Top 10 Most Memorable Moments in the last 10 years

10. Music City Miracle - Janary 8, 2000
Not since Cal/Stanford has a kickoff return for a touchdown created so much buzz.

9. U.S. wins women’s World Cup in the U.S. - July 10, 1999
Women’s sports became relevant as over 90,000 fans packed the Rose Bowl to see the U.S. win 5-4 in penalty kicks and Brandi Chastain shocked the world by ripping off her jersey in celebration.

8. Shocker in the Big House - September 1, 2007
Michigan loses to Appalachian St. 34-32, making them the first ranked team in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formally I-A) to lose to a team from the Football Championship Subdivision (formally I-AA).

7. Steve Bartman - October 4, 2003
Five outs away from the World Series, he single handedly cost the Chicago Cubs a berth in the World Series and ruined Mark Prior’s promising career.

6. The Palace brawl - November 19, 2004
Ron Artest goes down in infamy for attacking a fan who (he thought) threw a plastic cup at him.

5. Statue Left - January 1, 2007
Boise St. upsets Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl 43-42 on a variation of the Statue of Liberty to score a game-winning two-point conversion in the first overtime.

4. 18-1 - February 3, 2008
Giants upset undefeated Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII and David Tyree makes the NFL's version of “The Catch”

3. In-Vinceible - January 4, 2004
Vince Young lights up USC and scores on an 8-yard scamper on 4th down with 19 seconds left to knock off the Trojans 41-38 for the national championship.

2. Phelps wins 8 golds - August 2008
Michael Phelps goes 8 for 8 in the Bejing games, overtaking Mark Spitz for the most gold medals in a single Olympic games.

1. Tiger Woods wins the U.S. Open - June 2008
On one leg, Woods defeats Rocco Mediate on the first hole of sudden death in an 18-hole playoff.

U.S. continues winning ways

Wednesday night, the U.S. earned another three points and opened up a five point lead in the group with three matches to go after a 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.

Controlling the game from whistle, the U.S. imposed their will early on against a sub-par T&T team without their best scoring threat in Dwight Yorke. They opted to go defensive in hopes of stifling the U.S. attack, but Michael Bradley’s right-footed flick into the back of the net opened up the scoring in the 10th minute. Clint Dempsey linked up nicely with DaMarcus Beasley on a 1-2 that Dempsey buried easily in the low left corner. It was Dempsey’s fourth goal in as many games during World Cup qualification.

After looking flat in the first half, and dealing with one wave after another, T&T came out with visibly more energy in the second half. In the 57th minute though, Brian Ching put the game all but out of reach with a rebound off the T&T keeper that he put away to give the U.S. a 3-0 lead. After that point, the game considerably lost its pace as the U.S. was content to just keep the game where it was at.

Even with it being the U.S.’s best game scoring wise, the second half left questions lingering. Can they actually play hard for a full 90 minutes? Can they really play like they did and beat a team like Mexico? The only game they have played even close to a full 90 was in the 1-0 win in Guatemala, where the home side was backed by a raucous crowd that was hostile beyond the final whistle.

A look back at the first half of the semifinal round

The Good: The U.S. defense.
They haven’t allowed a goal yet in qualification, dating back to two quarterfinal matches against Barbados. Including a 0-0 draw in a friendly against Argentina on June 8, they have recorded six straight shutouts, a new U.S. record.

The Bad: Lackadaisical play.
The team just has not played up to its potential for reasons unknown. The game against Cuba was a bore at best and they just didn’t finish off the T&T game. It would have been a good opportunity to show how superior they were, but it didn’t happen.

The Outlook: Bradley needs to call up Jozy Altidore and Freddy Adu.
With qualification to the final round all but assured, Bob Bradley needs to bring in his young talents and give them significant playing time. I mentioned this after the Cuba game, and I’ll be saying it after every game until it happens. Bradley is playing for the now rather than for South Africa in 2010. Sven-Goran Eriksson, Mexico’s manager, has already brought up rising stars Giovanni dos Santos and Carlos Vela to his national team to give them valuable preparation time before the World Cup in two years. Bradley needs to do the same or else he is simply just holding U.S. soccer back and that’s the last thing this country needs. Claiming that he let them stay in Europe to get acclimated with their new clubs was nothing but a cop-out.


(Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images)

Ronaldinho: Another Brazilian star on the decline?

He’s one of the best in a long line of Brazilian stars. One of the most exciting players of this decade. His highlight reels are absurd. But the things he is most known for is his child-like presence on the pitch and one of the most contagious smiles that the world has ever seen.

The problem: What have you done lately Ronaldinho? Where have you gone?

Ronaldinho Gaúcho made a name for himself long before he donned the jersey of one of Europe’s elite clubs. His skills blossomed at an early age in Brazil, where at the age of 13 he once scored 23 goals in a 23-0 win over another local team. He is one of few Brazilians to compete at every international age level. He was an instrumental part of Brazil’s attack in his first World Cup in 2002 as the yellow and blue hoisted the trophy after dispatching Germany 2-0 in the final.

