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    No Sister Kissing: U.S. must celebrate World Cup tie with England

    By William K. Wolfrum on Sun, 06/13/2010 - 10:16am | Politics, Sports, Humor & Satire
    ENgland-U.S. tie

    They say a tie is like kissing your sister. Of course, those saying that are a bunch of sick, sister-kissing freaks, so it may just be best to ignore them, especially when it comes to the U.S. National Soccer team holding mighty England to a draw in the 2010 World Cup.

    You see, the tie versus England was a phenomenal sporting achievement. The world truly expected Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and the rest of English team to swarm over a hapless U.S. squad. But the Americans played with professionalism and grace and kept an exciting game even.

    More so than that, even, is the fact that Americans need to learn to accept that a tie is actually a great victory. Face it, the U.S. soccer team very likely had the greatest performance by an American in about two or three years. The U.S. has been on a blistering losing streak, from the economy, to the massive British Petroleum oil disaster, to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Put into historical perspective, the tie with England is massive. It ends a losing streak. Sure, it doesn’t actually start a winning streak, but stop being so cynical. Maybe it doesn’t match up with the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” hockey team’s victory over the USSR in 1980, but honestly, the U.S. doesn’t exactly match up well with the U.S. in 1980, either.

    Thus, my fellow Americans, I implore you – start celebrating the Americans’ tie with England. It’s time for America to start seeing the bright side, and the fact that the U.S. team didn’t get beat 6-0 and managed a point out of the match is probably the biggest victory the nation has had in quite some time.

    So stop kissing your sister, and enjoy the result. As Americans, it’s time we start enjoying the little victories. Even if they’re only ties.

    –WKW

    Crossposted at William K. Wolfrum Chronicles

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Sports
    Humor & Satire

    Comments

    Fair enough. But a proper goal would have been nice.


    by Michael Wolraich on Sun, 06/13/2010 - 10:56am

    Brutal.


    by quinn esq on Sun, 06/13/2010 - 12:13pm

    Losing the war in Iraq?  Have you been taking your news from Helen Thomas?


    by geggett (not verified) on Sun, 06/13/2010 - 1:13pm

    You want to call it a win? Knock yourself out.


    by William K. Wolfrum on Sun, 06/13/2010 - 2:13pm

    It's too bad the goal came as it did because the media is focused on that rather than the plucky performance by the USA. I thought the defense was a little bit thin, probably because they had their hands full trying to shut down Rooney. But it doesn't bode well if they make it out of the group. Tim Howard is awesome, but against teams like Brazil and Spain Howard and one full back aren't going to cut it.

    But, I was elated with the tie, especially considering I was watching the game in a bar full of the English!


    by Orlando on Sun, 06/13/2010 - 9:21pm

    Surprisingly, I found myself caught up in the excitement of today's Serbia-Ghana match (I was rooting for the home continent -- and, despite Serbian posturing, that hand ball obviously deserved a penalty). It's a bit disappointing that North and South Korea aren't skedded to meet -- that would be a barn-burner (assuming the South Korean stars weren't kidnapped, drugged and spirited away just before the match).

    It's hard to adjust to soccer's pace in the wake of watching the Stanley Cup playoffs. The low scores I can live with, but it's the low number of shots on goal -- a keeper may face two, five, maybe eight over 90 minutes, while a hockey goalie will face 30 or 40 in a one-hour span. In the most wide-open games, you can get a shot at one end or the other every 30-45 seconds. Plus in hockey, you get penalized for diving, rather than awarded points for style.

    Today was a pretty good sports day in Montreal, what with the Canadian Grand Prix being run on an island just off downtown. I live several kilometres away, but you could still hear the engines roar in the distance. Exciting, eventful race. Hamilton, Button and Alonso deserved to be on the podium -- and Schumacher deserves to be sanctioned for the disgraceful way he tried to run everyone else off the track. Some reporter noted his three-year retirement hadn't mellowed his style: "Just like old times, eh Schumi?"


    by acanuck on Sun, 06/13/2010 - 11:49pm