Let's stop being selfish for a moment, fellow Hoosiers. Sure, IU is a haven for college soccer, but for a change I'd like to ask for you to think globally, or at least nationally, because for soccer fans in America in the next few weeks, it doesn't get much better than this. \nFollowers of the sport hardly know what to keep track of, with so many major events taking place all at once around the globe. Between the Olympics and the start of the Major League Soccer playoffs, this week is nothing short of a utopia for lovers of the world's most popular sport.\nLet's go over a couple of these events, shall we?
Olympic Games\nContrary to popular belief, the Olympics don't start this evening. If you blinked Wednesday and Thursday that means you have already missed the first game for both the men's and women's U.S. soccer teams. \nWhen talking about national teams, the focus usually falls on the women's side. Four years ago, the U.S. women's soccer team became the darlings of Atlanta by winning the gold medal, which thrust them into the national spotlight. \nThis year, there is significant pressure to take the gold again, especially after winning the World Cup at home last summer. The road will not be easy, as the United States will be forced to face their two biggest challengers, China and Norway, in pool play. The ladies did pass the first test with flying colors Thursday as they defeated Norway 2-0. The women's team will face off against China Sunday.\nAs far as the men are concerned, there is significantly less pressure to do well, partially because the players are significantly less recognizable than their women's team counterparts. No Alexi Lalas, Cobi Jones, or Tony Meola on this squad. Unlike the women's squad, the men's team is made up of mostly players from the United States under-23 team. \nWhile this is a positive in the long run because it gives some of our young talent valuable international experience, it won't do much toward getting some publicity and ratings for the national team, unless a run rivaling 1980's "Miracle on Ice" is made. This team of relative unknowns has started out on the right foot thanks to a 2-2 tie with the Czech Republic Wednesday. The men's next action will be against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon Saturday.
MLS Playoffs\nFor those of you focusing on soccer in this hemisphere, Major League Soccer has you covered, having started their playoff stretch last night, as Los Angeles took on Tampa Bay. The MLS made some changes to "de-Americanize" the game in the off-season, pleasing many traditional soccer fans while making this year the league's most exciting and respectable season since its inception in 1995. The playoff chase was extremely close, which should indicate some top-notch soccer to come in the postseason. \nIU fans should pay close attention to three series featuring teams with recent Hoosier alumni: Rookie of the Year candidate Nick Garcia leads his Kansas City Wizards against the Colorado Rapids. Lazo Alavanja, Aleksey Korol and the rest of the Dallas Burn squad face a tough challenge against the NY/NJ Metrostars. Dema Kovelenko and Yuri Lavrinenko will try to spark the Chicago Fire as they square off against the New England Revolution. All first round series are best-of-three games. Check your local listings for time and date.\nAnd that's not all, sports fans. The United States and many other countries are still smack-dab in the middle of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, which means excitement and controversy is coming to a town near you (Columbus, OH, Oct. 11 vs. Costa Rica). Throw in college soccer and many of the top European leagues kicking off their seasons, and it's pure soccer bliss.\nSo I urge you to sit back, grab a few cold whatevers, and prepare for a footy blitzkrieg as soccer takes its place on top of the sporting mountain, at least for a little while.
