On the WPS front, if the Breakers beat FC Gold Pride they’ll be in line to snag the second seed and host teh Super Semi-Final.  (Where they might be able to do that is, I guess, another question … as Harvard may have a need to use their stadium this time of year.)

Hmmmm … our field is available, if you don’t mind a little sheep poop here and there.

So, to Phillies phans everywhere, I apologize, as yesterday’s loss is clearly on me.

Guys … you need to WIN.  I don’t care by how much – just do it!

Right now the Breakers are in third place and, barring a late-season meltdown (like last year) ought to make the play-off’s.  Who’d a thunk THAT a couple of months ago!

At least Leslie will still be able to be on the bench (presumably) … but who steps up and into her slot on the field?

On the MLB front, the Phillies had a solid game from Roy Oswalt, Chase Utley returned to the line-up WAY ahead of schedule, and their win over the Giants put them on top of the wild card race in the NL.  But, as Charlie Manuel said, “We don’t care about the wild card.”  Ryan Howard should be back soon .. then watch out world!

The BoSox beat the Angels handily (6-0) … and are loving Ryan Kalish!  But apparently Jacoby Ellsbury is done for the season.  It would seem that he needs to really, really, really give those ribs time to heal!

On the beer-making front (HollyCornblog has been busy making windowsills … but hasn’t forgotten about the beer), here’s an update on the Hop Harvest from Ms. Cornblog her ownself!

“Our Cascade hops are going crazy, but aren’t quite ready to pick yet.

“You can see how the cones are still kind of tight on them. They need to open up a little more like a flower.”

Here are some of the Cascades cascading from the hop trellis (which you can barely see) … bounteous, eh?

I find it so interesting that some plants are thriving so, with all the dry weather we’ve had.

Wonder if we’ll see the results of the drought NEXT year.

Here in NH we’ve been getting a bumper crop of peaches … and the blueberries have been luscious … go figure!

And here’s a bit of the harvest, up close and personal.  Aren’t they nice, juicey-looking critters? 

I think they look a little like small cabbages … or maybe tiny artichokes.

(And nope, these are not especially appetizing analogies from a beer-making perspective, I agree!)

Finally, here are some hops on the screen, drying out to be ready for some dry-hopping … right, HollyCornblog? 

Can’t wait to taste what you do with them all!

Perhaps I will taste some of your handiwork later this fall or early this winter … while watchig Bret Favre play with the Vikings for yet-another-season.  (And I suppose that we should be thankful that the annual mating dance didn’t last quite as long this year.  Or am I just becoming numbed to it?)

Okay, now for Dick.

I found some interesting biographical tidbits in the Wikipedia article about him … for example, did you know that he flunked out of Yale?  Or that he was convicted of DUI in 1962 at age 21?  Interesting parallels to Dubya … except that Dubya didn’t flunk out and wasn’t convicted.

Of course, that’s probably because Dubya had access to more money and influence back in the day … but Cheney rectified that for himself.

Oh, and they both also managed to avoid military service.

And both ended up hawkish, narrow-minded, unforgiving, unreflective, wealthy, powerful, and generally pretty nasty … why is that?

My theory is that when Dick had his first heart attack in 1978 at age 37, he was terrified – as most anyone would be.  He went into fear-mode and hasn’t looked back since.

Rather than letting this brush with his mortality contribute to a deepening wisdom, Mr. Dick took it, apparently, as a rationale for developing the kind of faux machismo that kinda matched Bush’s deplorably smug swagger … but was even nastier.  He worked hard, driven by fear, to make sure that he made his world as safe as he could.

That meant amassing money, I’m sure … and embracing a black and white, good and evil, childishly simplistic view of things that can be used to justify pretty much whatever you want to do.

Dick’s persona has reminded me a lot of my late, maternal grandfather’s.  He works from a fearful and angry place filled with judgmentalness and  the kind of brusk surity that I seriously mistrust.

He seems someone who may ultimately be just a tad unsure of his masculinity (maybe that’s what brushes with mortality do to some folks).  So, forgetting the fact that he himself avoided the draft and other such nastiness, Dick gets himself all worked up into a tough and bombastic lather about things.  It’s downright Dickish.

He’s all full of sturm und drang when it comes to ordering others to do things like die on battlefields and torture folks and such.  The posturing is powerful and amazing … when you don’t actually have to carry any of it out yourself, eh Dick?

