Halftime Hype

Pride. Bad luck. Hope. Disappointment. Those are all descriptions of the past decade in U.S. Soccer. All those emotions are best captured in "Dying Bravely," an awesome chronicle of the United States' in the past three World Cups dating back to 2002.

For recent followers of the national team, the montage provides a brilliant prologue to South Africa. For long-time supporters, the video does an excellent job of recapturing the peaks and the valleys of the United States' journey.

The video also portrays recurring themes, notably the poor officiating the U.S. has suffered, in a truly fascinating way. It is lengthy in the sense that surpasses 11 minutes, but how else could one do justice to U.S. Soccer's pursuit? As Brian Strauss of AOL Fanhouse said, "It's well worth your time, and pays appropriate homage to a team well worth remembering."

The video has been posted on numerous soccer sites and even garnered a reaction from the national team's very own Stuart Holden, who commented on a soccer forum saying, "Cool video!! Thanks!"

I was so impressed with the video, I decided that to get in touch with the filmmaker. It turns out that the montage was produced by Nick Butler, a senior at Satusma High School - which is all the more impressive. Although he took breaks in between, Butler shared that he spent a month of his summer working on the montage. Personally, I wondered what motivated him to do so.

"One reason I was making videos was because I’m actually on a forum right now," Butler said. Every six or so months they do a video competition. I did one a previous year and I decided to do another one. I figured I’d do one about the USA getting in the World Cup."

After about two days, the video started attracting a plethora of views and promotion through Facebook and Twitter. Butler admits that he didn't expect his video to attract so much attention so rapidly, but he's quite pleased. Among those who noticed his video was the brother of a national team player, who has asked Butler to make a montage of his sibling. At this time, I can't disclose the specific player, but the video should be up in the next week.

Overall, the video is an amazing recollection of the United States successes and pitfalls, with a particular emphasis on the emotional aspect. Take the time to watch the montage - it's worth it.

Harold Mayne-Nicholls, left, the head of the FIFA Inspection Delegation, with Sunil Gulati, president of U.S. Soccer and chairman of the USA Bid Committee. Photo by Howard Smith, ISI

Will the United States host a World Cup? A question on everyone's mind and one that will be answered on December 2. Until then, one can only hope that the FIFA Inspection Delegation was impressed by what the U.S. has to offer. As Sunil Gulati, President of U.S. Soccer, said, "“I think virtually all decisions in our lives, when there are candidates or elections, come down to the ability to convince people. This was a technical inspection tour...Clearly some people will have made decisions between now and then, or have already made decisions."

There were many highlights of the Inspection Delegation's trip to America. The Delegation arrived in New York on Labor Day afternoon, greeted by a mass of enthusiastic children, I'll bet under "The Game Is In US" banners that were hanging on 55th Street. In the evening, they were treated to a warm reception at the St. Regis Hotel, featuring New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

One of the notable stops was Cowboys Stadium, where the delegates were accompanied by Cowgirls cheerleaders, walked around the stadium, and viewed a video on the largest high-definition video screen in the world. Asked to reflect on the visit, Gulati said, "Watching the reaction of the FIFA members, I would say they were overwhelmed."

Other memorable moments included a breakfast at the White House with senior staff of the Obama administration; appearances by U.S. men's national team manager, Bob Bradley, and ESPN soccer commentator and former national team captain, John Harkes, at a visit to George Mason University's training grounds; meeting the Houston Rockets' center, Yao Ming, during the Delegation's visit to Houston.

Despite having planned "an incredibly ambitious schedule" with visits to five cities across America in three days, David Downs, the Executive Director of the USA Bid Committee, shared that the tour was often five to ten minutes ahead of schedule.

Although Harold Mayne-Nicholls, head of the FIFA Inspection Delegation, seemed mostly pleased with the inspection, he did mention concern over transportation. "There might be, on a later stage, additional needs for public transportation to cater to foreign fans," Mayne-Nicholls said.