The following year, after Paris Saint-Germain FC failed to qualify for any European competition, the Brazilian demanded a transfer and eventually got his way, heading to FC Barcelona where he became the face of the team and soon enough, arguably the most popular player in the world.

With back-to-back FIFA Player of the Year awards in 2004 and 2005, and leading Barça to a Champions League title in the 2004-2005 season, fans knew what to expect. Trickery that left defenders awestruck and in disbelief; brilliant goals, and most of all, wins. He was expected to lead the “magic quartet” of Adriano, Kaká, and Robinho to another World Cup title in 2006, but he was virtually non-existent as Brazil was knocked out of the competition by France. The quartet only managed three goals in five games.

Upon his return to Brazil, a statue of him in Chapecó was vandalized as he took the brunt of the criticism for the Brazil’s abysmal effort in Germany. Later that year he finished third in the FIFA Player of the Year award voting. It would’ve been a good showing for most, but not a guy who just won the last two going away. He finished with a stellar campaign in 2006-2007, just trying to put the World Cup disaster behind him.

An injury plagued 2007-2008, where he only saw action in 26 matches, capped off with a muscle tear in his right leg on April 3 has left fans wondering where Ronaldinho is at in his career. On May 19, he wanted to find a “new challenge” to revive what appeared to be his fading career. During the summer he joined AC Milan despite interest from Manchester City. It may turn out to be a wise decision as the physicality of the English game could have worn him down much more quickly.

Wanting to see how fit Ronaldinho was (his biggest question mark), Milan happily agreed to let him play for his country in the Beijing Olympics as he had expressed his desire for Olympic gold even before the move to Italy. At times he looked like his old-self, while at others he looked like the Ronaldinho of the past year where he would’ve been better off on the bench. The flashes showed Milan that he still has it in him to do great things, but his fitness is still lacking. Less than five months removed from the muscle tear in his leg could have resulted in that, but questions about his off-field antics are still floating around. Rumors about late nights at the club fueled speculation about his dwindling fitness.

If there is any truth to this, here’s a tip: train, train, and train some more and for the sake of your career STOP hitting the clubs. Fans follow the great athletes, not those who still have it but refuse to use it and let themselves go. He may have been the world’s most popular player, but things change and his former teammate and international rival Lionel Messi has not only caught him, but has surpassed him as the better draw.

So Ronaldinho, step it up before you end up like the overweight Brazilian striker that tried to save his career with the same club you are. You’re already 28 so use what you have left before it’s gone and you end up finishing your career like him.

U.S. survives Cuban conditions

In a game that appeared on paper like it should be a rout for the U.S., the No. 28 ranked team in the world escaped Havana and the N. 92 ranked Cuban team with a 1-0 win in their World Cup qualifier Saturday night. Rather than being somewhat embarrassed by the score, the U.S. should be thankful for surviving the horrendous conditions and coming out with three points, two up on Trinidad and Tobago after they tied Guatemala 1-1.

Although it appeared that the U.S. could have waltzed into their qualifier with an inferior opponent and come out with an easy win, but the tenuous relationship with Cuba made the game highly anticipated and Cuba was primed to pull off an upset. The team has not traveled to Cuba for a game since 1947 and a travel embargo left the majority of U.S. fans unable to see the match live. Though a few did make it in, they had to obscure their faces in fear of being recognized by U.S. government officials.

Qualification in CONCACAF can typically be difficult on the away sides as crowds are quite hostile, the Cuban fans could not wreak as much havoc on the game as the weather and facility conditions could. A thunderstorm prior to kick-off left the field looking like yet another hurricane just rolled through and the stadium’s lighting was sub-par at best, leaving the game to be played in dark conditions. The game was momentarily delayed in the in 86th after the stadium went black. Once light partially returned, the U.S. hung on in the final minutes, thanks to a tremendous diving stop to his right by Tim Howard.

The darkened, rain-soaked, and gusty conditions could not stop an experienced U.S. squad on this night as they controlled the majority of the game after scoring their lone goal on a 12-yard rip from Clint Dempsy in the 40th minute.

They may have escaped this test, but the U.S. better look to sure some things up before returning home to take on Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday in Bridgeview, Ill. Head Coach Bob Bradley may be best advised to bring back all of his younger players from Europe (Jozy Altidore and Freddy Adu were left off the roster) for the second half the semifinal round, which begins on October 11. Letting them stay to get acquainted with their new clubs is one thing, but when you’re trying to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, nothing should be left up to chance. The players need to gain valuable national team experience before South Africa and these stages are the perfect time.

As for Cuba, the U.S. will face them again on October 11 at RFK Stadium. It’s suspected that a number of their players could use this opportunity to defect from their homeland in search of professional careers. In March, seven members of the U-23 Cuban national team disappeared from the team while competing in Florida.

