Good Things are Coming
*Beginning in 2010, I started writing a bi-weekly column, “From Richard’s Oft Cluttered Desk” which appears every other Wednesday.
As I worked last week, my mind kept thinking about what I wanted to write for this column. There were so many options from the last week. Just look at the sports world. The US Soccer team made not one, but two dramatic comebacks in a matter of five days. Yes, I was sad to see them lose on Saturday, but in my opinion, they played better this time around than in 2006. I could easily write about the day when I lost more work time to television than ever before. Yeah, I am talking about Wednesday.
I was getting caught up on e-mail, listening to Radio Wimbledon (since I don’t have a television in my office) and I happened to glance at the scoreboard. John Isner and a guy I’d never heard of, Nicolas Mahut were around (I say around because who knows anymore after the tennis we saw between the two) 14-14. I knew I wanted to see the end, because any match that reaches that level deserves a sportsman’s support.
We got a bunch of people into our conference room to watch. The match kept going back and forth. Then I took control of the remote because I knew the US Soccer team was nearing the end of their game versus Algeria; and I knew we were down. Every chance I got, I went to soccer – then back to tennis – soccer – tennis.
But the match was in a tight spot… and the soccer game was going into extra time. Then Brad Gilbert, the tennis commentator, who was obviously watching the soccer instead of the match right in front of him screamed, “g … gggooooooaaaaalllllll!” We quickly changed over to the soccer game to see the celebration. There was immense pride in our team.
Then we went back to tennis. Then back to our office. Then we ordered pizza. Then back to our offices. Then back to the tennis. Then it was called at 59-59 in the fifth set. Of course, the rest is history, 70-68 in the fifth set. 11 hours and five minutes. But I feel I must comment on soccer.
I remember watching the US Women win the Cup in 1999. It was awesome and amazing! And I remember watching the men back in 2006. A co-worker and I talked soccer all the time during that month. She was a bigger fan than I, but I am a Patriot. I do remember watching us play and we were, in my opinion, terrible. We couldn’t get shots to save our lives.
But 2010 was different. Yes, the results are essentially the same, but here are the differences.
First, we made it out of the group stage. That is a pretty big feat in all honesty. You have to play well for three games against the top teams in the world. Not only that, we won the pool for the first time since 1930!
Second, we did score goals. Of the two goals we scored in 2006, only one was off our foot. The goal we scored against Italy was scored on themselves. In fact, in 2010, we had two goals that were incorrectly disallowed (but didn’t end up factoring into anything). This year, we scored five goals. Not bad in this writer’s opinion.
Third, the country was a part of it. I don’t remember any excitement four years ago. But it’s coming. 2014 could be a banner year for US Men’s Soccer. Dempsey and Donovan will probably be playing in their final World Cup and our younger guys will have four more years of experience.
Fourth, they are starting to believe. You could see it.
Just wait … amazing things are around the corner for this team.
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