However, Downs reassured that transportation would not be an issue. "It’s very easy, because of the capacity of our roadway system and the size of the parking lots in the stadiums, to institute shuttle bus service. My understanding is that the most recent Super Bowl, which took place in Miami at one of our stadiums, consisted of 900 shuttle buses both operating on loops from parking rides and going in and out of downtown Miami and downtown Fort Lauderdale service the capacity crowd and they were moving…30,000 people in and out of the stadium per hour, more than sufficient to handle the load of a World Cup match. So we don’t believe it will be a problem."

On the Bid Committee's side, Downs believes everything went well. Sure, it would have been great to go to a beautiful city like Seattle and watch a Sounders match, he admitted, but in spite of the time restraints, that was not possible. "The biggest regret is not so much what was specifically executed, but the fact that they were only here 3 ½ days and one of those days was a travel day."

Although the tour seems to have gone rather well, there are no guarantees for the United States. Many believe that FIFA will opt for a European nation to host the 2018 World Cup. In that case, the U.S. would be in a less competitive pool with South Korea, Qatar, Japan, and Australia for the 2022 bid. Even then, FIFA may decide to potential first-time hosts Qatar or Australia.

Nevertheless, with the United States having hosted a World Cup in 1994, a relatively recent time period, it is imperative that the Bid Committee emphasizes how much soccer has progressed in America in the last 16 years. Gulati gave his thoughts on the issue at the beginning of the tour, saying "I think some of the international community underestimates the passion for the game in the United States. When we start talking about the landscape in the U.S. they’re surprised by it. They are surprised that we have 16 teams and are growing in MLS. They are surprised that Americans were the No. 1 ticket buyers for the World Cup."

"They are surprised that you couldn’t get into bars in a lot of major cities at 10 a.m. to watch World Cup games. They’re surprised that the TV rights for the World Cup were the single largest in the world. When you look at all those things happening in a relatively short time since the 1994 World Cup, you can see the extraordinary success story. "

With the inspection over, the next phase for the Bid Committee is to prepare a presentation for FIFA, which will be shown on December 1, the day before the host nations will be declared. Downs has shared that fans can expect "big video elements" as well as some "impressive speakers." Hopefully, the United States can capitalize on its "many strengths."

Will the United States leave the World Cup with their heads held high? Not necessarily, but there are numerous reasons why they should. When the United States initially arrived in South Africa, the experts predicted the Americans to reach the Round of 16, but not surpass it. When they stepped off the pitch after their game versus Algeria, the pundits were scrambling to revise their predictions. However, with a 2-1 loss to Ghana's "Black Stars," the Stars and Stripes will have to wait another four years to defend the legitimacy of U.S. Soccer.

When asked if the tournament was a success, U.S. Coach Bob Bradley said, “I think the first thoughts for all of us are simple. We felt that in the first round we showed a lot of good qualities, you get through the first round and give yourself a chance now to go far. We felt that we had that ability and we’re disappointed that we didn’t get past this game and continue to test ourselves.”

Immediately after the game, there were plenty of "what if'" scenarios. What if Bob Bradley had chosen the same starting lineup that he used against Algeria? You know, the only one that didn't concede an early goal in the World Cup. What if U.S. striker, Charlie Davies, who was injured in a devastating car accident last year, was healthy and available for the World Cup? He has certainly been a savvy goal-scorer for U.S.A..

What if Robbie Findley had sent the ball through the net instead of shooting right at the keeper during his dangerous one-on-one sequence? Simply put, the U.S. advances. What if Oguchi Onyewu, who suffered a patellar tendon rupture after a World Cup qualifier last year, was 100% and able to play in the game versus Ghana? His height and big frame are always an asset. What if Jozy Altidore was not substituted after 90 minutes? After all, he had created some dangerous plays.

What if the United States had won? Then it would have made the quarterfinals and played Uruguay, probably the most favorable quarterfinal match-up one could ask for. Soccer fever in the U.S. would have been even higher than it already was during the group stages. The United States could have gone farther than England!



After awhile though, one realizes that the "what ifs" are an exercise in futility. The team's journey leaves as much disappointment behind as it does excitement. Some said this was the best U.S. team ever. However, in the next four years, new players may emerge for U.S.A. and the squad's young players will gain more experience and confidence.