So, the sad thing is that Dick’s brush with mortality didn’t deepen him.  No, instead, he went for the shallow end of the pool.  Had he not happened to amass money and power in the course of his life’s journey, he’d just be one of those annoying, grouchy people that gets avoided at family gatherings and church socials. 

Or maybe he’d have been arrested for shooting someone in the face.

Or, actually, he might not even be here … because his health insurance might not have allowed for all the many procedures he’s had to keep his ticker ticking through the years.

The possiblities are endless.

But, sadly for America, he did amass money and power … very sadly for America.

Today?  Today I need to get packed up, make some potato salad, and generally get prepped for a weekend away.  So, knowing I won’t be running tomorrow morning … dare I skip one more run this morning?  I ask you …

This is how it happens.  A small change that throws me off track … followed by reasonable adjustments … then excuses … and finally, nada.

It would be so nice to be able to relate to exercise in a calm, measured, rational, adult way – taking breaks as needed, knowing that I’ll come back to it when it makes sense (rather than fearing that, after a “slip” it’ll be months before I strap on those sneakers again).  And of course, at 57 there’s the added fear that I might … just … NEVER … get started again.  Maybe Monday was my LAST RUN!

Yikes!  Looking on the bright side, relating to running in this way does add to the drama in an otherwise pretty undramatic life.  I mean, who knew I’d be writing such exciting stuff this morning?  Cliff-hanger material here!

Decision made:  I’ll forego the run today … and be ready to re-start those engines on Monday moring.  Stay tuned .. and make me accountable! 

PS  The Breakers play Sky Blue FC (or FC Sky Blue … I can never keep it straight) on Sunday.  Here’s what I’ve got … from my official Breakers e-mail:

The Boston Breakers will play at Harvard Stadium for the final time during the regular season this Sunday against Sky Blue FC at 6 p.m.

The Breakers still have one more “home” match in the 2010 regular season, which will be played at Veterans Memorial Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut on Saturday, August 21st. The Breakers scheduled the match in New Britain due to the scheduling conflicts at Harvard and to bring the Breakers and WPS to new fans in the Connecticut and Western Massachusetts regions.

For those who can’t make the game Sunday, it will be broadcast nationally on FoxSoccer Channel. The game can also be followed via webcast and WPS Match Tracker.

Game Notes for Sunday’s game against New Jersey are available for download here: http://drop.io/boxsbfc815

Oh yeah – and they’re asking their fans to wear blue.  I’ll see what I’ve got!
… and a wee bit of Shelby before I go … just cuz I’m alive!

Earlier, the Breakers beat the Beat in a game that resulted in some Tweets from Hope Solo, creating a brouhaha and accusing some of the Breakers’ fan base of racism.  To my knowledge, Hope never (or hasn’t yet) clarified exactly what it was that set her off.  As was the case back on the bad old Greg Ryan days … it appears to me that frustration bubbled up and out into the (social) media … in a way that Hope probably now regrets.

It’ll make for an interesting game with the Beat down in Connecticut next weekend (the 21st).  As for the Breakers immediate challenges, they face off against Sky Blue FC on Sunday evening down in Cambridge!

Roy Oswalt looked strong for the Phillies last night … but they lost Ross Gload.  Chase … glad to hear you’re cleared to hold a bat … come back soon … then watch out, Braves!!

Thought I’d share a photo from August of 1958 … Jordan and ChristopherCornblog at the Lake.  (Note the lucky rabbit’s foot … sure made me feel powerful and special)!

And boy do I need to get moving and go for a run.  Feeling sludgy and slug-like this morning for some reason.  Not the way I want to stay all day!!

So, as I see JBD heading out to walk in the woods, I scan the news and find that Chelsea is married and there are no signs that Dick is dead (yet).

I hear from folks who know about these things that it’s a very serious procedure that Mr. Cheney had.  It’s done when heart failure is pretty imminently life threatening.  One interesting and frequent side effect of the device that now moves Cheney’s blood around is that recipients often don’t have a pulse.  Creepy, eh?  I am sure that Mr. Cheney’s silence is a good indicator of how he is feeling.  And of course, IMHO, it’s also a very welcome change in the tenor of our national discourse.

I was interested to read, in an article dated 7/19 in the NY Times, that “Medicare will pay for the pump and for implanting it, which is $150,000 to $200,000, said Dr. Ranjit John, who directs the device program at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview.”  My tax dollars at work … because I’m guessing that with the Bush tax breakes and all, Cheney hasn’t paid much of anything in taxes for quite some time!

In the sports world, Brad Lidge is killing the Phillies … blowing a save after a comeback.  Ugh!  Come on, guys- you can’t keep losing to the Nationals, for Pete’s sake.

