Where's the HYPE? Part 1 of an ongoing series

I just checked my alarm clock. Yep, we’re less than 24 hours from USA-Mexico, and the only mainstream promotion I’ve seen for this match so far is a slick, 15-second spot in between SportsCenters while jogging at the gym Saturday morning.

Really?

I thought this was a serious rivalry. Wait, it is. Especially this time around, because it’s a World Cup Qualifier and not just an obligatory friendly.

Apparently, no one at U.S. Soccer or ESPN got the memo. Either that, or they misplaced it.* I work in an office. It happens.

(* Just like I misplaced the "not" before "just" in the fourth paragraph. I've since edited it. To anyone who caught it the first time around: leave a comment, and I'll give you big ups in a future post. Honest.)

But this is a big memo. If there’s a bone I’ll pick all the way to the grave, it’s that the people in charge of American soccer – from the head honchos at U.S. Soccer all the way down – have total ineptitude when it comes to promoting the beautiful game. It’s soccer, guys (and gals), not soapbox derbies or ostrich racing. Sheesh.

And I could’ve sworn myself wrong when I received a tidy little Myspace message encouraging supporters to wear red at the match. What’s this? Maybe the Yanks would break out those awesome “Don’t Tread on Me” jerseys they found themselves kitted out in – of all matches – a friendly against Latvia* prior to the 2006 World Cup.

(*I actually went to this match – my very first US MNT match – and my mom purchased the limited edition red jersey for my birthday. God, I love that jersey. If it were possible to have a crush on a piece of sports apparel, I’d ask that thing out on a date for Saturday night. Gorgeous. The kind of beauty you'd show off in front of friends and jealous enemies alike.)

But, there appears to be little evidence to support the use of the red DTOM jersey, which is another clear indication that suits at U.S. Soccer don’t get it.

For American soccer fans, there are three certainties in life. Death. Taxes. USA-Mexico. God bless the Spanish-American War, NAFTA, and that Taco Bell chihuahua. So why doesn’t the federation go out of its way to promote the heck out of it?

Here’s some free advice: keep that glossy 15-second commercial. I like that. But make more of them. My pulse raced and adrenaline spiked every time I saw it while running on the treadmill.*

(*I’ve discovered through three years of treadmill hopping and the seven occasions in which I’ve watched the US Men’s National Team while on said machine that the two go together like Doritos and soda. Starburst and Sprite. Popcorn and chili powder.)

However, let’s take it a step further. Actually, few steps further.

The idea of the red Don't Tread on Me jersey for USA-Mexico matches would be a great way to ante up the rivalry, no? Why the heck not? It’s an event - an event that we American soccer fans are rarely afforded in a culture dominated by American football, the NFL, and American football. So, please, to the powers that be, USA-Mexico would be the perfect opportunity to break out the “Don’t Tread On Me” jerseys. Reinforce the idea that this is a big deal. It sends a clear message to the Mexicans that you don’t know who you’re messing with. Attitude. I like it. Now run with it.

Another idea: I say the Sam’s Army section at every USA-Mexico match has discounted admission. Like, a paper Lincoln per seat. I want to see hordes of American soccer get buck in there. I want bedlam. I want to see a tidal wave of red in that section. I want chicks in red bras to…oh wait, sorry.

Speaking of bras – I want Brandi Chastain there. She’s a great sideline reporter. I love her insights. Okay, I admit, this is probably due to the fact that my mom loves her. But almost every American knows/remembers who she is. A little star power wouldn’t hurt.

Lastly – although I’ve got many more suggestions – shouldn’t we get some live reports from each camp in the 72 hours leading up to this? Isn’t that what major events like the U.S. Open, major BCS bowls, and rivalry matches across the spectrum receive?

I know that’s the media’s job. But really, if ESPN is so intent on increasing its coverage of soccer – see the Spanish, English and Mexican league scores now featured on the ESPN Bottom Line – why doesn’t U.S. Soccer push for live updates to be featured on the 6pm SportsCenters? It would be foolish to say that there isn’t an audience for this – a 90-minute sellout seems to support the idea that a lot of people are a lot more interested in this than say, I don’t know, the endless blabber that gets broadcast on the station between 4:30 and 6:00pm. Somebody give me a Vicodin.

