July 19, 2011
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
Just a few minutes before the game went into its second, mandatory, 15-minute overtime period, Americans began to celebrate. Abby Wambach, the star of the US women’s quarterfinal win a week ago, was the cause for celebration once again – it was another of Wambach’s extra time headers that gave the US the go-ahead goal. But the Japanese, a culture known for their composure, didn’t concede a thing, holding on and scoring another goal of their own before letting the game, just as in 1999, be decided by penalty kicks.
Unfortunately, it was not a storybook ending like the women’s team of the 90s, losing in the first round of penalty kicks, 3-1. If the US team had won, they would have become the only female soccer team to have three World Cup wins (they won previously in 1991 and ’99). But the US women looked off on Sunday, their kicks either too high or easily blocked, and their goalie Hope Solo not living up to her Golden Glove award for top goalkeeper of the tournament.
While the loss was a tough pill to swallow, it was bittersweet to lose to Japan, a country that has endured much tragedy and heartbreak since the beginning of the year, with natural and nuclear disasters ravaging its countryside and destroying the lives of its citizens. Though a World Cup win can not un-do any of the damage, it is a beacon of hope for a country and people who are trying to rebuild. While no doubt still disappointed, the US women have their own light at the end of the tunnel – the 2012 Olympics in London are their next opportunity to shine on the world’s stage.
Nationals
After the National League won the All-Star Game for the second year in a row, the Nationals were able to enjoy a few days off due to the annual All-Star break. The vacation ended on Friday, when the team traveled to Atlanta on Friday where they played a three-game weekend series against the Braves. Unfortunately, it was a rough trip for the Nats, who were embarrassed 11-1 on Friday night, and lost by just one run, after putting eight on the board Sunday afternoon. Their one win came Saturday night, with catcher Wilson Ramos and left-handed pitcher John Lannan combining for five runs. The second inning was when their bats came alive – Ramos hit a ground-out double to score a run, and Lannan followed with a two-run double – his first hit in 32-at bats. Unfortunately, the Braves’ Alex Gonzalez also shone in the second inning, hitting a two-run homer that cut the Nationals’ lead to 3-2. It took a while, but Ramos responded in the sixth – with his own two-run shot that gave the Nats the 5-2 lead, and eventually, win. While the win put the Nats back at .500 (47-47), Sunday afternoon’s loss pushed them down to .495 – and nine games behind the Braves in the division.
NFL
For die-hard football fans following the lockout, July 15 was a significant date. It was an internal deadline for the organization, who lost the first week of pre-season if they did not reach an agreement by that date. Although the 15th has come and gone, it appears that the lockout is finally, finally near its end. The owners and player representatives will meet early this week to finalize the details; the official announcement should come by the end of the week. The first week of preseason may have been lost, but let’s face it – nobody cares as long as we don’t miss a single Monday Night Football game.