At the end of the day, one has to thank U.S.A. for the memories. Fans won't forget Day 1, when the United States showed it's ready to play with a 1-1 draw against the country who created the sport, England. Nor will they forget the sheer joy of rallying down from 2-0 at halftime to finish with a tie, an incredibly historic feat. Nothing will replace Landon Donovan's "magic moment," which likely added millions to the U.S. bandwagon. The words of commentator Ian Darke will always ring in fans' ears: "Donovan has scored! Can you believe this?!...You could not write a script like this!" The reactions to Donovan's goal in the 91st minute were truly memorable.

Whether Bob Bradley will be involved in the United States' future is questionable, but it seems like he grasps the reality of it all. “We always understand the responsibility we have as a national team to show how far the game has come in the United States, to fight for respect. We certainly felt that we moved things along with our performance in the Confederations Cup. As we went through the first round, we felt that we were continuing to go in that direction. But it comes down to every match now that gets tested over again, for tonight all we can do is look hard at ourselves and continue to try to move the game forward.”

Although the U.S. concluded its run in the Round of 16, the team's lasting impact is as though the Americans finished first. Whereas the Yanks had been the butt of jokes when it came to soccer, they proved to be more than mediocre. Additionally, millions of Americans have recently come to enjoy the game of soccer and support the United States, notably Bill Clinton. If people had disregarded the United States' bid for a World Cup in 2018 or 2022 before, now it is at least a reasonable possibility. U.S. Soccer still has a long way to go before it becomes a powerhouse, but it is definitely a team to be reckoned with. Thank you, United States.

What a great time to be a sports fan. The NBA Finals, now tied at 2-2, feature the greatest rivalry in the league. Simultaneously, the FIFA World Cup, arguably the largest sports stage in the world, is underway in historically significant South Africa. Among the more hyped match-ups is Team USA vs. England. From one perspective, there are plenty of differences between the Lakers facing off against the Celtics and the Yanks vs. the Brits. However, from another point of view, there are certain similarities.

First of all, there is a historical significance to each rivalry. With the United States and England, obviously you have the colonial period and the revolt from British rule. In that sense, USA vs. England is a clash between enemies. On the other hand, in modern times, the United States and England have been allies. Look no further than World War II, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill united to defeat the Nazis. In a way, it's kind of like competing against your best friend; it's a great feeling to hold the upper hand against a buddy, not to mention bragging rights.

With Boston and Los Angeles, the history lies in the actual competition between the teams. Jerry West once said that the Celtics-Lakers rivalry really wasn't a rivalry until the 80's, because the Lakers lost the first 7 match-ups between the two teams. Ironically, the Finals match-up in 2008 is what makes 2010 better; the rivalry now has a modern touch. In '08, fans and the media had to rewind two decades to justify the hype. Now, you just have to scroll back a couple years. In the words of Eminem, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers "chewed up and spit out and booed off stage"; the Lake Show had some ugly episodes.

In my opinion, Landon Donovan of Team USA also identifies with the Celtics' Rajon Rondo. Both are rising stars that have recently earned a lot of attention. Ever since Landon Donovan went on loan to Everton in the past year, he has caught the eyes of soccer pundits around the world. Similarly, in the last season and throughout the playoffs, Rondo has proven to be Boston's best player, when only a couple of years ago he was arguably the worst player in the starting lineup. In terms of skill, both are also exceptionally skilled at creating scoring opportunities for their teammates, as well as for themselves.

By the same token, I would compare England's Wayne Rooney to the Lakers' Kobe Bryant. Both are leaders and arguably the best players on their respective teams. If their teams aren't successful, as in they don't meet expectations, they will suffer the most. They are also both talented scorers, and though they have a vast repertoire, scoring is what they're renowned for.

Overall, England vs. USA and the Celtics vs. the Lakers are two very unique and historic match-ups that share some - not many, but some - similarities. Oh, and Game 5 of the NBA Finals and England vs. USA are both in the same weekend! What a great time to be a sports fan.