TOTUS Can't Be Bothered With National Team

It seems the great budget destroyer negotiator in chief has so much on his plate that he couldn't take a few moments out of his busy fund raising closed door temper tantrums to even acknowledge that our women's World Cup team will be competing this weekend for the title. The route to the final has been a script that not even Hollywood could imagine, mostly because they don't believe anything good comes from America.

This is the same president who when the men's team was competing in Africa vowed he would make the trip if they got to the semis. They didn't. He didn't. I don't know how he can ignore a team that a goalkeeper named Hope Solo, I mean wasn't he the guy who ran on a platform of hope? Maybe Sheila Jackson Lee can read between the lines. Wouldn't this at least be better optics for the First Burger Eater Lady? She wants to promote sort of get off your ass and move program. I would think this would be a good opportunity to promote such a venture. Unless maybe there is just a little jealousy creeping in there.


Here is what Hope Solo, the goalkeeper of the USA team had to say in the aftermath of their miraculous win over Brazil in the semi finals.

“To all our fans, both new and old, to our MLB, NFL and NBA fans, to our German fans, our Military fans and to all of America, Thank you for standing behind us. Never has a team come back to win from a man down, a goal down and in such dramatic fashion. Last night I had a moment as I sat waiting for the penalties. I felt the energy of the stadium, I witnessed how far the game has risen and I felt the spirit of our team as we fought together, unwilling to lose, our backs against the wall. Last night is a feeling you work your whole life for. To break free. To write your own destiny. And That's what WE, this 2011 USA team have set out to do, to write OUR OWN story. Go ahead, jump on the bandwagon and let's do this together. One Nation, One World, One Team.”

The World Cup is being played in Germany and for the most part most of the fans in the seats rooting for team USA have been the military stationed over there. Yeah, that same nasty bunch of neolithic cave dwellers that so many want to be brought home cause it seems to be the only item in the budget that they can find to cut. The Americans have been winning over fans from Europe as their teams have been eliminated and it is really sort of surreal to see folks from Germany, Norway, Italy and elsewhere rooting for the USA. The games are being shown to the troops stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq for those fortunate enough to be stationed somewhere with such amenities, which in light of hit pieces written lately about what a colossal waste of money it is to provide these men and women with things like tents and air conditioning is a minor miracle in itself.

Their opponent in the finals is Japan, which have their own story of overcoming a myriad of obstacles to get to the final off the field. You might have heard something about earthquakes, tsunamis, and nuclear fallout which beset their homeland, which for many people make them the sentimental favorite and if you read some of the commentary elsewhere, you will actually see people who advocate that the US throw the game. They normally end their comments with the phrase, "it would only be fair".

I have no doubt that should the girls close out the deal he will invite them to the White House and pose for numerous photos and the media lap dogs will make it seem as if he was calling in strategy to the coach during the whole tournament, like somebody else we know.

"Kim Jong-Su, the general secretary of the North Korean FA, has said the Dear Leader gave 'in-depth guidance' on how to develop the game in the country and the coach himself has claimed he received regular tactical advice during matches, apparently using mobile phones that are not visible to the naked eye."

The game is Sunday with coverage on ESPN beginning at 2:45 EST. Gee they couldn't even bother to put the game on one of the networks.

American Attitude

I'll admit it, I am a big soccer fan. I began playing soccer as a wee lad back in the 70's when the sport was a virtual unknown in the United States. I had role models like Pele from Brazil and Kyle Rote Jr, in America. I continued playing until the knees just wouldn't take the punishment anymore somewhere in my mid 40's.

I have played in Germany, while stationed there, for both American and German teams. I have played against teams from other countries, not at the top level, mind you, but still in situations where I was representing the United States. It is hard to explain to somebody what it means to play a game where when you hear the national anthem being played you are fully aware of just what it means to have that flag on your sleeve.

That is why I was very pleased by the comments I heard from the players and coaches in the wake of the U.S. victory over Brazil this weekend in what is arguably the best game ever played. The United States team had to overcome questionable calls, play a woman short for almost half the game and into overtime and finally decided by penalty kicks. At the end it was sheer willpower to force your leg to make one more kick on target. Legs that had probably long ago given up protesting in pain and were now resigned to simply carry your body because your mind willed it.

