The new distraction

When the Chicago Blackhawks finished up their exciting run to the Stanley Cup championship earlier this month, it left a sports void that needed to be filled. My Chicago Bulls were long gone from the NBA playoffs. The WNBA and Arena Football League do not interest me. And a  quick glance at the MLB standings revealed that my favorite sports team, the Chicago Cubs, were going to make it a long summer.

Enter the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Every four years, I manage to put aside my usual dislike for soccer and take a seat and relax in front of the television to watch Team USA and Mexico take part in the tournament. Every four years, I’m surprised at the enjoyment I get out of it. And every four years, I become an enraged fan when I see referees blow calls I do not fully understand.

That happened Friday.

With less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation of Team USA’s game against Slovenia, the Americans had Slovenia on their heels. As they were still reeling from a game-tying goal scored just minutes earlier, Landon Donovan lobbed a perfectly executed free kick toward the Slovenia goal. Maurice Edu broke free from a Slovenia defender and kicked the ball into the net, appearing to put the US up 3-2 with about five minutes left in regulation. However, assistant referee Koman Coulibaly would have none of it. He blew the whistle and called … well, even hours after the match it’s still unclear what he called. Replays show there was no offside on the play and at least three Slovenia players were holding Team USA players. Technically, at least one of those holds could have drawn penalty kicks for the U.S. side. Instead, the goal was disallowed and the taken off the scoreboard.

What made the call even worse was it negated an amazing comeback by Team USA. Down 2-0 at halftime, they were in danger of dropping the match even though they had come in as favorites. A loss would have put them in a horrible position as they try to move on to the elimination round. But they battled back, tied it up and should have won. Only a whistle-happy referee from Mali took that away from them.

As this tournament continues, I really hope one of two things happen: The refs get their act together and USA  and/or Mexico perform well and make a nice run toward the title or the Chicago Cubs wake up. For now, however, I’ll enjoy my new sports distraction for the summer. Just wish they played more frequently. I guess that’s the American sports fan in me.

Play ball! Fairly

When Alex Rodriguez admitted during this offseason that he had cheated for a few years in the early part of this decade, it came as a pretty big shock to many baseball fans.

The golden boy of baseball had been looked at by many – aside from those blinded by a deep Yankee hatred – as a marquee name who had gotten where he is legitimately.  Steroids had nearly dragged down an incredible sport and Rodriguez’s seemingly clean  hands signaled the next wave of baseball prominence.

Well, not anymore. After Sports Illustrated finished an investigation and determined he had used, Rodriguez came out and said he was being a man and putting it out there.  So once again, a baseball offseason was marred by cheaters.

For years, steroids have been a part of the daily conversation about the sport.  It is unfortunate that selfish players tempted by huge contracts and other-worldly numbers succumbed in the 1990s. Even one of my  guys, Sammy Sosa, cheapened the sport and nearly deemed its record book irrelevant.

But Sunday night’s season opener between the Phillies and Braves show why baseball will always pull through: the game itself. No matter who comes out and says they did steroids, the game does not change. Throw the ball. Hit the ball. Catch the ball. This simplicity combined with the intricacies involved in doing these things will always attract people.  The sold-out crowds will always come out and watch the sport. With suspensions reaching 100 games and the baseball policy frequently tweaked to be as comprehensive as it can, the sport is trying to do what it can to reward this faith. In turn, let’s hope the players also appreciate this faith and try to move on from this Steroid Era.

Here’s to another great baseball season. Go Cubs.