Hopeful in 2010

1. I skipped work to watch the Ghana game. I sat in bed and pretended to be ill. ESPN on mute. It’s strange now. This was the first time I invested something into the US nats. I was younger in 2002. Vaguely aware of what was going on. I wince now when I see Frings handle the ball on the line. I think of what could’ve been. Maybe I wouldn’t have seen it, but it would be something look back on and smile at.
No, my first days with the national team weren’t during a glorious run. I remember being told we needed to win to get out of group play. So I skipped out on data entry for the national team. That was the first time they let me down.

2. 2010. It’s like writing inspirational post it notes to myself. 2010. We’ll get them in 2010. We’ll be better then. Michael Bradley will govern midfield. Jozy Altidore will latch onto through balls with Mercurial speed and grace. Freddy Adu? Have you seen the kid’s free-kicks? His dribbling? His potential? Lithely trying to avoid Puyol putting cleats to his ankles. In my eyes that’s noteworthy. One of the world’s better defenders saw one of our player’s as a threat. Someone worth trying to injure.

3. We cite subtle improvements. Border victories. CONCACAF powerhouses. Wunderkid African immigrants. Arsenal looked at one of our kids. Us. Charlie Renken. American CR7? I start wondering if 16 is too young to play in the World Cup. Didn’t Messi do it? What about Pele? Try to be hopeful. Maybe we can take bronze.

4. When Sacha Klejstan scores a hat trick against Sweden do we start garnering world attention? Do teams give us plaudits for things other than fitness? Are things the same?

5. My Irish friends keep rooting for Mexico. Why are they rooting for Mexico?

6. The Confederations Cup is the measurement of how hopeful I can be. How big of a fall I can set myself up for. If I go to South Africa and Brooks Peck is screaming for news updates and I can’t find wifi and I’m writing everything in my notebook am I writing for myself or for my team? Am I going for myself or am I going as a supporter? Or as a “journalist”?