The game itself lasts 90 minutes and the overtime period is 30 minutes with additional time added for stoppages. There are no timeouts in soccer. No break between plays to huddle up or sit in a dug out. There is nothing but the relentless moving, sometimes at a sprint, sometimes at a jog, but always moving.

First comments from the woman's coach who once was a member of the Swedish team, which coincidentally has beaten this U.S. squad twice this year, once in the first round of this World Cup.



And then from a player, Abby Wambach, who while not having the best of years is still managing to be there when it counts.



Next up for the U.S. women is France on Wednesday and as great as this win is, it is over and now it is time to move on to the next game for in soccer the only relevant question is what have you done lately?

Soccer fan or not, you have got to admire these athletes and would hope all Americans can get behind them.

Fall Out From The World Cup Begins

While America continues to ignore the World Cup, other countries are taking their teams performance very seriously. After getting bounced in the first round Nigeria's president has decided to ban the national team from international competition for two years, supposedly so they can get their collective act together.

Niboro said: "President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that Nigeria withdraws from international competition for two years to enable the country to put its house in order.

"This directive became necessary following Nigeria's poor performance in the ongoing World Cup."

The president also plans an audit of the country's World Cup organising committee.

I wonder what he would do to the American team. I know Landon Donovan is getting a lot of attention for his goal that allowed the Americans to advance to round two only to get manhandled by Ghana.

Being a big soccer fan, and someone who played the game from the time I was a teenager until I was forty something and the body just couldn't handle it anymore I get to be a armchair midfielder and offer my 2¢ on the US men's team performance. In a word: pathetic.

The only time they played worth a damn was when they were behind, which was normally within about 10 minutes of the start of a game and then as soon as they got it tied back up they would revert back to the style of play that caused them to be behind in the first place. Until the men's team gets a coach which will let them play wide open all the time and quit trying to mimic the Europeans or the Latin American countries their fate will continue to be one of a team which does okay but will never rise to upper echelons of the football world.

I say that because nobody takes into consideration the psyche of the American. We approach life, sports, and everything else with a different attitude then the rest of the world. Or at least we used to. Americans like to live life on the edge, on the attack, wide open. When they played that way they took control of the games they were in. If you want proof of this watch the champion women's team games sometimes and compare it to the men's games.

The women go all out for the whole game. Always pressing, never giving the other team any breathing room. The best example is the Ghana game. Watch the first half of the game where the Americans got behind. Then watch just the first 10 minutes of the second half. They came out on fire and everybody realized they had the Ghanans on their heels. They tied up the game and went back to that namby pamby UN, Euroweenie style of play and they lost.

I'm not bitter. Much.



Yeah he get's a dig in on Dick Cheney but halfway amusing anyway.

World Cup Prompts Beer War

It appears that we have our first good controversy to come out of the World Cup, I don't count that kazoo thing, although it is annoying as hell.

Fifa is considering legal action against a Dutch brewery it accuses of using women fans to advertise its beer at the World Cup.

Stewards ejected 36 Dutch supporters from Monday's match between the Netherlands and Denmark midway through the second half in Johannesburg.

All were dressed identically in tightly hugging short orange dresses, sold as part of a gift pack by a Dutch brewery.

Budweiser, a Belgium owned brewery in case you had forgotten, is the official beer sponsor of the World Cup. FIFA is the governing organization which oversees international soccer.

I seem to recall during the winter Olympics at a lot of the skating events there was a sea of orange also to root on the Dutch teams.

A Bleg For Michelle Akers and Her Horses

Michelle Akers was the heart and soul of women's professional soccer for the United States during the 90's. That is not my assessment, but rather the judgment of those who played with her and against her. She may not be as well known to the casual observer as other players like Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy or Brandi Chastain, but without her their accomplishments may not have been possible.

Michelle still holds several World Cup records such as most goals scored in a tournament, 10. She was the co-captain of the 1991 and 1999 teams that won the World Cup along with winning the Olympic Gold Medal in 1998, propelling women's soccer into the fore front in America.

