World Cup
I’m a soccer guy. I play and coach, follow the sport and needless to say I’m really into the World Cup. But I’m not a soccer proselytizer: I won’t force it on you, but don’t tell me I’m stupid for liking it. To each his own, right?
This year’s U.S. Men’s Team has a different feel to it than in the past. 18 of the players compete internationally and, going into the Cup, the team was given a real shot to go into the Round of 16. Well, today they did it, albeit at the last minute and in dramatic fashion. As in the game against Slovenia, there was another goal disallowed on an iffy call. Yet, the player who scored the game winner, Landon Donovan, explained the setback was no reason for excuses:
“Like I said last week, we embody what Americans are about. We can moan about it or we can get on with it and we kept going. We believe, man.”
No excuses, get the job done. Regardless of the outcome, there was little doubt the effort was there. And this time, it paid off. Next game is Saturday.
And the score coulda/shoulda been more like 5-0 if Altidore could finish. Wow, did the US ever have a ridiculous number of chances to score.
And kudos to the Americans for overcoming yet another jobbing from the officials on a lame offside call.
“No excuses, get the job done”
Yes. Contrast (or, rather, please don’t) with the behavior of the team from my ancestral home country.
No offense Monique, but quitting when things got tough didn’t exactly come as a surprise from the French.
I have often thought that if we were serious about immigration, World Cup season would be a terrific boon.
All that would be necessary is to ride around certain sections of town (everyone knows where they are) looking for bars advertising “World Cup on Big Screen”. Perticular attention would be given to those who posted it in Spanish.
Once located we could throw up a lightning cordon of Marines around the bar. On entry by immigration officials, it is safe to say that not one American would be found.
I do not understand the fascination with soccer. Is it just that football, like NASCAR, is just too blue collar? The injuries are very bad and usally more severe than football. Two friends of mine have had their pre-teen daughters badly injured this year. Why?
Maybe the elimination of Soccer who partially aid in containing those soaring medical costs. I played a lot of school football as a kid, I don’t recall anyone injured as badly as these two girls. Usually, you could just “walk it off”.