The Red Sox pulled out a comeback win … and the Breakers won their 5th game in their last 6 … beating the floundering Freedom 3-1 last night.  JBD said it was a great game!

Here’s Kelly Smith on the match … from the Breakers’ site:

On the victory

Real delighted with the win tonight. We scored three goals, which is good for our confidence and I’m just really, really, really pleased.

On her goal

It was a ball in the area and there were a lot of players in that area, so I pulled myself to the back post where I thought someone would head it and Jordan Angeli who had a great header and I was there to put it home.

On other players scoring and taking the pressure off of her

It’s taken a great weight off of my shoulders that other players are stepping up to the plate. Not just putting the ball in the back of the net, but having good individual performances too, from Leslie Osborne, Lindsay Tarpley and Fabiana. The bench players really made a difference tonight in the game.

Check out Marta et al on the Fox Soccer Channel today at 5 PM ET!

And I’d say that’s just about it, as I get myself moving.  Have a great first day of this new month!

In other news … here’s an interview with Alex Scott of Breakers’ fame.  Another nice piece from Shekicks!

No news about Dick.  I keep checking, though.  My thoughts are with him … and that’s probably not a good thing.

Condaretha (as I like to call the duo) just performed in Philly in a concert to help raise money for the inner city kids that the Bushies pushed under the bus in favor of tax cuts for their rich Republican cronies.

Maybe Condi is trying to reclaim a bit of her soul … in every damn sense of the word!

Seems like it’ll take a wee bit more than playing back-up for the Queen.  And Aretha, by the way, what were you thinking?

Check out the YouTube video posted by some folks in Philly who came out to show their feelings about it all …

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoTegjWPd2U

And when, oh when, oh when are we going to see Obama stand up and nominate Elizabeth Warren?  The banks won’t be happy … Oh snap!

I see that the Bengals are going to give it a shot with TO.  TO and Ochocinco — now THAT could get interesting fast!

The Red Sox won last night .. Lackey beating his old mates … and how about those Phillies?  They are looking like their old selves (hesitate to say it … but there it is.) The Sox, Breakers and the Phillies … may the good times continue to roll!

So what do we have today?  Best wishes to Boltgirl on her tune-up … and we look forward to the frozen peas rehab posts!  (I have fond memories of RPE using frozen peas on one knee and frozen corn on the other … during one high school soccer or basketball season .. but can’t find the photo … luckily for RPE!)

One a sad note, we mourn the passing of another friend … Steve Ryan … who succumbed to cancer Saturday evening.  I think of Steve in this moment, right now … stopping … as the sun shimmers on summer leaves.

I was also sad to read, on Saturday night, of the death of Bill Cowher’s wife Kaye at age 54 … who sounded like a very interesting, athletic, involved woman.  She was an excellent basketball player (along with her twin suster Faye) at NC State (where she met Bill … and where she played for Kay Yow) … a big proponent of Title IX, and the mother of athletes herself.  Interestingly, she and her sister Faye also were featured as a set of twins in one or another of those old Doublemint gum commercials … as well as the yogurt ad pictured here.  (I haven’t yet been able to find the one they were in …)

On a happier note, the Breakers won last night (3-1 over the Red Stars) and have moved into 3rd place in the WPS standings.  (Who’d a thunk!)  Dewd says it’s the addition of Tarpley and her play-making to the midfield.  (I don’t often argue with Dewd!)  Whatever it is, it’s nice to see Kelly Smith getting 2 goals … and an assist on the 3rd!  Here’s an interview with Kelly from Shekicks … where she talks about Lil’s phenomenal fitness and names the best players in the league “… Marta of FC Gold Pride, Formiga of Chicago Red Stars and Amy LePeilbet of the Boston Breakers.”

There’s a new magazine in town!  Breakers Alyssa Naeher, Leslie Osborne and Tiffany Weimer are all contributors to Our Game Magazine, a new women’s soccer specific publication … with Weimer being the editor, apparently!  Page through a copy here … and enjoy!

And in case you hadn’t heard … the Phillies pulled out another win over the Rockies and are moving up in the standings.  Let’s keep it up, guys! 

I did see a piece of unbelievable Philadelphia news recently … the Phillies chose a Biddle in June’s MLB draft.  I love it!  A Biddle who went to Germantown Friends, no less.  How Olde Philadelphia can you get?  What’s next – a Cadwalader drafted by the Eagles?  A Clothier playing for the 76ers?

