The Land of the Free in the Home of the Vuvuzelas

What's the greatest sports movie of all-time? Hoosiers. Maybe Field of Dreams. Perhaps Rocky if you're the type of person who can tolerate two hours of Sylvester Stallone. It's a worthwhile debate. What does this debate have to do with the 2010 World Cup? Nothing. But if I asked you what's the greatest hockey movie released by Disney in 2004? There's no debating that one; it's Miracle (I'm shooting for a Miracle on Ice reference every other post. So far, so good.). What does Miracle have to do with the 2010 World Cup? Very little. But upon such ground, cities are built. Or whatever that saying is. You get the gist.

The Miracle on Ice is the greatest moment in American sports history. There is more debate on this subject than on Disney's greatest 2004 hockey movie, but not by much. The Cold War tensions of USA vs. USSR forever ensured Miracle's place in history. But the nature of the victory was equally important. The American team was a gigantic underdog. The, dare I say, miraculous nature of the win resonated more with the American public than a victory by any overwhelming favorite ever could. But 1980 was the last chance Americans had to root for an underdog with any sort of chance at success. The Dream Team was formed for the 1992 Olympics and since then anything less than a gold medal in an international basketball competition is considered an embarrassment. The American hockey and baseball teams may not have the same sort of unforgiving expectations as the basketball team but both are in the small group of elite teams at the top of their respective sports. No one else even plays American football. Foreign athletes come to ply their trade in America because we're the best (and most wealthy). It is a burden to wear the target on your back, to be at the top of the mountain, to be number one, to be the gold standard. Despite substantial strides made by other countries, the United States is still that gold standard in most athletic pursuits. But not soccer.

I am on record with my defense of greatness and athletic excellence. I have enjoyed watching a great (when focused) Lakers team over the past seven months. But barring very unforeseen circumstances the Lakers were going to be playing for the NBA Finals in June. And anything less than the capturing of the NBA championship next week will feel like a disappointment. Even to the fans. Watching and rooting for a great team comes with pressure and an aura of vague responsibility never associated with rooting for an up-and-coming underdog. Underdogs can only exceed expectations. Underdogs are fun. The USA Men's National Soccer Team is an underdog.

USA-England will likely go down as the most watched soccer telecast of all-time in the United States. A great many of these viewers, being the brash Americans that they are, believe that we will win this game just like we won the Revolutionary War (somewhat unconvincingly and with aid from France?). That is certainly possible but in all likelihood the English will win comfortably by the scoreline 2-0 or 3-1. There is a noticeable gulf in the talent level between the two teams and only two Americans would even make the English squad of 23 players; Landon Donovan and Tim Howard. The World Cup is not about USA-England, it's about USA-Slovenia and USA-Algeria and finishing second in Group C to advance to the single elimination portion of the tournament. At that point it becomes March Madness with penalty shootouts (i.e even more suspenseful and unpredictable) and anything can happen. Anything.

One team has beaten the Spanish national team since 2006. That team is the United States. Still, the world does not respect American soccer. It's unclear whether that's because of anti-American bias or the fact that Jonathon Spector starts for our national team. We will probably lose to England and would be likely underdogs in the event of advancement from Group C and a potential round-of-16 match. But that doesn't mean the American team is not capable of beating anyone in the world on a given day. We will not win the World Cup but we deserve respect. We may not have a superstar or an elite goalscorer. Our defenders may be slow and out midfield may lack creativity. We may be underdogs in the world of soccer but we are fun underdogs. This team likes each other. They work hard. They are in shape. With the proper mindset, watching this team perform on the world's biggest stage should be a wonderful experience. Be aware of the odds but relish the freedom of lower expectations. It's an opportunity an American sports fan rarely gets. We may not win the World Cup but a matchup with England or Spain or Argentina can no longer be counted as an automatic loss. In fact, it brings to mind the tagline of Disney's greatest 1994 baseball movie, Angels in the Outfield. It could happen.

Coming Up Next...Thoughts on Day 1 and/or running commentary during USA-England match

Is Greatness Even A Word?

