Is World Cup fever the same as soccer fever?

Television ratings are through the roof for U.S. World Cup matches. They outpace those of any other matches thus far in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Thousands of people watch on huge screens in public areas and bars are full during the early morning hours to watch Team USA’s run. When the team was screwed out of a goal against Slovenia by a still-unexplained whistle by an assistant referee, the blogosphere blew up with anger.

But the question is this: Do these signs point to a surge in the sport’s popularity in the United States? Or is it merely a once-in-four-years spike that is a natural result of a successful run? Is it similar to the Olympics, the only time in four years that people even take the time to learn the nuances of sports like curling?

In early 2007, not long after David Beckham first joined Major League Soccer, I wrote a quick blog saying that a marquee name was what the MLS needed to take the next step in popularity. His effect on the league has been anything but spectacular. If anything, his presence in Los Angeles has been a hindrance as the tabloids seem to have taken to him much quicker than mainstream sports pages. It doesn’t help that he was injured for much of his first season with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

However, if Team USA makes a nice run and pulls off a win against Ghana and Uruguay, sending them to the semifinals for the first time since 1930, it would seem to be yet another step in establishing soccer as a solidly popular sport. Of course, it all depends on how MLS takes advantage of the surge.

What do you all think?

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.