14 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, June 3, 2002
US. ready to prove that it belongs in the soccer world,
By Bob Hunt
Daily Sports Editor
On Wednesday, the Americans will
go to battle in Korea.
But these Americans aren't like
most groups sent from United
States to take on the world's
best. These Americans are the
underdogs. These Americans
are laughed at by the world.
And most likely, you don't
care.
To say that the U. S. soccer team,
which will embark on its fourth straight
World Cup early Wednesday morning,
isn't very highly respected or sup-
ported would be an understatement.
Despite having its most talented
and experienced team ever, the Ameri-
cans aren't favored by most betting serv-
ices to win any of its three first-round
games. To the rest of the world, that's just
great. While the United States is both
an economic, military and athletic
powerhouse, soccer is an equalizer.
Although countries like Argentina and
Italy couldn't beat America in a war, they
sure could on the soccer field.
To many immigrants in this country, the
fact that the United States has won just
one World Cup game in the past 52 years
is great too. In many ethnic communities
in America's cities, game day is when the
Mexicans take the field, not the Ameri-
cans. In many cities, a Mexico-Ecuador
match would draw twice as much as a
" United States-Nigeria match.
To the rest of America, the fact that
these games will be played in the middle
of the night here in the states is fine as
well. The level of professional soccer has
grown tremendously in this country over
the past 10 years when a bunch of college
and semi-pro players qualified for the
1990 World Cup in Italy. However, not
only could the majority of Americans care
less about soccer, but also the sport has
been a source of ridicule. People, without
knowing much about the sport, say soccer
is too boring, too dull, too slow. Sports-
writers reiterate these beliefs by devoting
whatever column space newspapers put
toward the game to how people shouldn't
bother with the sport.
But despite all this, the Americans will
play on. With just about everything against
it, the United States team takes this World
Cup as an opportunity. Once every four
years, the World Cup gives countries a
chance to prove themselves unlike any
other event in sports. Rarely in sports do
countries get a chance to put up their best
against another country's best in major
team sports. The World's best basketball
and hockey players play each other
in the Olympics, but many of the best
players - such as Shaquille O'Neal
and Patrick Roy - decide not to partici-
pate because the Olympics is not
as important as their regular
seasons. In soccer, the World
Cup is king. No matter what
people think of American soccer, our best
professionals get to play against former
World Player of the Year Luis Figo and
Portugal's best Wednesday morning. Twen-
ty-two men, one ball, 90 minutes. It does-
n't matter that only a handful of
Americans play in the World's best leagues
or that the Americans finished last in the
World Cup four years ago. The Americans
are looking to prove. Looking to prove that
the rest of the world should respect Ameri-
4
4
Oppenheimer
Properties, Inc.
Sept. to Sept. 02/03 Leases
Still Available...Call Soon!
Call (734)995-5575 or email:tparon@earthlink.net
821 Packard
(corner of Greenwood)
8 bedrooms
large, 3 stories
lots of parking
new carpet & blinds
3 and 1/2 bathrooms + laundry
(separate 2 bedroom apt. included)
$4100 + utilities
The Michigan Crew finishes season
baily Display Staff 4..A1
is proud to elgnm l me COUnry
announcei e
week ByAlbert Kim Grande Final and instead had to row in
0S E Daily Sports Writer the Petite Final.
"We just didn't have our race yester-
Being in the city that hosts the Indy day morning," junior coxswain Helen
500 didn't seem to be enough for the Dalis said.
Michigan women's rowing team to start The second varsity boat was happy
its engines this weekend, as it finished with its performance though.
eighth in the nation at the NCAA "I think we rowed great today, and
Championships. It was the lowest finish executed the race plan," Liz Nelson
ever for the Wolverines at the Champi- said. "We put together the best race we
4r 'onships and was especially surprising had in us."
Sponsored by: gmafo's after being runner-up last year. Going into yesterday, it was still any-
"I think that we certainly had chal- body's title, and Michigan still had hope
lenges this year. Of course our expecta- with two boats in the Grande Finals.
tions are much higher," Michigan coach But it was not meant to be.
SCOREKEEPERS Mark Rothstein said. "I don't think it's a The first varsity eight finished third
step back for the program. We're going in the Petite Final to finish ninth over-
to come back next year even better." all, while the second varsity eight fin-
All three boats for Michigan strug- ished fifth, and the varsity four finished
gled on the first day, putting Michigan fourth with a huge push in theirsprint.
in a difficult position. The first varsity Michigan finished with 40 points, 27
eight boat was forced to row in the points behind Brown, the NCAA
T $1.0 0ICA L, B repechage heat after failing to qualify Champions.
E directly for the semifinals, while the "The depth has gone up," Rothstein
L A second varsity eight and first varsity said. "There are more good teams now.
UKI K M four boats failed to qualify directly for If you're a little bit off, you pay for it."
the finals and were forced to row in For Michigan, it was a bittersweet
\EES repechage heats as well. The first varsi- finish. The team accomplished a lot,
c Q j / SACK ty eight boat was able to pull off a considering the talent and experience
thrilling photo finish by edging Wash- that it lost to graduation. Despite team
F R ID A Y , _Q% ington State to advance to the semifi- unity struggles, the Wolverines pulled it
nals on Saturday. together at the end to finish strong, with
S| 1 "We did get off to a bad start, but a Central Regional Championship and a
they all came back and rowed well," second-place finish at the Big Ten
27 Taps! Full Menu! Rothstein said. Championships.
gm On Saturday, Michigan's second var- "We had six freshman, and I think
75 Cent sity eight and varsity four boat fought for them, (NCAAs) is a great experi-
to the finals with strong finishes in their ence," Rothstein said. "Overall, it was a
D T L S repechage heats, but the first varsity good learning experience for all our
eight was unable to advance to their kids."
\# \n DAILY $PORTS:
WE COULD 00 A LOT BER
SATURDAY
310AYNARD-995.i0(2i& OVERWTHPROPERID)
506 W.William
5 bedrooms
2 full bathrooms
+ laundry
hard wood floors
between 3rd and 4t" streets
$1900 + utilities
411 Washtenaw
4 bedrooms
across from CCRB
parking for 2
1 and 1/2 bathrooms
DSL & Cable
$1900 + utilities
828 Brown St.
4 bedrooms
parking for 8
1 and 1/2 bathrooms
+ laundry
athletic campus location
$1900 + utilities
607 Mary Court
4 bedrooms
refinished
hardwood floors
new carpet & new blinds
athletic campus location
$2100 + utilities