Passion vs US Soccer: They Just Don't Get It!

Soccer is about passion. The USA is not a "Soccer Country" like, say, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, England, Mexico or Germany. If you think that the US have passion for the game then how do you explain this scenario: the US women's national team is in the FIFA Women's World Cup final on July 17th, 2011 in Germany. However, the game is shown live only on the ESPN channel. It means that if you live in the US (East Coast) and you don't have cable TV you are not seeing the game live.
In a true soccer country, a game of this magnitude will be televised live on all tv stations: local as well national. The airwaves will be swamped. Businesses will be shut for the day. Soccer fever would take over. Bars will be filled. It will be like a carnival.
No, no, no. Not in the US. The soccer fever is not there. No matter how much money and resources are pumped into US soccer, the passion is not there.
Passion cannot be taught. It lives in your blood. It is woven into the very fabric of society. You can feel it. Breathe it. It's like you can almost touch it. This is what US soccer is lacking.
Therefore the Women's World Cup final came and went and it barely even scratched the surface (of US streets). You didn't feel the energy or the buzz. Too bad.
For this reason, soccer in the US will always be a third- or fourth-rate (even fifth-rate) sport. Even if the US were to win a major tournament, e.g FIFA Men's World Cup (maybe in another 100 years lol!!) the passion will last maybe but for a couple of days. In fact Americans are more passionate about eating pop-corn at the movies than about the game of soccer.
Enough said. It is what it is. The MLS is the most boring soccer league in the world. It doesn't matter how young it is. The US been competing in soccer internationally more than 60 years. A professional local league should have been launched eons ago. They sure have the financial resources, the stadiums and the fan base. What they don't have is passion.
Without passion they will never be true ambassadors of the game. They will never be a giant soccer nation or a soccer super power.
Truthfully, I loved what Mexico did to them in 2011 Gold Cup Final. A-come-from-behind 4-2 thumping. The definining moment was when Dos Santos had the US goal keeper tieing his lace on the ground while he was trying to get the ball off his feet. To add insult to injury, Dos Santos had the entire US defence on a string, dancing to his Mexican jig. When he had enough fun toying with them, he calmly and expertly chipped the ball into the roof of the US net. Get up Tim Howard! Game's over.
Passion wins again.

So I was Wrong About Kobe/Lakers & LeBron /Heat

During the 2010/11 NBA season I gave Lakers and Heat fans reassurance that everything will be ok when the playoffs were all said and done. Boy was I wrong. My apology to Lakers and Heat fans. I can't knock on Kobe; a proven 5-time NBA champion. He went down as a true warrior: fighting. To Kobe I tip my hat. Nuff respect to the max. It turned out that the Mavericks were the better team after all. Tyson Chandler was the defensive difference maker that tranformed them from "soft" to "tough". Dirk's was, as he turned out was just too much to handle. Pau Gasol had "issues" but no "answers" (to Dirk). Lamar was being Lamar as usual; old faithful came up short, resulting in Lakers being swept. For such a storied (and title-rich)franchise, you know the Lakers will bounce back.
The Miami Heat though is a different story. It is difinitely Dwayne wade's team. LeBron, you are officially no longer the man in Miami. You are a media star but not a superstar. LeBron (and I say this unequivocally), you are not a big game player. I have rooted for, stood up for and defended you over the years. Now I am convinced that you are the biggest disappointment professional team sport has seen in the modern era. How could you not play hard in an NBA final? This is preposterous. How can you look your team mates in the eyes (especially Dwayne Wade)and feel comfortatable knowing that you did not play as hard as you could? LeBron was so ridiculous that he couldn't even exploit a mismatch when Jason Kidd was guarding him. All LeBron did was pass, pass, pass. That's what role players do. Superstars take over (and win) games under pressure. LeBron clearly indicated during the finals against the Dallas Mavericks that he is not the superstar player we thought he is. He is clearly over-rated. Skip Bayless of ESPN First Take is smilingly right. He can say with authority that "I told you so". LeBron James is nothing but an over-rated media hype. If Miami Heat were to win a championship with the so-called "Big-three", it will add to Dwane Wade's legacy. To say the least even Chris Bosh showed up for the NBA finals. I wonder if it's the "Curse of Cleveland"? Who knows.