Okay, it’s obvious I’m getting emotional here. But I can’t help it. I’ve had the date circled on my 2009 MLS calendar since January 1. My red “Don’t Tread On Me” jersey awaits on my door knob, ready for action come Wednesday.

USA-Mexico. This is a big deal. So why won’t U.S. Soccer treat it that way?

US Men thrill, seize Gold Cup over Mexico

If you were lucky enough to see it, you witnessed one of the greatest US MNT matches in history.

The 2-1 victory over across the border rival Mexico gave millions of US Soccer fans hope that the nightmare of last year's World Cup can finally be replaced by the American triumph that occurred on a sunny and warm Chicago afternoon.

During the past 365 days, the US MNT has endured a humiliating early exit from the World Cup, the termination of Bruce Arena as manager, a five month period of managerial limbo followed by another five month period of the same. And yet, all of the distractions, follies and bad fortune were put on the backburner after a beautiful two-hour Sunday afternoon affair between two biting rivals.

After Mexico took a 1-0 lead in the waning minutes of the first half, the Americans found themselves in unfamiliar territory during Gold Cup action: trailing an opponent. More importantly, the Mexicans looked recharged at the beginning of the second half; ready to purchase goal number two as they maintained possession for lengthy spells.

It wasn't until Brian Ching was brought down in the box that led to the American answer. Landon Donovan converted the ensuing penalty kick - his 35th career MNT goal, tying him with Eric Wynalda as king of the mountain - and the Americans finally came alive. On paper, it was simply two sides pitted against each other for a shiny golden trophy. On the battlefront, it was a fierce battle for bragging rights of North and Central American football superemacy.

Although the Mexican crowd clearly dominated the Soldier Field seats, with the Americans effectively playing in front of a hostile crowd, the sudden hush that overcame the pro-Mexican crowd after Benny Feilhaber's 73rd minute cruise missile the was absolutely priceless. It was a seminal moment in US Soccer history.

If this game didn't make you a believer in US Soccer, at least temporarily, then you missed a wonderful display of what this team - and by extension, American soccer - can accomplish.

Coverage (or lack thereof) of the US WNT-Mexico Match

Want to know how well my local newspaper, the Providence Journal, covered the number one team in the world is when visiting New England? For your viewing pleasure, here is the extent of the print coverage of Saturday's match:

"Kristine Lilly scored two second-half goals as the United States beat Mexico 5-0 yesterday in Foxboro in the first of eight uneup matches before the World Cup in China in Septemeber. Abby Wambach, Lindsay Tarpley and Lauren Cheney also."

Besides the half-mention being two lines short, the second line isn't even a complete sentence!

Meanwhile almost one full page was devoted to offseason football stories even though NFL training camps don't break for another three months. Just goes to show the uphill battle that the team faces in regaining the popularity it experienced back in 1999.

Forget NAFTA: US Women Thrash Mexico Cinco-Cero

The last time the US Women’s National Team stepped onto the Gillette Stadium pitch, Julie Foudy was captain and Mia Hamm played up front.

Oh, and the grass was real back then, too.

Now, some three and half years since their last Foxboro appearance – October 1, 2003 – many things have changed; Foudy and Hamm have since retired and the Gillette pitch has since become synthetic. Nevertheless, the one constant between that match and Saturday’s has been that little, unlucky-numbered train that could: Kristine Lilly.

For it was Lilly, in her New England homecoming, who would appropriately take center stage Saturday and score a pair of goals in the United States’ victory over Mexico, 5-0.

Hoping to open up the attack early, US manager Greg Ryan dispatched the unconventional 3-4-3 formation for the match, with a potent group of Lilly, Abby Wambach and Lindsay Tarpley up front.

The tactic paid dividends almost immediately, as Wambach exploded through the Mexican box and blasted a shot past keeper Sophia Perez for the game’s opening salvo in the 10th minute.

