Soccer: Is it in you?
Jun 25, 2010
It’s been decades in the making, but the soccer revolution is finally here. With vuvuzelas blaring in the background, Team USA conclusively won their last World Cup game against Algeria in the first 45 seconds of stoppage play following 90 minutes of regular play. Not only did the win by undefeated Team USA earn us the top spot of our four member Group C, but it also placed us ahead of England, founders of the modern game in 1863.
Our next game is against Ghana – the last remaining African team – on Saturday, June 26. A win will have us playing either Uruguay or South Korea in the quarterfinal. Saturday’s game will be even more exciting as it’s a rematch from four years ago when Ghana eliminated Team USA, beating us 2-1 and dashing our hopes for victory.
Jordanism: Nothing in life is guaranteed.
Some call Team USA underdogs. But don’t forget, the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Olympic hockey team was the underdog. The underdog can – and does – win. Nothing in life is guaranteed. All it takes is for the favorite team to let their guard down, just once. Team USA has equal parts guts, hustle and momentum, sprinkled with a little luck to not be playing against heavy weights like Brazil or Spain until a possible semifinal match up. Add to this the sheer excitement of a last minute goal that got even the New York Stock Exchange cheering, and it looks like we could have a sports revolution on our hands!!
People in the business world can learn a lot from Team USA. Are we the best team out there? Probably not. But we are playing with the most heart. We never quit no matter how many goals the refs take away from us, and we always find a way to score. In the end, that may be more important than talent alone.
I’ll definitely be watching tomorrow afternoon. I want a win! And I’m ready for an exciting playoff. So let’s go, Team USA: it’s time for some good news and G-O-O-A-A-L-S!! In the words of Coach Herb Brooks, “This is your time. Now go out there and take it!!”
Nice blog, Jordan.
I’m from Uruguay and if we win on Saturday and the US wins also, I’ll be torn because of the matchup, US versus Uruguay.
On the one hand, I want my countrymen to experience the euphoria only my grandparents and parents knew, winning the World Cup! Uruguay exports beef, leather goods and soccer players. Losing to the US wouldn’t be shameful, it would just knock us off track and we’ll have to wait another four years for the stars to align once again. And as often as stars align, we may not see this opportunity for awhile.
On the other hand, I feel mostly American as the greater part of my life has been spent here. As a soccer fan who has also contributed thousands of hours volunteering as a coach, extolling the virtues of the beautiful game, I’m happy to witness the turnaround, slight as it may be, of the American public towards the sport I love.
If we do meet, I can’t lose either way but a small part of me will wonder what might have been.
Good luck to the US and thanks for letting your heart into the world’s sport.
And just like that… It’s over… Everyone is falling off the wagon. As long as USA’s best athletes play basketball, football and baseball, Soccer will fail to be recognized as a Real sport in the US. For now, it remains the sport for the kids who couldn’t make the basketball, football and baseball team.