for the USA to win a World Cup in our lifetime? It will take storytellers. Fathers and Sports writers. Youth Soccer coaches and retired ex-pros. It will be up to them to inspire a generation of young boys.

Fathers who can speak to a child, surrounded by Football and Baseball fanatics, about the Barra Brava supporters of DC United. Who in 1996, danced in the rain at RFK stadium. Watching their team come from down two, to score three goals in the last 22 minutes of play to win the MLS Cup.

Soccer coaches who are always in the ear of the boy who wants to slack off on dribbling practice or not run that one extra lap. There to tell him the story of Landon Donovan and Algeria in 2010. When into stoppage time, where every player and fan had the right to give up hope — nobody did. The story of how sometimes it takes 91 minutes of hard work to score a goal instead of 90.

For the boy living in the inner city and looking for a way out. Or another suffering from a disease that makes him different from his peers. Or one who loves a sport different from his friends, or his father. Sports Writers need to have for them the story of Johnson, Howard, Dempsey and Donovan.

The truth is champions are not made in a development camp. Playing game in and game out can not give that fire inside to be extraordinary. The coaches of the greatest players will always tell you they had something inside. Something that their coach could not take credit for. One University of North Carolina coach explained what it is. When he walked out to the practice field to find one of those special players alone on the pitch.

“The vision of a champion is someone who is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion when no one else is watching”

The player on the field that day was two time United States World Cup Champion Mia Hamm.

John Harkes, Tab Ramos and Tony Meola showed a generation how they could be soccer players. Today Donovan, Dempsey and Howard are showing a generation how they could be champions. But only if they know their stories.