Michelle embodied all those positive aspects of what it means to be an American. She was hard working, never sought the spotlight, and just went out and did her job everyday, and in so doing brought everybody else along her. She often played hurt and has suffered all her life with migraines. Migraines at sometimes that were so severe that sometimes during a game she would suddenly rush to the sidelines to throw up. Often during halftime she was taking what little medication they would allow or receiving IV's. Imagine playing a sport which requires the level of foot and eye coordination that soccer at this level requires as well suffering with a crippling migraine headache, and playing a position that you knew would require you use your head frequently to make a play.

She soldiered on through it all.

Michelle has a horse farm in Powder Springs, GA, whose purpose is to rescue hurt and abused horses. With the recent rains in our area and the subsequent flooding that took place in September, her American Dream is in danger of being lost.

This should not happen to somebody like Mrs. Akers. Here is a women who went around the world representing her country. Who wore a uniform with the flag of her nation on the sleeve or chest and understood just exactly what that meant and what she was representing.

To have her now having to sell off the memorabilia that she has earned and collected over a lifetime is a national disgrace. Michelle is proud and is not asking for handouts, instead she is forced to sell the most important things in her life to make a better life for the horses she rescues. She continues to put others ahead of herself, just like she did on the playing field.

But you can help. Don't allow her to sell off a lifetime of memories. Visit her website and donate if you can. If you can't help financially, help spread the word. I would think that if some many folks can contribute to money bomb campaigns for political candidates, they can get together to help this American hero.

This is a woman, who over her entire career probably did not make as much money as a rookie offensive lineman in the NFL makes in one year, but did more to raise the image of America then any of them will ever do.

Here is the link to Michelle Akers website where you can donate or help spread the word.

Here is a local report on her ranch which shows the devastation of the flooding.



At the risk of begging too much, I would think this is something that everybody can rally around.

Please help if you can either by donating or helping to spread the word.

World Cup Group Selections

The World Cup, for the uninitiated, is the world championship of soccer that is held every four years, and will begin June 11, 2010 in South Africa. Unlike all of the so-called world championships held in the United States this is a true world championship and for the majority of the world it carries a lot of weight.

The United States has qualified for the World Cup, and for once we are expecting better results from the men's team then we have seen in the past.

Here are the draws and the groups.

Group A:
1. South Africa
2. Mexico
3. Uruguay
4. France

Group B:
1. Argentina
2. Nigeria
3. South Korea
4. Greece

Group C:
1. England
2. USA
3. Algeria
4. Slovenia

Group D:
1. Germany
2. Australia
3. Serbia
4. Ghana

Group E:
1. Netherlands
2. Denmark
3. Japan
4. Cameroon

Group F:
1. Italy
2. Paraguay
3. New Zealand
4. Slovakia

Group G:
1. Brazil
2. North Korea
3. Ivory Coast
4. Portugal

Group H:
1: Spain
2: Switzerland
3: Honduras
4: Chile

FIFA Reinstates Iraq's Soccer Team

Most people are probably somewhat aware of the one bright spot over the last year regarding Iraq was the pride and admiration that the country displayed when their national team made it to the World Cup tournament. Well recently FIFA, that is the international ruling body for soccer, had suspended the Iraqi national team over what it claimed was interference by the government into the sports program.

Soccer's governing body FIFA lifted the international ban on Iraq, allowing Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Australia to go ahead.

FIFA had suspended Iraq on Tuesday over what it said was government interference in the domestic running of the sport by dissolving the national Olympic committee and all sports federations.

FIFA went on to stress that this was just a temporary reprieve and they had more questions they want answered by the Iraqi's before they would lift the ban completely.

The Iraqi disbanded their Olympic sports committee and national sports committee, primarily over allegations of corruption within those groups. Iraq is trying to rebuild those organizations and I am glad the FIFA took a reasoned approach and while they are allowing them to continue to compete and have those contest count they are also holding out the option that if the answers and actions of the Iraqi government are not adequate they can once again suspend the national team from being considered for World Cup competition.

Here's hoping the Iraqis get it together, because this team making it to the World Cup last time for a little time came the citizens of the country the hope of a brighter future. As long as there is hope, the human spirit can persevere.