Jesse Biddle, the young man in question, is a Left-Handed pitcher with a 94 mph fastball … not bad for someone just coming out of high school!

Beyond that snippet, we won’t discuss te Phillies phurther.  It’s all starting to pheel way too phamiliar!

PS  The Breakers play FC Gold Pride tonight … hope they can keep their string of wins alive.  This’ll be a stern test!

In our pool, looks like TeamDewdney is unbeatable … so congratulations, whoever you are …

Today it’s Germany-Argentina, and then Paraguay-Spain.  In our little soccer competition, the Brazil loss has wreaked havoc on most folks’ picks.  (Who knew it could feel so much like March in July!!??)  Here’s how things stand at the moment …

As you see, 3/4′s of the Dewdney entrants have the potential to score some points in the finals (2 of ‘em having the prescience to pick Netherlands). The rest of us? I’d say we’re pretty well cooked! (Rachel, sorry about those picks I made for you!  And yes … that’s Mo at the top of the pile … )

If you click on the Player name in the table, you should be able to see who folks picked.  (Don’t look at mine … it’s embarrassing!)

Now, to other news … random and fascinating, of course:

Amazon has bought Woot … but Woot CEO Matt Rutledge says that won’t change things … “For Woot, our vision remains the same: somehow earning a living on snarky commentary and junk,” Rutledge wrote.

Hope that’s the case … just received my Canon PIXMA Wireless All-In-One Printer on Thursday.  I finished setting it up last night, and scanned my first photo right after … beautiful!

Check out JordanCornblog and DaddyCornblog circa 1952!

On the USWNT front, Pia has named her roster (24-woman) heading toward two July matches with Sweden.  Here’s the short story, from All White Kit … looks like Carli is all better … and Lil continues to amaze!  Wonder what’s up with Tasha Kai.  It was nice to see her in the WPS All Star game … but she seems to have dropped off the USWNT radar.  Miss her!

In WPS kudos … 2009 WPS Champs Sky Blue FC got to visit the White House and give Obama a T-shirt last week … nice!  And in good economic news (in an otherwise dismal week) I see that Foxwoods are putting some of their financial heft behind the Breakers … while letting the word casino drop by the wayside (don’t want those pony-tailed hooligans developing bad habits early)!

Still waiting for my Droid … ***drums fingers on the desk *** … and was psyched to receive an e-mail with the news that the Kindle application for the Droid is now available.  Cool … *** drums fingers on desk some more *** …

I leave you with a tranquil poem … a contrast to the above … from The Writer’s Almanac, of course!

The mares go down for their evening feed
into the meadow grass.
Two pine trees sway the invisible wind—
some sway, some don’t sway.
The heart of the world lies open, leached and ticking with sunlight
For just a minute or so.
The mares have their heads on the ground,
the trees have their heads on the blue sky.
Two ravens circle and twist.
On the borders of heaven, the river flows clear a bit longer.

The floundering Breakers head south to play A-rod and her Philly teammates next … and have signed defender Dieke Ifeoma.  No offense whatsoever to Dieke … but it seems that it’s scoring that we need.

Meanwhile the Women’s Sports Blog offers a nice write-up of a very entertaining WPS All Star game.  Interesting comment on Paul O’Reilly’s feelings about Tony … something I have certainly wondered about (and written about a wee bit) as I watch this most recent iteration of the Breakers continue to stumble.  Can’t find the article referred to, though … and will try to look some more later (unless Alice finds it first!) 

Here’s an excerpt from Tony’s book about coaching which strikes me as disingenuous, after watching his treatment of A-rod (admittedly, from the 3rd row on sporadic visits to Harvard Stadium).  That’s in addition to his treatment of the team … where my observaton has been that he seems generally annoyed with and disdainful of them … walking away from them after losses, ignoring players when they come out of the game if he thinks they haven’t played well … just not the compassionate, wise, vulnerable coach that he portrays himself to be in the book (or at least that passage).

I’m disgruntled.  Show us something different, Tony.  Do you need to bring in Colleen Hacker, Carla Overbeck and Julie Foudy to get things back on track?  Where’s that wisdom?

Finally, speaking of All Star games, the WNBA All Stars vs. the US National Team match-up is set for Saturday, July 10 (ESPN) at 3:30 PM, I believe.  Here’s the Connecticut Sun schedule … road trip, anyone?

Oh, and it’s the anniversary of MommyCornblog’s birth … back in 1925 … today.  She would have been 85, had she lived … and that is really pretty much impossible to imagine.