Exhibiting every aspect of a squad ranked number one in the world, the Americans relentlessly pressured and attacked the Mexican side of the field in the first half, thus giving fans in the Fort an eyeful of Wambach and her goal-crashing cohorts. With one assault after another, Number 20 & Company slalomed their way through the Mexicans like Alberto Tomba during the 1992 Winter Olympics.

It became apparent that the score would not remain 1-0 for very long. After acquiring de facto ownership of the Mexican side of the field, the Americans hammered goal number two in the 33rd minute, courtesy of Tarpley, giving the red, white & blue a two-goal advantage

As if the squad still had something to prove, the Americans stepped onto the pitch technically sounder in the second half, as the passing became crisper and runs became swifter.

Although the soccer gods may have quietly balked at the fake turf to which the match took place, they were clearly pleased with Lilly on this occasion. In the 50th minute, number 13 scored on a “right-place, right-time” shot, notching career goal number 120 on her native New England soil, er, synthetic turf.

The Mexican side, to its credit, did not just sit back and allow their American counterparts to pummel them completely. The green and red conjured their way through the American box on a handful of occasions – just enough to keep the match intermittently interesting - as goalkeeper Hope Solo was sparsely peppered with some obligatory shots. However, she would effectively keep the vault door sealed throughout the proceedings.

Although the clouds began to cast their gloomy shadows as the game progressed, there must have been just enough of a breach through the dark wispy willows to allow the gods to smile once more. Lilly, seemingly uncontent to sit on career goal number 120 for long, would strike for a second time on a brilliant, 36-yard volley that gracefully floated over the Mexican keeper.

During the 82nd minute, Ryan recalled his diminutive warrior to the respite of the sidelines, giving Lilly the standing ovation she so nobly deserved. As the Gillette faithful applauded their local hero, the hero would return the cheers with one of her own as she exited the stage.

It was only appropriate that less than seven minutes later, Lauren Cheney – Lilly’s replacement - would rack up her very first National Team goal in the 88th minute, giving the Americans the firmly-stamped 5-0 result. Surely, the soccer gods must have grinned in approval.

Interview with US WNT Midfielder Carli Lloyd

The US Women’s National Team will arrive in Foxboro this week for its upcoming international friendly vs. Mexico on Saturday afternoon. The squad, who remain unbeaten in regulation time in 39 consecutive matches, was recently awarded the number one spot in the FIFA Women’s World rankings.

Saturday’s match will mark the first in a series of friendlies and send-off matches during the coming months in preparation for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, which will take place in September.

While the team was flawless in last month’s Algarve Cup (4-0-0), one player who unquestionably made a name for herself during the tournament was midfielder Carli Lloyd. The 24-year-old New Jersey native, previously held to one goal in 24 caps, went on a goal-scoring rampage by tallying four goals in four games, helping her team capture its fifth Algarve Cup title, and in the process, earning herself the tournament’s Top Scorer and MVP awards.

In anticipation of her first game action since last month’s remarkable performance, I posed a few questions to the acclaimed midfielder.

BRIAN: Is the mental approach different with respect to these friendlies different than the approach taken toward major tournaments like the recent Algarve Cup?

CARLI: “Not in my eyes, because I prepare for every game like it’s an important game. At tournaments, you know that you are playing to win a group, or the tournament, and maybe have several games over a period of days, but the approach to the individual games should not change.”

BRIAN: During your second career game with the US WNT, you broke your wrist vs. this Mexican team. Will that incident enter your mind at all when facing them again on Saturday?

CARLI: “We’ve played Mexico a few times since then so it won’t cross my mind. When it happened, I just wanted to hit that shot so hard that I lost my balance. I think I hit a few birds in the trees behind the goal. It was just a fluke thing, but it sure hurt.”

BRIAN: You had one career goal prior to the Algarve Cup, then scored four in the course of four games during the tournament. How are you able to explain the sudden flurry of goals?

CARLI: “I wasn’t doing anything different to prepare for the Algarve Cup. I’m kind of young and new to the team and it just took a little time getting used to the speed of the play and the whole National Team environment. It takes everyone different amounts of time to adjust and to break through. I had confidence in myself and stayed focused, and kept working hard, and I felt that I would find success scoring at some point, hopefully sooner than later. Now, I just have to keep it going.”

