Local Sports
MICHAEL CUMMINGS: Soccer will never be mainstream in United States
By Michael A. CummingsDid you hear? Apparently we’re good at soccer now. Must be true, seeing as our boys just beat the world’s top-ranked team in a real, live tournament.
And, oh yeah, soccer is going to be huge in America now. For real this time.
I’ll see you on the pitch this afternoon, right?
Well, probably not.
If you’re having trouble figuring out what all this means, here’s the short version: This past week, the U.S. soccer team beat Spain — the No. 1 national team in FIFA’s world rankings — in something called the Confederations Cup.
After the final whistle, the win was hailed by some as a major win in a major tournament against a majorly fearsome team.
This supposedly means two things. First, the U.S. is now a contender in world soccer. Second, the sport is finally going to be popular in America.
It all sounds really nice. Too bad none of it’s true.
First of all, this is still soccer we’re talking about. And this is still America we’re living in.
While the win did send the U.S. team into the final of the Confederations Cup, and it did also create some water-cooler buzz this week, it did nothing to change America’s relationship with soccer.
The U.S. team is still mediocre, at best, and soccer will remain a niche sport in America.
And that won’t even change if the Red, White and Blue beat Brazil today in the championship game.
As proud and as patriotic as the win over Spain made us all feel, let’s go ahead and call it exactly what it was: An upset. A classic upset by an underdog against a superior team. Nothing more. Nothing less.
A couple months from now, all will go back to normal. The U.S. team will go back to World Cup qualifying, and soccer will reclaim its normal place as a minor sport in America. A small, dedicated group of people — which includes this writer — will continue to follow the game, regardless of how the U.S. national team fares.
The rest will go back to watching baseball until football season starts.
And it’s probably just as well, anyway. Even with the win over Spain, the U.S. national soccer team is nowhere near competing with the big boys, as some would lead you to believe.
Just recently, they got trounced at Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying. A few days later they struggled to beat mighty Honduras at home.
And when they first got to South Africa for the Confederations Cup, it wasn’t any better. First, Italy clobbered the U.S. 3-1. Then Brazil went one better, winning 3-0 over the Stars and Stripes.
Lost in all the hullabaloo is the fact that the U.S. only advanced to the semifinals of the tournament because of a fluky 3-0 win over Egypt. Look it up online, it’s actually a pretty funny — but not family-friendly — story.
So which is it? Is the real U.S. team the one that beat Spain? Or is it the one that lost its first two games at the tournament — and faces a real struggle every four years to qualify for the World Cup?
Here’s guessing it’s the latter. And here’s also saying that’s okay for now.
Let’s just hope the upsets continue next time they’re in South Africa — next year for the World Cup. Even if nobody back home is watching.
‰ Michael Cummings can be reached by e-mail at michaelc@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 258.
- Local Sports
-
- PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Holly Pond stays unbeaten, sets up showdown with defending champs
- PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Holly Pond stays unbeaten, sets up showdown with defending champs
- Wallace pitcher Holley signs letter of intent with UAB
-
CULLMAN FOOTBALL: Top-ranked Bearcats return to Russellville looking for revenge — one year later
Behold the power of three.
Heading into its Class 5A quarterfinal tonight at Russellville, Cullman High’s football team has already avenged two of its three losses from the 2008 season.
In week six, the Bearcats beat Erwin 42-16 to avenge a 25-20 loss from last season. And in week eight, Cullman downed Mountain Brook 28-13 to get revenge for last year’s 49-34 defeat.
Guess who the third target is. -
TALKIN' PREPS: Looks like more basketball parity this season
No juggernauts. No clear-cut favorites. Just a bunch of basketball teams that could beat every other team in the area.
-
AUBURN FOOTBALL: Washington may be playing himself into job as kick returner
The road to success has been long for Demond Washington.
Just about as long as his big return last weekend against Georgia.
With his Auburn Tigers trailing 24-17 in the fourth quarter this past Saturday, Washington took a Bulldogs kickoff at his own 1-yard line, weaved in and out of traffic and sped all the way to the end zone for a 99-yard touchdown. -
CULLMAN FOOTBALL: Versatile Adams fills multiple roles in Cats’ offense
Connor Adams has worn several labels over the past 15 months.
Starting running back, injured reserve, H-back, Wildcat quarterback, fill-in running back — those all fit the bill.
But here’s another one Adams can claim, and it’s something a little different:
Blessed. -
PREP BASKETBALL: Raiders give Hulsey family bragging rights
Tristan Hulsey didn’t hear a congratulatory yell from his father when he made a layup to give West Point High a one-point advantage heading into halftime.
His dad had a look of disgust on his face, instead. -
PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Aggies hold on, defeat Douglas
airview High’s basketball team stayed unbeaten with a nailbiting win Tuesday night, beating Douglas 52-20.
- PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Hiller drops 31 in Meek win
- Myrex signs national letter of intent with North Alabama
- More Local Sports Headlines
