Time Out for Sports Talk: Recapping a Day of Rain, Humidity and a Draft
Todd: Yesterday turned out to be a pretty full sports day, one that did not include the Red Sox. New England’s baseball team is deserving of its own column, but that will not be today. Perhaps once management decides whether they are buyers or sellers at this year’s trade deadline will we have an indication of where Boston’s boys of summer are or aren’t going this season.
Meanwhile, one of the biggest sports stories this month has been the World Cup and in particular around this chunk of the globe, the play of Team USA, or as they’ve been acronymized in social media, the USMNT (US Men’s National Team). Despite head coach Jurgen Klinsmann talking down his club’s chances going into the tournament, the United States improbably finished second in what was called the ‘Group of Death’ and has advanced to the knockout/elimination Round of 16 against Belgium next week.
In this space last week I wrote that momentum for soccer continues to grow, and the TV ratings have backed this up. Last Sunday’s exciting 2-2 draw with Portugal drew upwards of 25 million viewers between two different networks, which was more than the average number of people who watched this year’s NHL and NBA Finals combined. Even last year’s World Series won by our very own Red Sox only averaged about 15 million viewers nationwide.
I believe part of this viewership surge can be attributed to a relative lull in the televised sports schedule. But I also think that soccer is gaining more popularity, whether Ann Coulter likes it or not. There was a time not long ago that the World Cup didn’t register at all with sports fans in this country, even when there was little else to follow. But the inspired play of the USMNT has created a fandom that should carry into the next World Cup four years from now and the one after that.
While Portugal’s last-second goal deep in the Amazon heat was a punch to the groin, the US had executed very well in the contest up to those final seconds. And despite being outplayed for most of their game against Germany in extremely wet conditions, they hung in enough to only come up one goal short. And despite that loss, they were still able to back in (beep…beep) to the final sixteen.
From the hot, humid pitches of Brazil to the climate-controlled Barclays Center of Brooklyn, yesterday concluded with an NBA Draft that left Celtics fans with no Love. But let it be said if there’s a positive that can be taken from drafting a pair of college ballers, the C’s were able to get Young and Smart (I realize all the puns were way too easy, but if I just left them sit there unused I might have hurt myself…and yes, I also realize I need help).
All kidding aside, I can’t say I watch much college basketball, so I can only go by what the experts say about Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart and Kentucky swingman James Young. It sounds like Danny Ainge picked up a couple of guys with upside who can also provide long-term insurance in the event Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley eventually depart, but neither selection qualifies as the kind of fireworks promised by owner Wyc Grousbeck this offseason, and this time of year I kind of like me some fireworks.
NBA free agency starts next week, so maybe that’s when we’ll see the 2014-2015 Green Team really begin to take shape.
Mike: I tried, I really did.
I really tried to get into soccer. I watched the first half of the US game with Portugal and I just couldn't do it. I guess I missed the best part of the game by tuning out the second half, but I had ribs that needed to be put on the grill, and that was FAR more important than the soccer game. And since the Red Sox were on radio, I got to listen to that instead, and even in this horrible baseball season, that game still held my interest more than the soccer game.
But, I was watching the game on my phone (I was sitting on my patio at the time), and I figured that maybe it was the experience of seeing the "beautiful game" on such a small screen that made it so I just lost interest.
So, I figured that I would watch the game against Germany. But then the pre-game talk started to lose me again.
I heard...on multiple outlets mind you...that there was a good chance that the two teams would "informally" play to tie. Since a tie would result in both teams advancing, people were saying there was a good chance that both teams would slack off as the game went on and stop trying to win.
That is just wrong. You don't play for a tie. Just ask Herm Edwards.
Thankfully, that's not what happened, as it appeared that both teams did try to win. But still, I found myself bored with the whole thing. I just seemed that it was a lot of standing around and kicking the ball back and forth with no real action to speak of.
I will keep trying to get into this as the World Cup goes on, but I simply don't think it will happen.
And just like last week, I am happy to present something I find more interesting than the World Cup...yup, baby goats!
But in a nod to all of you soccer fans out there, I present...yes, a baby goat playing soccer, a video that is sure to go viral!!!!
Enjoy!
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