This is a post about why you are lucky to be a sports fan in 2009 but it’s not about ESPN, the abundance of entertaining sports blogs, ESPN2, espn.com, YouTube, ESPNU or ESPNdeportes. This is a post about an underrated aspect of following sports during the new millennium but it’s not about fantasy football or HDTV. This is a post about the future of sports but it’s not about emerging advanced statistics that allow every fan to be a more intelligent fan (though considering most message board postings follow the lines of "bLack MamBA iz da best eva!! LebRon sux!! KOBE IS BETTA DEN MJ!!@!!11!" maybe the absorption of this information is not exactly ideal). This is a post about Tiger Woods but it’s not about his 16 (and counting) mistresses or his wife’s remarkable Nordic strength. This is a post about why you follow sports, not how you follow them. This is a post to remind you why you are here (as a sports fan, not in any metaphysical sense…sorry to disappoint).

The Los Angeles Lakers are my favorite sports team. The current roster has the capability to win the NBA championship this year and the high end potential of this team is becoming one of the two best teams in the post-Jordan era. The Lakers are 10-0 with Pau Gasol in the lineup and have not only been dominating but playing a beautiful brand of basketball. They play an uptempo game with balanced scoring, good ball movement and (so far) exceptional defense. But two of the three biggest stories of the year have been Lamar Odom's marriage to Khloe Kardashian and Ron Artest's admission (and subsequent backpedaling) of drinking Hennessey during halftime of games early in his career (Pau Gasol's hamstring is the third). This isn't even surprising because it's been a long time since the biggest sports stories had anything to do with the actual games. You can go back to the 2001 Shaq/Kobe Lakers (the current titleholders of best NBA team post-Jordan) who will be remembered for their off-court feuding as much as their basketball. Tiger Woods is the richest athlete of all-time, filmed one of the great Nike commercials (and that is saying something), single-handedly turned golf into a watchable sport and...well...is Tiger Freaking Woods but that will be overshadowed for the foreseeable future by his "transgressions." Michael Vick was a unique talent at the quarterback position, handed the Packers their first home loss in playoff history and had the potential to revolutionize the game of football but will be remembered more for serving time in prison for dogfighting. Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds shattered home run records and helped revitalize the game of baseball but may never make the Hall of Fame due to their own steroid-related transgressions. Bill Belichick won three Super Bowls as a head coach but SpyGate will stand the test of time, too. We love building athletes up nearly as much as we love tearing them down and in this TMZ driven world that is a dangerous combination. The stories and the controversies and the drama and the off-court/field/course shenanigans often overshadow the game. All of these scandals bring non-sports fans into the fold and provide endless fodder for the media seeking to maintain interest during the current 24-hours a day news cycle. The scandals may dominate dinner conversation but that is not why you are here.

