Now what?

So everyone in the States was all geeked up for the Women's World Cup after the U.S. teams amazing game against Brazil  We watched as they got by France and were on the edge of our seats for the Final against Japan.  The country went "crazy" as we took the lead two different times only to see Japan tie it up each time.   Then the penalty kicks came and it wasn't even a contest.  We were awful, they were good.  The team played great, but many are arguing it was a choke job.  Some say the players couldn't finish the job while many are placing blame on the coach for the late game and shootout strategies.  Personally, it doesn't matter to me.  We lost.  But the reason it doesn't matter is nobody else in this country will care again about women's soccer for four more years.  In fact, I doubt most people watching on Sunday realized how the U.S. team had to struggle to even make the tournament, winning a home and home against Italy to be the last qualifier.  I'd love to see soccer catch on in this country as a legitimate spectator sport, but it is very unlikely.  Americans need collisions and injuries and personalities like Chad Ochocinco to be drawn in to a sport.  They need reasons to read rumors of player movement and to call into radio talk shows to yell about the latest happenings.  The problem is, most Americans don't know enough about soccer to argue over it.  And while the U.S. team played admirably and it was a dramatic tournament, there is nothing of significance to back it up now.  Hopefully it gets more young people out playing the game, that can only be a good thing.  But should the U.S. team struggle in qualifying again in a few years and not even make the tourney, nobody will be paying attention.  Sure it will get mentioned by the Mickey Mouse of sports networks, but there will be no outcry of anger or frustration.  Nobody will be calling for new leadership of the women's soccer program, nor would there be on the men's side.  Soccer will continue to be a niche sport in this country for many years to come.  And to be honest, that is ok with me.  I don't need the drunks I see at football games coming to soccer games.  I don't need loudmouth reporters that really don't know anything ranting about what is best for the game.  Nor do I need to hear the average joe schmo calling into radio shows to explain to the masses why his team is lacking execution on set pieces.  So thank you America for getting excited and supporting your team this past month, we'll see you again in four years.

The pick I gave you here last Friday was another easy winner, unfortunately we haven't won since then.  The twitter picks are 7-5 overall but today we begin to turn it around.  It's a big total in the Red Sox-Orioles game tonight, but it's hard not to like over 10.  The Sox should do it themselves against Guthrie.  Continue to check out daily picks on twitter, the handle to search is vegasobie.  Good luck and remember to never bet what you cant afford to lose.