U.S. enters World Cup with newfound swagger

Journal Gazette ^ | 6/4/06 | Ronald Blum

[HamiltonJay]

Soccer is far more a sport than any of those to be sure...

Its an endurance sport, and you have to be in damned good shape to play it at World Cup level.

Now with that said, of all the sports I have played in my adult life.. soccer is the one filled with the most whiners and fruits without a doubt.

[MadIvan]

Soccer isn't a real sport.

Tell that to the Mexicans. When America beat them at the last World Cup tournament, they went into fit of despair and pain from which they have yet to recover.

Regards, Ivan

[billbears]

Hey, how's that Rooney fella coming along then?

Just fine thank you very much, and Crouch did quite well against the Jamaicans now didn't he?

[andrew2527]

Is that real?

[Jameison]

"Just fine thank you very much"

Great.


"Crouch did quite well against the Jamaicans now didn't he?"

He did indeed.

[1rudeboy]

I've always wondered myself. I will tell you that its been around for years, which leads me to believe it is.

[Alberta's Child]

Soccer IS a real sport, but I honestly don't understand the appeal of it. Has to be one of the dullest forms of entertainment ever invented.

[wireman]

Soccer is a real sport...

A real crappy boring sport.

[MNlurker]

I think they have a better chance now of first place in Group E than they did a couple of months ago during the drawing of pools, but I'm not on the kool-aide. I think they advance as the second team (Czechs #1) and get beat by Brazil.

Nothing to be ashamed of there. Brazil could field the best 2 teams in the Cup with their roster.

[vrwcregistered]

"Soccer isn't a real sport."

Yeah. Watch Shaq butt his way all the way under the basket and then dunk it. Yep. That is athletic prowess, all right.

[NZerFromHK]

IMHO Australia has a larger chance of reaching the last 16 than the US team. Thei group is more evenly distributed.

[NZerFromHK]

IMHO Australia has a larger chance of reaching the last 16 than the US team. Their group is more evenly distributed.

[Hawk1976]

It would help if we actually sent our very best players. The NBA players sent to the last olympics were some of the name guys, but one can make the case that not a sing;e ne was the "best" at his position.

The fact that at least some of those better, if less well known players, weren't picked up for the team told me it was about nothing more than sellng a few jerseys.

[Hawk1976]

Biathalon, I think.

[Hawk1976]

How many World Cups has the US won? Don't you think we should win a couple before the "soccer is ghey" stuff begins?

Why wait? Does winning a thing make it less or more ghey?

[1rudeboy]

Actually, yes. Whining about a sport one cannot win is about as limp-wristed as one can get. The idea is to win, then insult, imo.

[Jameison]

The superb Michael Essien at work again today as Ghana crushes 2002 World Cup semifinalists South Korea.

World-Essien sparkles as Ghana brush aside South Korea

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=2470267

[goldstategop]

Its a real sport - unappreciated. But its full of grace, poetry and skill. There's no other sport that speaks in a universal language to every nation on earth. Football is uniquely suited as a goodwill ambassador.

Welttasse Deutschland 2006

[CharlieOK1]

God, I pray that these guys stay safe. Lotsa nutballs out there who would love to take out a "Yankee".

[austinTparty]

Being in the Group of Death sure doesn't help the US chances... the thing about the World Cup though, injuries, the extra little something of playing for one's country, and myriad other factors always serve to keep it unpredictable and totally exciting. (And let's face it: the US players are under WAY less pressure to even advance to the 2nd round than the majority of the teams.)

And btw: Sorry to see NZ get so miserably crushed by Brazil in the friendlies---it was honestly painful to watch. But knowing the the Brazilian team is one of the best ever should assuage the sorrow just a bit!