Kobe Bryant is my favorite athlete. Kobe Bryant is one of the best ten basketball players of all-time and the original reason for my Lakers worship. Kobe Bryant is no different than any of the aforementioned athletes. The feud with Shaq and Phil Jackson broke up a potential Lakers dynasty and rape charges in 2003 nearly tarnished his career in the public eye beyond repair. In recent years he has (remarkably) put these issues behind him (somewhat) but even now can't escape inane, irrational and infuriating LeBron vs. Kobe arguments that seem to flair up whenever two NBA fans engage in an otherwise reasonable, rational conversation. Despite all of this I still love Kobe Bryant as a basketball player. It is not particularly hard to distance Kobe Bryant the basketball player from Kobe Bryant the person. We share a profound interest in his (and his team's) success even though I cannot relate to Kobe Bryant in any way beyond that. He is a 6’6’’ black man who has won an MVP, the NBA Dunk Contest and four NBA championships. His hobbies include ripping out the hearts of Portland basketball fans and rapping…badly(who said we had nothing in common!?). He grew up in Italy, speaks multiple languages and was the Prince of L.A. before he was twenty years old. He has been in the public eye since he was seventeen when he took Brandy to his high school prom. That…umm…quality… of girl was a bit out of my league as a high school senior (no offense Isabel but Moesha is Moesha). For all intensive purposes, Kobe lives on a different planet. There was not always such a divide between fan and star. There was a time when NBA stars mingled with us common folk in the offseason. They needed second jobs during the summer just to earn a decent living. The journalists covering the team rode the same trains as the athletes. They spent time together and shared meals. And through more personalized interaction and the reporters’ direct access, fans were given glimpses into their favorite athlete’s lives. It was a time before prepared statements, handlers, private planes, PR men and gated communities. Fans were even allowed to rush the field during momentous occasions. I am not complaining about either development, merely commenting on the ever widening gap (both emotional and physical) between fans and their heroes. Athletes have the same right to privacy as everybody else and no one needs rabid fans in close quarters with the players. Take a look at Hank Aaron’s record-breaking home run from 1974. He had just passed Babe Ruth as the all-time home run leader and two fans found their way onto the field to celebrate his accomplishment. But Hank Aaron had received death threats during his chase of Babe Ruth’s record (Babe Ruth-white, Hank Aaron-not). What happens if the guys looking to shake Aaron’s hand happened to be less congratulatory and more of the deranged, racist type? It’s scary. Ask Monica Seles. Or Ron Artest. Sports have changed. It has become more corporate and less personal (coughMJcoughcough). Expansion reduces the impact of regional rivalries. Free agency makes it harder to identify with teams. Socioeconomic differences may make it harder to identify with players. The present day fan may find it hard to relate, to find that personal connection that keeps them interested. It will not be Kobe Bryant providing that connection. Underdogs provide that connection.

What do you think of when you think of great underdog stories? The most famous individual story may be Michael Jordan getting cut from his high school varsity as a sophomore. Jordan was still very highly regarded by his coaches, starred for JV and put on such scoring displays that the JV games became as popular as the varsity contests that followed but those facts get lost in the mythology of MJ. Michael Jordan managed to cultivate an underdog mentality (through this story as well as others and his long list of mostly perceived slights) despite always having been a great player and never truly venturing into underdog territory (baseball escapades excluded). Jordan shows that it does not matter if the underdog status is justified or merely perceived, only that the fans feel some sort of link. It is this link that gives fans the ability to relate to athletes in a sports world full of tattoos, hypocrisy, scandal and out-of touch players. Steve Nash has world-class hand-eye coordination, deceptive speed, phenomenal instincts and his agility is the C.E.O of the United Global Agility Corporation but fans see a short, scrawny guy with bad hair and they find themselves relating with Nash (okay okay…also he is white). Tom Brady couldn't secure the starting job At Michigan, was a sixth round draft choice and comes across as "one of us" in interviews with his sense of humor and everyman attitude (okay okay...also he is white). You can root for (or worship) Tom Brady. Yao Ming might be 7’6’’ but he is also Chinese! Remarkable. Just kidding, I have been tooled on by enough Asians to know that they are legit and China is going to win the 2024 Olympic gold in men’s basketball. There are more players than I care to list that have made it out of rough neighborhoods or have persevered through bleak times (I was a big Juan Dixon fan as a kid). Underdog stories are everywhere. Underdog stories are those of a washed-up high school baseball coach re-discovering a 98 mph fastball and making a major league appearance as a 35 year old rookie (The Rookie). Underdog stories are those of two inner city kids earning a college education through basketball scholarships despite ninety minute commutes, deadbeat dads and ACL injuries (Hoop Dreams). Underdog stories are those of…wait for it…wait for it…college hockey players defeating the greatest hockey team ever assembled in a politically charged Olympic game (Miracle). I had to get it in there. Underdog stories make millions at the box office. Underdog stories provide new sources of inspiration and keep the sports scene fresh. Underdog stories keep you coming back for more but the underdog story is not why you are here. You are here because of greatness.

