Just last week after a thoroughly embarrassing 3-0 loss to the mighty Brazilians the sky was falling for US Soccer.
Head Coach Bob Bradley needed fired.
The players were outclassed and didn't belong.
The team showed no heart and no fight.
Some even called into question if wearing the US jersey still meant something.
My what a difference a week makes. After rapture-like circumstances brought the United States to the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, the Americans were met with the daunting task of facing the undisputed #1 team in the world, Spain. All Spain had done coming into the game was set a new world record 15 game winning streak and tie the all-time mark of 35 games without defeat. They only needed a win against a clearly inferior US side to hold both records and cement themselves as one of the great all-time teams.
However, the United States didn't have to be the best team in the world today, they just had to beat the team in front of them, work hard, and play with pride and passion. Today the USNT played a game that would make any American sports fan proud with an inspiring 2-0 win over the Spaniards.
The entire defense, especially central defenders Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit and GK Tim Howard should take a bow. The number of shots and crosses blocked by US defenders was immense. This was the performance and the effort every US soccer fan requested and we received it in spades this afternoon.
Perhaps it's too soon to take into account what exactly this means for US Soccer, but for now all Americans who appreciate sports, whether they enjoy soccer or not, should stand up and salute the hustle, determination, and effort put forth by our boys today.
P.S. A point for me as the lead on PTI, SportsCenter, and ESPN, SI, Fox, and Yahoo online all had the US-Spain game as the #1 story...what was that about soccer making it in the national sports landscape...
3 comments:
Players in the MLB who did go to college:
Albert Pujols
Ryan Braun
Ryan Howard
Chase Utley
Ian Kinsler
Mark Teixiera
Evan Longoria
Nick Markakis
Jason Bay
Jacoby Elsbury
Hunter Pence
Michael Young
Carlos Pena.....
Dan Haren
Tim Lincercum
Justin Verlander
Eric Bedard
Huston Street
Brandon Webb
John Lackey
Cliff Lee
Rich Harden
Roy Oswalt
Randy Johnson
John Maine....
How many actually earned a degree?
Even though these comments are on the wrong article (it can't be that hard fellas) I'll add my 2 more cents
Let's list some of those colleges of the players you cite Yard:
Northeastern (Pena)
Long Beach St. (Longoria)
Maple Woods Community College (Pujols)
Central Arizona College (Kinsler)
UT-Arlington (Pence/Lackey)
Meridian Community College (Lee)...
The fact that you have to look up where all of these guys even went to college accentuates my point. Good for them for checking out any college, for at least a little bit. But what exactly is their impact on the college game and more specifically the CWS? Football and basketball's farm system is the collegiate ranks while baseball has, well, a real farm system.
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