Movin' on up!

The 1980 US Men’s Olympic Hockey Team, the 2010 US Men’s Olympic Hockey Team, the 2010 US Men’s World Cup Soccer Team?! You better freaking believe it! Did you see it? If not, you could be considered a communist and you better sing “God Bless America” and mean it right now! It really was an amazing result for our boys in South Africa as they defeated Algeria and won their Group to advance to the knockout stage. It was win and in and they did just that, although it didn’t look good for most of the match. The US team missed plenty of opportunities in all sorts of ways, from miss-fired close range shots to hitting the post with a wide open net waiting only a few inches to the right. Also, yet another terrible call by a FIFA referee disallowed a Clint Dempsey goal. (A blatantly incorrect offside call nullified the shot. This one was bad, just not death sentence bad like Koman Coulibaly vs. Slovenia) But the Americans were not to be denied. In the first minute of stoppage time (four were put on the clock), US goalie Tim Howard launched a bomb fifty yards up field to Landon Donovan who passed off to Jozy Altidore. Altidore drove to the right side of the goal where he found Clint Dempsey. Dempsey fired a shot right into the outstretched arms of Algeria’s ‘keeper Rais Magain. The kick was too hot to handle and it bounced right where Donovan had been streaking down the pitch for such an occasion, the rebound. As ESPN soccer announcer said “He put it right in the back of the onion bag!” (Said with an awesome British accent!) Here it is! It may have been Donovan’s easiest goal of his career, but he earned it by setting up the whole play and following through to actually be there to get the rebound and calmly flip it in. As he did a belly slide into the corner and his teammates mobbed him, the United States collectively blew up in celebration and joy. It was the latest goal in US soccer history and it put the Americans in the next round against Ghana (We found out the opponent later on in the day). With tears in his eyes, Donovan later spoke to a reporter and said, “You can’t miss from there.” He sure didn’t! You could see the emotion in his eyes as he became a national hero.
The US has a good chance against Ghana to advance to fútbol’s equivalent of the elite eight. As mentioned in previous posts, huge man crush on Landon Donovan continues!
Compare the heart of the Americans to that of the French. One fought tooth and nail to represent their country. The soccer game meant more to them than just a win. It transcended the individualism and enveloped an entire country. The other whined and moaned and protested against their lame coach, disappointing their homeland and making complete fools of themselves. Which side would you rather be on? The French team has to live with that shame and the Americans are playing with house money and taking in the fame and glory that comes with success. You know when President Barack Obama calls to congratulate that you have something going for you.