In the grand scheme of things underdog stories are like Tamagotchis, Harold Miner and witch burning, just flashes in their respective pans. The only underdogs that stand the test of time are the ones that exhibit greatness themselves (Hoosiers) or the ones that upset a truly great team (Giants over Patriots Super Bowl XLII) The stories are nice but they come a dime a dozen, each a slight variation on the last. Greatness pushes boundaries and explores new territory. That is the only way greatness can survive. What came before must be topped. Darwin may not have had professional sports in mind when he was studying his finches but we have an athletic evolution on our hands. In just the past five years we have had the privilege of watching the greatest golfer, swimmer, sprinter and tennis player perform in their primes.(NOTE: I saw each of these events live and they were all breathtaking.) Even NASCAR
has Jimmie Johnson, he of the unprecedented four straight championships. Individual sports have never seen such an influx of dominating athletes peaking simultaneously. This trend similarly extends to the major sports. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Brett Favre are all performing at a high level and they should go down as three of the top five quarterbacks of all-time. Who knows what Chris Johnson will do? Michael Jordan only retired five years ago after shattering our preconceived notions about the limits of a basketball player but already Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have shown the potential (if not the actual ability) to match MJ's prodigious exploits. Dirk Nowitzki is the best shooter of all-time among big men, Chris Paul will go down as the greatest small guard in history (barring injury) and Kevin Durant was put on this earth to score a basketball. The game evolves and the players follow suit. The steroid cloud hangs over baseball but Albert Pujols (assuming he is clean) is on pace to become the greatest right-handed hitter of all-time. The list goes on because it does not matter where you look. Wherever you look, you will find greatness.

I cannot find any personal connection with Kobe Bryant but Kobe Bryant is why I am here. I am a sports fan because I love watching Kobe make the impossible look routine. I am a sports fan because LeBron James makes the simple act of running down a basketball court look incredible. His long strides cover so much ground, so quickly it is nearly as intoxicating as a Shakira music video. LeBron does not run; he lopes. I am a sports fan because Ichiro's hand-eye coordination is unfathomable. I am a sports fan because Chris Johnson is very, very fast. I am a sports fan because Usain Bolt is even faster. I am not here for the stories. I am here for the athletes. That's why we are all here but sometimes we forget that. Sports fans have never had it better. The athletes are truly bigger, faster and stronger. They dedicate themselves to their crafts and it shows in their performance. So next time you read about a former porn star telling the world of her tryst with Tiger Woods, remember why it matters. It matters not because Tiger Woods' business is any of yours or that he failed to meet the public's standards. It matters because Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer who has ever teed it up. It matters because Tiger Woods is great.

Reason #47 China Will Rule the 21st Century- The Olympics

I'm a big supporter of these United States of America. I may not own an American flag, serve in the military or speak with a Southern accent, but I think the U.S.A. is a great place to live. I mean, come on, in America we like our starlets young (and underage...in chronological order...1, 2, 3) and our phenoms even younger (in order from most to least justified 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 763, TBD). Personally, I think Latarian will do more hood rat stuff with his friends than anyone in history. Watch out, Tiger. Anyway, the United States is a place where we like our burgers colossal and devote entire shows to gluttony. We like our wrestling fake and our national past time faker (in no particular order 1, 2, 3). And we like our cars big and our stars bigger. I use the term 'star' loosely.

Because of all of these inherent truths, and maybe those mentioned in the Declaration of Independence as well, the United States was the leading global power over the course of the 20th century. For those keeping score at home we recorded an 11th round KO of Russia/USSR when it became obvious in the 1990s that the Soviet Union had been in the process of a massive internal collapse for a number of years. I happen to think the deciding blow was delivered around...1980 or so (fewest goosebumps to most 3, 2, 1). So while it's true that the U.S.A. has left Russia in the dust thus far in the 21st century, a new nation has emerged to challenge America for global supremacy. That nation is China. And while I love America, all signs point to another Chinese Revolution (hopefully with less Mao and more Yao this time). And in recognition of the impending ascension of the Chinese, I have decided to introduce the first ongoing (meaning there will be at least two of these) segment to this blog. It will be totally subjective, non-scientific and (probably) offensive. So without further ado...(see title of post).

