Poker, Football, and everything sports

Its impossible for me to even fathom how different my life would be without sports. Every generation has their "where were you moments". Most of the time, the average person only has one or two in their life. But for a true sports fan like myself, you have one almost every year. I thought I already had mine when the Saints won the super bowl in February but I cant honestly say that today's USA soccer match topped that for me. For anyone who doesn't think that the World Cup is undoubltably the greatest sporting event there is, they need just look at today. After Dempsey missed his shot off the post then blew the put back, I thought we were done. I was experiencing the worst part of sports. That gut wrenching feeling when the team you know and love is about to take their final bow against a team they have no business losing to. And in 10 seconds, literally, everything changes.

The World Cup is unlike any other event because it unites countries. If the Lakers hit a 3 to win game 7 of the NBA Finals, then Los Angeles and Lakers fans around the country are ecstatic. If USA scores a goal like that in the World Cup, everyone from the President to a farmer on Montana cannot help but jump out of their chair. There truly is nothing like it in sports. Not even the Olympics really come close. Although you are representing your country there, your country is still divided. A big swimming fan could care less if an American wins the archery gold medal. But in the World Cup, everyone is watching one team. 11 players. And all it takes is one moment.

Alot of people, my girlfriend included, find soccer boring. They say that any game that can play for 90 minutes and have no goals is boring. That may be true, but with nothing else do you find a bigger emotional roller coaster. Today was a perfect example. American fans were down and out before Donovan's unlikely goal. Now imagine this. How would you have felt if Algeria came right back down and score to tie it up. Imagine the heart ache and the gut wrenching feeling that would have been. Imagine it, because at the end of the world up, 31 countries will be feeling just like that.

Now that it is over, USA has to look ahead. They have the #1 seed for the first time since 1930, and it looks like they have a fantastic draw. If Germany knocks off Ghana, USA will have a date with Ghana or Serbia, two good teams but not great teams. IF they win, they play either Uruguay or South Korea, a game that again they should win. Now no offense to Uruguay who is a great team, but if you look at some of the potential quarterfinal matchups, you will realize how huge a chance this is for the US. Brazil will likely take on the Netherlands in the quarters. Argentina could play England. The quarters are where the titans collide, and with all due respect to Uruguay, this is without question the USA's best chance to break into the Semi finals.

I hope that I have turned any people who were on the fence about the world cup, but in all honesty, if that last goal didn't convert you, nothing will. Thanks for reading.