Here’s Charlie Rose interviewing The Wall Street Journal’s Walter Mossberg about the new iPhone and other smart phones … give it a look.  (And thanks, PB …. kudos to you for watching the whole damn thing!)

Meanwhile, here’s TNR on John Edwards … who is apparently partying-on … hard to imagine John and Elizabeth in the White House, eh?  Ugh!!

Went to see Mother and Child last night … and am shocked by the positive reviews.  A pretty decisive thumbs down from yours truly.

There … a positive thought (you be the decider re. what, in particular, about the above is positive).  Positive thoughts are important today, as the USMNT faces off against Ghana in game one of the knockout Round.  And this is when our World Cup Pool starts yielding some results … so let the fun begin!  (And I think you should be able to see everyone’s picks here … if you dare.  Lots of France and Italy in the mix … sadly.)

The Breakers continue to baffle … losing to Chicago in a yellow-card studded match.  I am particularly worried at the low attendance.  (Our seats were filled, albeit not by us.)  Here’s the Breakers’ thread on BigSoccer … strangely quiet there this morning.

The Phillies battered the Blue Jays as Roy Halliday and their bullpen kept the Jays scoreless.  Moving up in the standings … what we like to see!  Meanwhile the Red Sox lost a real close one to the Giants … and kudos to the D-backs Edwin Johnson on his no-hitter … the 4th this year, so far, in a stellar pitching year in MLB.

But here’s the thing.  I am worried.

Worried about sun storms that are apparently looming on the horizen … threatening us with havoc and devastation.  Just when I am about to get a damn smartphone … crap!  It sounds within the realm of possiblity that the entire internet could be kaput before my 2-year commitment is done.  Experts are saying don’t panic …. but don’t ignore the warnings, either.

Great -- that’s helpful!

Hmmmm … if I keep my phone under my bed when I’m not using it, will that help?

So before the sun storms bring YouTube to its knees, check out these two videos … Ellen at LSU in 2006 and again in 2009.  She had me laughing out loud …

www.youtube.com/watch?v=x011tj6tr4M

www.youtube.com/watch?v=atvSbmd5ZFs

In the sporting world I see that the Phillies’ and Red Sox’ bats are alive and well, as both teams are moving up in the standings (and heading for a World Series showdown – mark my words.)  And speaking of showdowns, the Breakers and Red Stars clash at Harvard Stadium this evening in a game which the B’s really, really need to win (as do the Red Stars).  It’s going to be a beautiful evening for soccer … and is a damn shame that none of us can make it down for the game.  Anyway – let’s score some, Breakers … okay?

Next week Breakers Lauren Cheney, Kristine Lilly, Alex Scott, Kelly Smith, and Amy LePeilbet will be among the league’s All-Stars as they battle in “Marta’s XI” versus “Abby’s XI” in the 2010 WPS All-Star Game.  The match kicks off on June 30 at KSU Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.  You can watch the 7:30 pm pre-show on FSC and 8:00 pm kick off.

On Monday the 28th, Abby and Marta will be choosing their teams (great idea, if you ask me) … and you can follow it here or on Twitter, here!

But before that all gets underway … there’s that USA-Ghana game to contend with.  I am guessing that, by now, you know where to find it!

And here’s an interesting tidbit from Mudflats about she who will remain unnamed.  All I can say is, “Ooops!”

Oh .. and here’s what looks to be an excellent printer deal on Woot … (Canon PIXMA Wireless All-In-One Printer for $79.99) if you see it in time (and need a printer)!

And finally – watch Janeane answer some questions – love her!

Never before in the history of Wimbledon, which first was contested in 1877, had any match — singles or doubles, men or women — lasted more than 112 games, a mark set in 1969. Isner and Mahut played more games than that in just the fifth set, and still did not determine a victor, although the American came close: He had four match points — four chances to end things by winning the next point — but Mahut saved each one.

Presumably, the match will end today … if both men can walk themselves onto the court to finish the thing!  The following video is long … amazing … exhausting …

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fXetF_bnVM

And yes … the USA not only moved on in World Cup play, but they won their group in breathtaking, death-defying fashion.  Bring it, Ghana!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBtWDlXQZr4

Jimmy Rollins boosted the Phillies with his first-ever walk off home run last night … in the second game he’s played since being on the disabled list forEVER!

And Obama relieved General McChrystal of his duties following McChrystal’s Rolling Stone interview heard round the world.  Bad enough, I’m thinking, what he said … but how dumb (or cocky) must you be to share stuff like that with a news venue?

