One element of understanding the World Cup
is being able to see how the play of each
team is an accurate reflection of that
country's personality and place in the
world. When I watch the highlights of the
U.S. team in Korea in 2002, coach Arena
rallies the players before the first kickoff
with the words "We represent the greatest
nation in the world!" The boys cheer and go
out and beat Portugal. That was then.
Two days ago our team looked tentative,
unsure, outclassed. Do they believe in
themselves, in America, the greatest nation
in the world?

AP reports that President George W. Bush called
the team a few hours before the game. He did
so before the game in 2002 against Mexico. We
won. This time we took the call then we
went out and flopped. Did hubris, a reflection
of our leaders, spread to even the USMNT, rated
#4 in FIFA's ratings? I know millions around
the world cheered against us and were overjoyed
when we lost. Maybe a national humiliation
was something we fully deserved. At least I
hope the next President whomever he or she might
be will keep up the tradition.

"CAMP DAVID, Md. - The U.S. World Cup soccer
team got good luck wishes from the world's most
powerful sports fan Monday when President Bush
dialed them up before their opening match against
the Czech Republic.

Bush called the team from Camp David, Md., where
he was getting ready to begin a two-day summit on
Iraq with his top national security and military
advisers.

The affairs of state may have gotten in the way
of Bush watching the midday game live, but he
was able to reach the team at their hotel before
they left for their pre-game warm-up. Coach
Bruce Arena and most of the players listened on
speaker phone, said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.


"He told them that they had prepared well and urged
them to play hard, to keep their heads up and that
he can't wait to see them win," Perino said.

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