U.S. looks like Rocky after loss
Although the United States' run in the World Cup has ended, Gil LeBreton of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote there are some positives to take from the team's time in Brazil.
"The fun is over, I suppose. No more Tim Howard saves to gasp about. No more free parking at Jerry Jones' stadium," LeBreton wrote.
"The U.S. World Cup team's two-week grip on our national consciousness is over, its flame snuffed by a talented Belgium side 2-1.
"Disappointing? Sure, it is -- in a way.
"The Americans' gallantry in Brazil leaves us wanting more. More Howard, who made more goalkeeping saves Tuesday than the World Cup has seen in nearly 50 years. More U.S. goals. More watch parties. More stoppage time. More heart-stopping World Cup finishes.
"More soccer?
"Only time will tell us that. Clearly, though, from the announced 20,000 at AT&T Stadium, to the TV crowd scenes from places like Kansas City and Soldier Field [in Chicago], many had hopped aboard the U.S. team's World Cup bandwagon.
"They cheered. They chanted. And they probably asked, 'Tell me the rule again about overtime?'
"The end came suddenly, however, as it usually does at a World Cup. They're not called the knockout rounds for nothing.
"But if I remember correctly, Rocky didn't defeat Apollo Creed that first time, either. In the end, like the Hollywood Rocky Balboa, the U.S. soccer team absorbed punch after punch from the Belgians, rallied bravely, but eventually lost a narrow decision to a more talented opponent.
"It's a storyline that Americans love to embrace. The flag-waving underdog. The 1980 hockey team.
"Maybe, therefore, the people at U.S. Soccer had it all wrong. Instead of chanting, 'I believe that we will win!' they should have aimed for something more visceral, more decidedly American.
" 'I believe our guys won't quit' or something. It's a bar that the U.S. national team can readily aspire to every four years.
"I used to be a part of that chorus that would watch a U.S. World Cup effort fall short and then wail about our national shortage of creative goal scorers. But that's not the biggest problem, these two weeks have shown us. The U.S. program just doesn't have enough world-class midfielders.
"This isn't another Michael Bradley diatribe. Bradley is a good player -- likely to return in 2018, by the way -- who had a surprisingly subpar World Cup fortnight.
"The U.S. team needs midfielders, guys who can advance the ball and guys who can control the time of possession.
"Until we get a few of those, we're just Rocky Balboa, absorbing the punches."
Counting down
Satirical website SportsPickle.com compiled a list of 10 reasons why soccer is un-American. Among the reasons listed:
"George Washington never played soccer."
"When a U.S. president takes the oath of office, he puts his hands on the Bible. Not his foot."
"Other countries like it."
He said it
Brad Dickson of the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald on the lack of offense at this year's College World Series: "One CWS pitcher recorded 17 strikeouts and gave up a single hit. And that was in batting practice."
Sports quiz
How long has Omaha, Neb., hosted the College World Series?
Answer
The CWS has been in Omaha since 1950. It was held at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium from 1950-2010, then moved to TD Ameritrade Park in 2011.
Sports on 07/04/2014