The World Cup, which, unlike the World Series, actually features teams from around the world, starts tomorrow. One of the thirty-two countries that fields a team in the tournament is the United States. If that, and the motivating Gatorade ad, aren't enough to get you to cheer for Team USA, this should.

Svedee veell veen it ell!

Never really got the point of the Gatorade ad, seems like a depressing ad.
Show how everyone hates the USA then show our guys scoring goals?
Soccer is possibly one of the most boring sports anyway, next to golf and tennis.
Yes I know most of the world loves it, that doesn't make it exciting. A bunch of guys in shorts running up and down a field for what seems an eternity and in the end maybe getting one goal for the entire game?

I've never quite understood the argument that soccer is boring because it is low scoring. Shouldn't the goal in any sporting event be somewhat hard to attain? If you have ever stood in a soccer goal it is a testament to the athleticism and skill of the 2 teams that the games are low scoring (small ball, very large net).

HEY DAN...HOW ABOUT POSTING SOMETHING ABOUT ZARQAWI BEING KILLED? HOLY CRAP DUDE, IS THIS NOT NEWS/BLOG WORTHY TO YOU? WE ALL KNOW YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE WHOLE IRAQ THING, BUT COME ON MAN, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

HOW CAN YOU WRITE A STUPID POST ABOUT SOCCER, AND IGNORE WHAT'S GOING ON IN IRAQ....WAKE UP!!!!

Doyle Dude, take your meds. Don't think Zarqauwi's going anywhere. Not to mention that there will always be another Zarqauwi.

Dan,

I hope you don't mean to suggest that the winners of the World Series, NBA Finals, Super Bowl, and NHL Finals are not "world" champions. The best players from around the world play in the American sports leagues. And while the Americans did lose the WBC, the Yankees or Red Sox, for example, would not have. And the best player on the best team, soon to be the champs of the NBA is from Germany. Etc. Etc.

"Wake up" is what I did, Chris, and then posted on Zarqawi. If you notice, this item--the soccer post--was posted at 2 a.m.--hours before the U.S. government let us all know about Zarqawi's death. I don't keep your hours, Chris. I hope it's okay with you that I get a few hours of sleep every morning--even at the risk of being late on a story.

Lol, Chris, you okay there?

Anyways, in other news, I still hate everybody in Europe.

Most sports are dull for those who did not grow up playing them. The perception that soccer is dull is almost always shared by people who didn't grow up with it. However, If you have ever stood in a soccer goal it is a testament to the athleticism and skill of the 2 teams that the games are low scoring (small ball, very large net). It is more a testament of a game that demands its players pretend they are double amputees.

The team with the most touchdowns per game last year (seahawks) only averaged 3.2 . Plenty of soccer teams score that many goals per game. U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A!

Webster, take a look at basketball. Where's the skill? The NBA is a reality show about freakishly tall individuals making their way in the world. It's a circus sideshow, not a sport.

Obi,

There are skills in basketball, but they have been largely negated be interfering officiating. There are obviously skills in soccer as well. As i said, it's just a matter of what you grew up with. Basketball is certainly dominated by the freakishly tall, but soccer is dominated by the freakishly nimble.

I grew up playing basketball so I am still partial to it. I do watch soccer for 10 minute stints, and I enjoy it.

Obi,

Those words could only be written by someone who has never "witnessed" Lebron play, or watched Kobe drop 81 on Toronto in 4 quarters, or "nowitnessed" Nowitzki can tres and drive to the hoop.

Try viewing a few games before speaking unintelligently. The only circus in the NBA are Nash's falling down, over his shoulder circus shots that always find the net.

Dan,

You're obviously not fast enough for me! Get with the program man...just kidding!

I was just shocked that when viewing all the blogs and websites with this story everywhere, and then coming to yours and seeing a soccer post.

Sorry for the offense, I realize not everyone has to be at work at 8 AM like I do.

I expect to get my FlynnFiles news at 8 AM...anything less is unnacceptable!

;-)

Obi: You're kidding, right? I thought so. I have no problem with soccer/football, but basketball players are at least as equally athletic and skilled as footballers AND they're unusually tall. Where else do you see people that tall who are also athletic? Most tall dudes in other sports are oafs.