The Greeks established the Ancient Olympic Games nearly three thousand years ago in 776 B.C. These games originated before the Romans went nuts on the rest of Europe...and some of Asia...and most of northern Africa...so at this time the Greeks had the freedom to lay the foundation for Western civilization and...do some other stuff, too. And the Greeks established a precedent that holds true three thousand years later, that the superpowers around the world win the most Olympic medals. The United States won the most medals in the four Olympics following World War I (the Olympics before WWI were dominated by host countries due to the greater difficulty in traveling in the early 20th century) but Germany easily won the most medals in the 1936 Berlin games (the exclusion of Jesse Owens from the master race probably rates behind the invasion of Russia but ahead of facial hair choices and the decision to fight Jesus on Hitler's list of mistakes). America came back from WWII atop the medal charts but the USSR slowly closed the gap before accumulating the most medals in 1972. We would regain the medal lead after the conclusion of the Cold War (excluding the Soviet-boycotted 1980 Los Angeles games) and looked like a good bet to maintain our position for the foreseeable future. Throughout this period the medal tables have fairly accurately reflected influence and power in the real world, as Japan and various European countries consistently rounded out the top ten of the medal charts. It was not until 1992 that a new nation emerged with a significant medal total. Enter China, stage right. Far right. (Far East). Get it? Theatre and geography?! Let this blog take its' rightful place alongside Bill Nye, Magic School Bus and Sesame Street in the pantheon of educational entertainment.

NOTE: Dear God, Kobe. You may speak fluent Italian but your European influences clearly do not extend to Pavarotti.

Let's get onto the bad news. China has already overtaken the U.S.A. in the medal count for the Paralympic (not Special Olympics) games. And it's not close. I know. Devastating. Since being introduced during the 1960 Olympics in Rome, the United States had dominated every Paralympic Games from 1964 through 1996, finishing with the most medals every year during that stretch. But our reign came to an end in 2000 during the Sydney games. Australia captured forty more total medals (27 more golds) and we finished third in the medal count (fifth in golds). And that was just a precursor to 2004 and 2008. We managed a combined 187 medals (63 golds) during the past two games while China accumulated 352 medals (152 gold). These numbers are overwhelming but I'm here to rationalize that seemingly damning difference away. It's a simple fact that you cannot put too much stock into disabled games that allowed a fully-abled Spanish basketball team into the competition. My biggest problem with this? The Spanish only won the final 87-63! They had to be the worst collection of ringers since the "Homer at the Bat" episode of The Simpsons, in which eight of the nine MLB guest stars miss the championship softball game completely due to various, hilarious reasons (one of best episodes ever). Now that I've completely lost my train of thought let's just move onto the good news...

We had more total medals than China in 2008 despite the Beijing location (host countries see sizable jumps in their medal counts). Back to the bad news...

China had 51 gold medals in Beijing. That is fifteen golds more than the United States and that total alone would have been good for third in the medal table (Great Britain had the fourth most medals with 47). America only bested the Chinese by ten total medals despite the top five American athletes taking home 27 medals (no Chinese athlete had more than three). Take away Michael Phelps, his bong and his Olympian behavior and China vs. U.S.A. is a virtual dead heat. Further take away Shawn Johnson's substantial thighs and China takes the top spot. It seems only a matter of time before China's athletic factories (1, 2, 3) churn out comparable superstars.

China has shown dramatic improvement over the past fifteen years and that upward trend is unlikely to change. The Chinese government will force the best Chinese athletes into laborious training regimens and won't tolerate non-participation from medal hopefuls. The current structure established in the sports of gymnastics, weightlifting and badminton/table tennis will soon extend to swimming, basketball, judo and who knows what else. The Chinese will be able to imitate the former U.S.S.R. because of a massive population and similar government involvement, structure and funding. We may retain the number one position in the overall medal count in the 2012 London games (not on American soil but at least everyone speaks English...or something resembling English), it will be a long, long time before we capture the most golds at the Summer Olympic. Look for the Chinese to wrest away the overall medal tally in 2016 (at the latest) in Rio de Janeiro and not relinquish that top spot for quite a while. With Olympic domination on the horizon, can world domination be too far behind? I think not. Narf!

Coming up next time...Reason #31 China Will Rule the 21st Century- American Popular Music...