The Soccer Post

Ok, I'm going to try my hand at a post about soccer. If you know me and you're reading this, you'd be completely shocked. I've made a point to hate soccer, not care at all about anything to do with what the rest of the world calls football. But, I'll be the first to admit I can get into this whole World Cup thing....as long as the US stays alive.

The World Cup is like the Olympics. Happens every four years. Strong sense of pride for your country, yada, yada, yada. When Micheal Phelps swims, I'll set anything else aside, turn the channel from anything else, and watch him go. But tell me he won some world championship in Rome, who cares? I'll watch him when it really counts. And to me, that's like World Cup soccer. When Donovan knocked that goal in today in the 91st minute - stoppage time - I just about leapt out of my chair (watching it on ESPN3, but of course, not missing a beat at work). It was exciting. It's like Henrik Zetterberg scoring a goal in the last seconds of a Stanley Cup playoff elimination game: you win, you go on. You lose, see you on the golf course tomorrow.

And maybe that was partly it as well. Facing elimination makes any sporting game more exciting. Middle of the season, what difference does this one game make? And that's what it will always be for me when it comes to soccer. I'll get super into it, cheer for the US, make a point to clear my schedule for a game. But as soon as this thing's over, good luck trying to wake me up at 7:00 on a Saturday morning to watch some Premier league game.

But really, I hope the US can keep advancing. First time in 80 years that we won our group and the first time since 2002 we've advanced. As a sports fan, I can appreciate this and I can get excited about this. But come July 12, or whenever it ends, you'll find me caring more about what the Lions are doing to tune up before the season than where Clint Dempsey will be playing whenever more soccer happens.