Miracle on 34th Street

I was ANGRY. Like many people I was seriously upset at the disallowed goal that the US had vs. Slovenia, which robbed the team of their first 2010 World Cup win. I cared, but then again, as a sportswriter and editor of Univision’s World Cup coverage in English, it is my job to care.

Strangely, this time, other people cared too.

"People are up in arms. That's pretty cool. For soccer fans, that's like a small detail in that game. For people, especially our American fans back home, to be so up in arms shows that one, they care, and two, they are starting to learn about how it works," said US keeper Tim Howard.

I live in New York City, and after the amazing comeback for the 2-2 draw, the Daily News had the best headline: "US wins 2-2!” Yup, we all did.

And just when we thought it could not get any better, came the Algeria match. I know I don't have to tell you what happened, but needless to say my "cube-mates" are getting their eardrums checked.

I had the opportunity to interview Donovan a year ago while working for MLS, and I felt some sort of intense personal pride having a chance to talk to the 28-year-old.

I guess I thought of myself as one of those journalists who have been in the same room with Ali, or got to shake Roberto Clemente’s hand… I know… I know…. Don’t be up in arms, I KNOW it’s not on “the same league”… but for me… at the time… it was.

Now history has been written, and we know the US crashed to a much better Ghanaian team, falling short of continuing on their path towards World Cup history. The best performance by any US team has been reaching the semifinals in 1930 (which was actually their debut!); the Americans also got to the quarters in 2002.

“The way we went out is frustrating because we played a pretty good game, but made a couple of mistakes and got punished for it. It’s a tough lesson to learn when you don’t get a chance to redeem yourself. The finality of it is brutal. You realize how much you’ve put into it not just in the last four years, but your whole life. There’s no guarantee there’s another opportunity at that. It’s disappointing”, were Donovan’s last words.

I was one of those that put the pressure on, that believed they would move on to the semis.

I looked at the US draw, the underdog central threesome of Ghana, South Korea and Uruguay, and then looked at the other side… Argentina, Mexico, England and Germany; three former World champs and a CONCACAF archrival.

It was the equivalent of seeing Kansas, Memphis, North Carolina, and UCLA in the Final Four (I am being kind to the Mexicans for eliminating France, and Brazil and Holland are out and about in other parts of the bracket!) and I just forgot how talented that Ghana team is, and that is without Michael Essien. Good for Ghana and good for Africa.

I said to myself… they went down fighting. I was satisfied and moved on. Or so I thought.

Walking back to my apartment, on the corner of 34th street (I can’t make this stuff up!) a Ghanaian man decked out in Black Stars gear had a smile from here to heaven while he stood waiting for the walking signal, his feet elevated off the ground, a Miracle on 34th Street.

I went over and shook his hand and said: “Good win for Ghana, and for Africa." He smiled that smile we all know, the one I had on June 23, and merely said "thank you" as he floated on to the other side of the street.
 
I walked on, and a couple of boys wearing USA #10 jerseys walked by, a little hunched, it was just a bit, imperceptible to the other folks who moved out and about in their Yankees and Mets and Jets and Giants gear. I gave them a sympathy smile, they did not even notice.

I was SAD. Like many people I was seriously upset at the US not pulling off another miracle like they had against Algeria. I cared, but then again, as a sportswriter and editor of Univision’s World Cup coverage, it is my job to care.

Strangely, this time, other people cared too. Even on 34th street.

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