The stars aren't stuck up. Baseball and Showtime are the big offenders here. Soccer is only played on grass. Soccer is a global sport. Other countries are competitive and each country has a team that represents it.
Rival countries play one another.
Different areas of the world sport different styles of play. Soccer jerseys look a lot better than jerseys of other sports. In most countries there is a long tradition of soccer. No commercials during play. By the nature of the game, soccer emphasizes teamwork over individuals.