Women's Hoops Blog

Inane commentary on a game that deserves far better


Wednesday, June 23, 2010

SPOILER ALERT!

All hail Donovan, but tell me what's wrong with this paragraph:
The best player on the U.S. national team confirmed his place as the best player in U.S. history at the moment when his team and his country needed him most. Thanks to a lightning-quick stoppage-time counterattack started and finished by 28-year-old Landon Donovan, the Americans overcame an amazing series of earlier misses and their Algerian opponents to win 1-0, and advance to the World Cup's round of 16 as the winners of Group C.
For the record: It's the MEN'S US National Team.

For the further record:

US Women's National Team:
World Cup: Two-time winners
Olympic: Three-time gold medalists Golds
Algarve Cup: Seven-time winners

Mia Hamm and Michelle Akers were the only two women named to the FIFA 100 (a list of the 125 greatest living footballers). No US men were selected (granted, the list was compiled by Pele in 2004)
US Men's National Team:
World Cup: Best finish 3rd, in 1930
Olympics: Silver and Bronze in 1904
CONCACAF Gold Cup: Four time winner
Observation: You've got to love the Wiki men's entry because it feels the need to starts with an apologetic tone: "Though soccer has not traditionally had a high profile in American sporting life, the sport has steadily grown in popularity since the 1970s.

Most (US) Caps:
Men:
Cobi Jones: 164
Marcleo Balboa: 128
Landon Donovan: 125

Women:
Kristine Lilly: 345
Mia Hamm: 275
Julie Foudy: 271
Joy Fawcett: 239
Top Scorer:
Men
Landon Donovan: 44

Women
Mia Hamm: 158