If this game didn’t win Americans over to footy, nothing ever will.
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Thanks, Roy. Great article. Here’s another cogent view on the sitch, from SF-based Lawrence Donegan for the GUARDIAN:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/jun/25/us-world-cup-usa
Andrew Leonard, one of my favorite bloggers, ahs agreat article about this game and its meaning to soccer in America here: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.salon.com%2Ftechnology%2Fhow_the_world_works%2F2010%2F06%2F23%2Fbest_american_world_cup_moment_ever&h=21258e09Fc9bw2LYi-Q3B_y7X1w
I may be wrong and terribly naive, but I truly believe there may have been a continental shift in favor of footy as a result of this game. With only Wimbledon as competition, with team USA in the sports media spotlight, and with ESPN making every effort to cultivate new audience both with comprehensive, informative, entertaining and high quality pregame, halftime and post-show analysis and with absolutely top-notch real-time commentators, I think there were lots of not-soccer-fan folks tuned into Algeria v USA.
And they got a game of games for their time and attention. Though you’re right that baseball is America’s #1 fave, people seem unwilling to apply the diamond’s “what the ref says, goes” standard to the football pitch. So, for a change, and for the better, viewers came to this matc with some emotional baggage and sense of history. That last goal in the last game should’ve stood. The refs are getting in wrong. We’re being screwed, cheated — we should have more points!
And before their eyes, it starts happening again. Every mis-called foul or offsides gets them more riled, more involved. Then Dempsey’s 23rd minute goal is disallowed, and it’s not the right call. O-M-G. We’re going to be human error-ed out of our rightful place in the tournament!
By now, the swollen ranks of the American viewing public are collectively chafing against the bonds of tight calls and the cruelty of the game. But their team doesn’t wilt, doesn’t crumble, doesn’t throw in the towel. The brave boys out there playing for America and apple pie take it on the chin and keep fighting, harder and sweeter with every minute. Chances come, chances go, Algeria threatens, America is denied, denied, denied again.
It’s hopeless, infuriating, a lousy raw deal. The just-watching-’cause-its-USA demographic is about to chuck footy out the window forever and aye —
And then it happened. The game delivered what only footy can. With the fates of 4 nations hanging in the balance of the world’s most gigantic and important sporting competition, in the last dying seconds of the match, Landon Donovan, Captain America — a man in his 3rd WC try, the nation’s footballer icon, the one face the media has managed to get into everyone’s consciousness by plastering it all over the place and connecting it with products — races to the box from f-king nowhere and slots home a ball we had already dismissed as a lost cause. An American hero is born. A nation is united in relief, astonishment, euphoria, elation and spontaneous celebration.
It was orgasmic. People like orgasmic. Footy just upped its charisma by plenty. That’s my theory, anyway. And I’m sticking to it. ;)
I think nothing ever will. America’s favorite sport is still baseball. The world’s favorite sports is futbol. I’m having fun though!