Clinton hops on U.S. soccer bandwagon
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton attending Wednesday's USA-Algeria match. (Michael Sohn/AP)
The players knew the 1-0 victory was big, but the enormity hit home when – out of nowhere – Clinton just sort of walked in. He appeared more in awe of the players than the players of him.
Someone handed the former President a soda. He put his arm around Donovan. He sought out coach Bob Bradley. The party went on. Clinton wound up just hanging out for 45 minutes; some think he would’ve stayed hours longer if, you know, the guys didn’t have to actually get dressed.
This was no politician photo op. He was chatting up the players like the most excitable USA fan on the planet, a group whose numbers are growing by the moment in what may prove to be an historic run.
Somewhere in the middle Clinton cleared his throat and gave a brief speech. The room finally went silent; everyone crowded around.
He thanked them. He praised them. Then, according to the players and officials, he delivered signature lines.
“As someone who cares about our country,” he said, “you made me proud to be an American.”
“Surreal,” Jonathan Bronstein said with a shake of his head. “Just surreal. The former President is telling us we made him proud to be American?”
The whole thing went surreal Wednesday for U.S. Soccer. These cardiac kids, these injury-time heroes, these never-quit stars had done the impossible by continuing to do the impossible.
America, for the moment at least, loves its men’s national soccer team.
The USA has gone deeper in World Cups before. They’ve featured bigger stars before. They’ve garnered huge media attention before. They’ve never done it this big, though, thanks in part to a flair for these dramatic, near buzzer-beating, Cup-saving goals. What’s not to love about a team that holds a lead for just two total minutes over three games and wins its World Cup group anyway?
“We’ve had [previous success] before but not with this much interest,” said Sunil Gulati, president of U.S. Soccer. “The country was tuned in like never before. It would’ve been a missed opportunity.”
No, soccer isn’t going to become the national sport or replace football or basketball. Maybe it doesn’t develop into much more than a once-every-four-year diversion.
What’s wrong with that, though? What’s wrong with another small step toward appreciation and admiration? What’s wrong with soccer causing people to cheer in work break rooms and crowd into bars in the middle of the day? What’s wrong with a few more flags flapping in the air? What’s wrong with everyone feeling a dose of American pride during a time when the recession keeps lingering and the wars keep going and the oil keeps leaking?
Soccer isn’t going to get the unemployed a job or bring the troops home or clean up the Gulf. No one here would suggest such a thing.
But what’s wrong with a little fun; with Bill Clinton and Weezer and a team that keeps winning these desperation games? Or with thousands of Americans traveling all the way to this rickety old stadium and winding up singing and dancing and hugging the night away. They even inspired Jozy Altidore to try to leap a security fence and land in an impromptu post-victory fan mosh pit?
“It was amazing,” he smiled.
“I used to see the game we play as just a game,” Donovan said. “I think I’m realizing, partly during this tournament, that it’s more than that. It’s an opportunity to inspire.”
So here were the Americans trying to drive home the simple inspirational proof of their success.
They deal with adversity. The team didn’t fall apart when, once again, a referee error disallowed a goal Wednesday or when player mistakes left scoring chances blown. They just got tougher.
“[Clinton] said he liked how we never give up,” Altidore said.
They stick together. Players and officials say that this USA team, more than any other in recent memory, is tight. There are off-the-field friendships. The coach has a son on the team. Black, white, Hispanic, it’s a melting pot of unity and support. When someone fails, fingers aren’t pointed.
“We all care for each other, on and off the field,” DeMarcus Beasley said before calling Donovan his “brother.”
They pursue greatness. This is U.S. Soccer, where history demands the expectations remain limited. Just don’t tell these players. They aren’t going to stuff their cleats in their mouth and verbalize their confidence, but they were not surprised they won their group for the first time since the first World Cup in 1930.
“Now it’s a one-off game, anything can happen,” Altidore said. “We’re playing to play in the final.”
The final? Of the whole thing? By then the bandwagon that Bill Clinton is leading might collapse. This band of Americans, half a world from home, is willing to risk it. A year ago, here in South Africa, they stunned the soccer powers with a magical run to the finals of the Confederations Cup.
Now they’re back for more. More success. More drama. More dare-to-dream moments that cause a nation to rally around a sport too often dismissed as dull and drab.
Bill Clinton showed up in their rocking locker room Wednesday and never wanted to leave. “You’re amazing,” he kept saying.
It’s surreal in South Africa and these guys swear they aren’t even close to being done.
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