Today, Quarterfinals: Tomorrow the World
This is the one thing the rest of the world had on us. They grudgingly admitted that we were dominant when it came to military, cultural, political and economic matters, but they were always smug with the knowledge that football (soccer), the one thing they are most passionate about anyway, was the one area where they had us.
Much to their chagrin, this World Cup has knocked out this last bastion of arrogance. The U.S. team has proven that while they might not be among the elite of the elite (Brazil, Germany) they certainly have evened things up and have shown the world that they can compete with anyone now.
Craig Dunkin
Tujunga
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When you can get Laker fans and King fans, UCLA alumni and USC alumni, Raider fans and Bronco fans, Yankee fans and Red Sox fans in one room cheering for one team, feeling great about your country and not just your school or city, U.S. soccer achieves what no major American sport can achieve on the world scale.
Reza Garajedaghi
Santa Barbara
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The beautiful performance of the U.S. soccer team in the World Cup warrants an official apology by your writer, Grahame Jones.
Mr. Jones has ridiculed and berated U.S. soccer for years. In case you missed it, please select any of his past articles at random. I guarantee that it will include criticism of the U.S. players, the national team coach, the Galaxy or anything else that could be called U.S. soccer.
Mr. Jones should admit that he is biased and promise to seek treatment for his severe depression.
Art B. Chmielewski
Glendale
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After witnessing the U.S. soccer team’s incredible and historic run over the past three weeks (ending with the disappointing 1-0 loss to an outplayed German squad), I was dismayed to find Alan Abrahamson’s cynical commentary on the future of soccer in this country in Friday’s paper.
Was it really necessary to print Abrahamson’s disparaging view precisely on the morning of the U.S.’s most important match in its history? Couldn’t you simply have allowed the U.S. soccer community to enjoy a few weeks of overachieving glory without having to read the misguided opinion of a soccer dad whose expertise on the sport seems based on 5-year-olds “chasing butterflies or [looking for] four-leaf clovers?”
Paul Torres
Altadena
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After reading Alan Abrahamson’s commentary, I have come to one conclusion. If a sport doesn’t include influence peddling or a judging and doping controversy to write about like his beloved Olympics, it’s not worth it.
Loosen up, Alan, the World Cup is just like the Olympics--every four years you can actually take time away from your indifference as most Americans do with track and swimming (which are largely ignored by fans--and the media--the other three years and 50 weeks).
Free your little inner-soccer journalist. After all, it works for Mike Penner.
Steve Vanderpool
Pasadena
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I’m a Mexican woman, married to an American, and therefore just as happy to see either soccer team win the World Cup. However, the American team deserves an apology from Mexico. Yes, I agree there was a penalty in favor of Mexico that was not called by the referee, but that did not justify the shameful behavior of the Mexican players. They showed a total lack of class and sportsmanship.
I went from rooting for Mexico to being happy they lost. From now on, the USA team will have my support every time they face my country.
Indra Zuno Birrell
Sherman Oaks