Reality Check: Your football is not real football

Football to the majority of the world means football. To those in this country and our neighbors to the north, we are forced to refer to football as soccer. If we dare use the term football to mean a game played mainly with one’s feet, most will be utterly confused and others will possibly become irate.

American football as the world knows it is the game where the ball spends more time in a player’s hands than it does on the ground being played with the feet. Americans who love the original football more than the American game called football can thank the ego-driven Walter Camp for stealing the term from the world’s game and forcing those in the States to use the slang term soccer for a sport that was created long before oversized men carrying a pigskin were crashing into one another.

How about next time when you create a sport you come up with a more original name. Make it a name that is actually representative of the sport. Sorry but a football is actually a round thing you kick with your feet so that term was stolen too.

While it’s rather insulting to steal the name football from the world’s game, the most unsettling thing about it is the genuine disgust that most Americans have toward the game. It is as though the name was simply taken for an American-born sport because many in the States could not grasp the game’s intricacies and saw that they would be inferior to the world, and as we all know, the U.S. cannot play second fiddle to anyone.

So instead of trying to play catch up, America took the easy way out and created its own game, stole the name of the world’s most popular sport, and then began to profit from it. During all of this, many in the States despise real football and will criticize it without hesitation. Unfortunately, these people know very little about the game and thus misconceptions are created so I will now give you American football loving, football (soccer for those of you who are still lost) hating people a reality a check.

Complaints about real football or as you prefer, soccer:

1. Why can’t they score more?

While the game may appear very low scoring because there are games where there may only be one or two goals, possibly none, compare it to football. A 28-14 football score is like a 4-2 soccer score. The only reason it looks like there’s not enough scoring is due to six points being given for a touchdown. If they only gave one point for a touchdown, scores in soccer would rival that of football. In soccer there are also typically the same amount of opportunities to score as there are in a football game. In both sports, teams will on average have about a handful of quality scoring chances every game; the worse the match-up, the greater the opportunity for the better team have more chances and blow their opponent out. Yes, winning 3-0 (or by 21 points) is a blow out, and it does happen soccer.

1a. You can tie!

It is possible to tie in football. Take a look back at the history of the game and they were not all that uncommon. Over time, rules committees have implemented ways to create more opportunities to score so that ties wouldn’t happen. Overtime and two-point conversions have appeared to remedy the situation, but is it so bad to have teams tie? It just means that the two teams were evenly matched on the given day. Also, look at the various amounts given for scores. You can receive two, three, six, seven, or eight points depending on how you have scored. In soccer, a goal is a goal, and you will always only receive one point for that. There’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple.

2. Their fans are violent.

Ever seen a drunk, hostile crowd at a football game? It can look eerily similar to the crowd at a European football match. For a good example of how out of control a crowd can get, just look at Philly where they once pelted Santa Claus with snowballs at an Eagles game. Was that really necessary?

3. This game is so slow it’s putting me to sleep.

Soccer is fast. You’re just not in-tune enough with the game to realize it. The ball is moving the majority of the match, it is just not always moving forward. Ever seen a football game where the ball is constantly moving? Of course not. It’s impossible with all of the stoppages that have to occur. Soccer is a game about strategy and knowing how to be patient and pick your spots. If you pay attention, watch for quick passing combinations when teams are most dangerous. When players are linking up in succession down the field, it’s an art form. Build-ups in soccer are far more exciting than what goes on between when a ball is hiked and when it is caught by a receiver.

3a. I have to sit through 45 minutes of this before they stop?

Have we really gotten so lazy that we can’t watch something for 45 minutes straight? I’m positive that you watch roughly the same amount of time in commercials during your football games. Honestly, I’d rather watch 90 solid minutes of action compared to maybe 30 minutes of action with stoppages after every play. If every team decided to go no-huddle maybe it would make games a little more interesting. Then again, I couldn’t see 300-pound linemen running for that long without stopping so that’s one dream that will never come true.

4. Where’s the contact?

Believe it or not, but there’s plenty of contact to go around. When players are crashing into one another, occasionally at full-speed, and wearing very little padding, outcomes can be disastrous. Serious injuries aren’t out of the ordinary. Horrifying scenes do occur. While football has its share of serious injuries, take a look at a game that provides little protection for one’s body. Fractured skulls from heads clashing for balls in the air, shattered kneecaps and ankles, flesh being gashed open by studs, and limbs being snapped like twigs are injuries that can make even the biggest football fans become squeamish. Just because there isn’t repeated contact doesn’t mean there isn’t any.

5. What’s with all of the acting?

Not all players dive. Most play the game the right way, but those who don’t (primarily the Italians) give the game a bad name. It’s something FIFA is trying to get rid of, but it’s a judgment call. Players do it because what’s good for them is good for them, not what’s good for the game. It’s a dirty ploy, but one that does work. And as long as players like Cristiano Ronaldo continue diving and rolling around on the pitch in an attempt to win an Oscar, players will do it. Just get used to it.

There it is. Your reality check about the world’s game. Real football.