Watch out Olympics, here comes Euro

This summer, some of the world's most talented athletes will shine on an international stage in defense of honor and country. They will sweat, bleed and cry for a chance to be crowned champion. And it will all take place thousands of miles from good ol' America, across the big puddle, in Europe. And no, I'm not talking about this year's Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.\nTo be honest, spear-heaving and world class ping pong just doesn't do it for me. And a world record that's broken by six one-hundredths of a second really isn't all that astonishing. \nHowever, around the same time that these ridiculous excuses for sporting events will be taking place on the other side of the continent, some of the world's best soccer (football to the rest of the globe) will be on display in Portugal. The European football governing body, UEFA, will be holding Euro 2004, a tournament played every four years by the top 16 qualifying nations on the continent. Names like Beckham, Zidane, Figo, Totti, Raul and Van Nistelrooy, just to name a few, will be participating in this summer's top spectacle.\nNow, I know what some of you are thinking. For one, who are those guys, and second, oh boy, that's just what we need -- more euro-fairies prancing around and kicking a little ball up and down a grassy meadow, without using their hands. How exciting! Hey, maybe we'll see a bloody goal today! But me, I'll take golden goals over the big honkin'-rock-on-a-rope-toss any day of the week. A quick step over to cross up a defender, a smooth aerial cross into the box and a rising header to plunk the ball into the bottom corner of the net is what I crave. \nAmerica, take a note. You are about to be taught a lesson in national dignity. But what makes an event like this more meaningful than others? \nPride and camaraderie are what will be on display in Portugal, more than athletic ability. Each squad will bear the heart, soul, hopes and dreams of their entire country. Here in the states, we are rarely captivated as a nation to pull for a particular team. Sure, we have U.S. Hockey in the Winter Olympics and basketball in the summer (when they decide to show up). In fact, this summer's "Dream Team" has been shunned by the likes of Kobe, Shaq, Garnett and Vince Carter. Apparently NBA stars are now exempt from patriotism. And after that, if you don't count the explosion of synchronized swimming fans around the country, we have little to work with on the international level. \nAt Euro, however, it won't just be the fans that see these games as a direct reflection of their countries' continental prowess, but the players on the pitch will show so much dedication and pride that to the average American, they may not even be detectable as professional athletes. Footballers worldwide share a unique loyalty and commitment to their respective countries, and that is what I look forward to. Whether it be Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry one-timing the ball back and forth to pull France through to the next round, or Luis Figo sweeping up the wing to chip home a floater into the top corner, putting Portugal in command late in the semifinals, or a trademark Beckham gravity-defying curler for England in stoppage time, I can't wait for the passion, the effort, the guts and the glory.