I understand people kvetching about their bosses … but to the press?  At that level?  If that’s a reflection of his judgment … then I don’t want him in charge of a war.  (Leaving out the fact that I’d rather not have the war in the first place.)

Who would you send this beauty to?  Or maybe you’d want to just frame it and keep it for yourself!

(Can you tell that I am working on honing my marketing skills?)

On the soccer front (not that I’ve exhausted the above topic, mind you) Les Bleus are gone (mercifully, it would seem) and the US Men need a big win!  (Okay … they don’t actually need a win … or a big win .. but it sure would help some of us relax!  (Ski, are you with me there?)

Here are the possible scenarios, from USSoccer:

USA SCENARIOS:

USA Advances:

* U.S. win

* U.S. tie and England loss

* Tie and England-Slovenia tie, and the U.S. maintains it’s +2 goals scored advantage (USA 3 GF, England 1 GF)

USA Eliminated:

* U.S. tie and England win

* Lose

USA Advances and Wins Group:

* Win by a greater goal difference than England wins by

* Win and England win by same goal differential while the U.S. maintains its +2 goals scored advantage

* Win by two or more goals and England / Slovenia tie

* Win by one goal and England / Slovenia tie while scoring more goals than Slovenia

As I said … the US needs a BIG win!

The defense is solid … but their scoring output … and I’m not just talking this year … is abysmal.

Breakers fans on BigSoccer are getting restless and testy … and I find myself annoyed with Tony.  Not just because they’re not scoring but because he seems generally petulant.  I have not liked watching him walk away from the team after a tough loss.  Didn’t like what I observed of his treatment of A-Rod last year.

It leads me to wonder about him as a coach.  Maybe all that success back in the day was more attributable to the players and the leadership from within the team than to Tony’s genius.  Seems he’s good on the defensive side of the field … but maybe he needs to bring in some offensive expertise to spark the team.

Remember how they looked under Pia?  They are working damn hard out there, from what I can tell … but under pressure … as opposed to with encouragement to take risks and be creative … oh, and joy.  Makes a world of difference, I’m thinking.

On the HollyCornblog front … check out more of her artistry with the sindow and sill.

Artistry with the plane, sandpaper and brush … AND with the camera.

I’m thinking of getting her to sell HollyCornblog notecards here on the blog.

I’m sure they’ll be a steal … any takers?

I don’t know about you … but in the heat-of-the-moment, I am amazed that these guys are able to see small details as well as they do.  That said, it sounds like the ‘mistake’ yesterday may have crossed the line into egregious territory. 

Here’s Grant Wahl on the matter … adding some ineresting perspective on blaming the referee …

As much as I love soccer, I do get extremely frustrated by how often the postgame discussion revolves around the referee’s decisions. No sport, not even NBA basketball, approaches soccer when it comes to officiating controversy. And no sport does less to provide teams and fans with explanations for refereeing decisions. The fact is that we may never know why Coulibaly waved off the U.S. goal — FIFA doesn’t allow a pool reporter to interview the referee, as most sports do, and I got no response when I e-mailed FIFA’s head press officer in search of an explanation.

In the postgame mixed zone, U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said he hadn’t seen replays yet, but he had received 43 text messages from people who had watched the replay and not seen a foul. “We don’t know what the foul was,” said Gulati. “We’ll ask, but they’re not required to tell us.”

Of course, one thing that you always have to remember about getting jobbed by the referee is this: It wasn’t the referee’s fault that the U.S. went down 2-0 in the first half, and it wasn’t the referee’s fault that the Americans couldn’t score an additional goal in the rest of the 90-minute game.

So basically, what I take from this is that the ref is definitely a part of the game … but to blame him or her for the outcome is a little like blaming one’s parents for the fact that one isn’t the CEO of a Fortune 500 Company.  I mean, that may be a factor … but there’s a bit more involved than just that.

It also reinforces my gut feeling that being god-in-a-striped-shirt is a tough gig – and not one that I would ever-in-a-million-years-want!  It’s way tougher than being a mere human.  Making calls that decide the outcomes of games … the fates of individuals, teams, and nations … ugh!  You’re going to have half of the people involved angry at you, pretty much by definition.  And really, the best you can hope for is that you go unnoticed … that’s the only sure sign that you’ve done well.

So … decisive power and invisibility … interesting aspirations to hold.

I am glad that refs get paid for what they do … otherwise it’d definitely be a pursuit that would seem indicative of some sort of disorder … don’t you think?