Soccer and crosswords: incompatible?

[saxikath]

"We can beat any other country in crossword puzzles."
U.S. men's soccer-teach coach BRUCE ARENA, on the fact that college is seen as a hindrance to developing soccer talent in America.

This is apparently a quote from Newsweek. davehogg or otherbill, do you know anything more about this? A crossword list I'm on is debating whether this is a dis to the crossword-lovers among us or not. :)

Comments

[clauclauclaudia]

How would that be a dis? He's saying "our players are at least as bright as other countries'." -- right?

[otherbill.livejournal.com]

Granted, I'm not familiar with the quote or its context, but as a standalone quote, I wouldn't consider it a dis. If anything, it seems he's implying a link between education and crossword prowess (and that'd be a good thing, right?).

[davehogg.livejournal.com]

No, it is just Bruce's slightly odd sense of humor. When asked how his team would prepare for a possible rainstorm, he said "We take showers every day."