BRIAN: Besides the World Cup, which international tournament is the most exciting to you and your teammates?

CARLI: “I haven’t played in that many tournaments, but the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament last fall was pretty exciting. I just remember the way I felt, I was a bit nervous, and it was a big deal. We had to qualify for the World Cup, then play for the regional title. We also like the Algarve Cup because of the level of competition.”

BRIAN: The team was recently given the number 1 ranking in the world by FIFA. Do you think that ranking kind of puts a bull’s eye on the team as opponents now have that extra incentive to beat the best team in the world?

CARLI: “I think it does, but even if we were not ranked number one we would still be the team everyone wants to beat. It’s always difficult for the USA. Teams are getting better, the competition is tougher and everyone wants to take us down. As a country, around the world, everyone wants to beat America in every sport, but we like that challenge.”

BRIAN: Given the recent news of the WUSA's return next year, how excited are you about the prospect of a top tier women's professional league returning to the scene?

CARLI: “I think it’s really exciting, especially for all the players who don’t have the opportunity to play for the National Team right now. For young kids to be able to watch a women’s league can only continue to increase the popularity of the women’s soccer and we can continued to serve as good role models. It will also create opportunities for new players to play for the National Team, which will only make us stronger. I am especially excited as I didn’t get a chance to play in the WUSA.”

US Women's National Team Head to Foxboro

Fresh off the capture of their fifth Algarve Cup, the US Women’s National Team will arrive in Foxboro this week in preparation for its match vs. Mexico on Saturday afternoon. The team, which was recently awarded the number 1 spot in the FIFA World rankings after their success in Portugal, will be playing a series of friendlies and send-offs during the coming months, all in preparation for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, taking place from September 10-30.

Saturday will mark the first time the club has played in Foxboro-area in over three years. The last time the club graced the now-absent Gillette Field grass was October 1, 2003, when they defeated Poland 1-0 during the Women's World Cup quarterfinals at Gillette Stadium.

For those of you unfamiliar with some of the players, here's who to watch for come Saturday.

Carli Lloyd: Perhaps the player who achieved the most individual success during the Algarve Cup tournament, Lloyd, who was previously held to one goal in 24 caps, went on a goal-scoring heist, tallying four goals in four games, making her one of the most dangerous players on the US side.

Aly Wagner: One of the most skilled players on the squad, Ally has been a consistent performer since her arrival in 1999, after having witnessed the success of Pasadena. The 26-year-old midfielder recently tallied her 100th cap in a friendly vs. Canada on July 30, 2006. The creative 111-cap midfielder has been an integral part of the team’s successes since their USA ’99 coming out party, and continues to help anchor one of the best midfields in the world.

Hope Solo: The heir apparent to legendary WNT keeper Briana Scurry, Solo has performed remarkably well during the past two seasons, including a ridiculous 1,054 minute goal-less streak set back in 2006. Additionally, she had a particularly impressive Four Nations tourney back in January, in which she was named Best Goalkeeper after allowing only one goal. Nevertheless, trying to fill the shoes of Scurry is a monumental task - a task that Solo has proven she can undertake.

Kristine Lilly: Talk about longevity and consistency and you are bound to mention the name. The crafty vet only seems to get better with age, as the club captain recently notched career goal number 119 during the Algarve Cup proceedings. A native New Englander (Wilton, CT), Lilly also starred for the Boston Breakers during the initial incarnation of the WUSA from 2001-2003.She is also one of the last key members of the '99 WC-winning squad that still currently playing.

Abby Wambach: Perhaps one of the best players in the world, Wambach has scored an astonishing 68 goals in 88 career caps with the WNT. Her best year came in 2004, when she not only scored 31 total goals, but scored the game-winner in extra time vs. Brazil during the gold medal game in during the 2004 Summer Olympics. She was named was named U.S. Soccer's Female Player of the Year for 2003.

Additionally, the club is guided by manager Greg Ryan, who has yet to lose in regulation since taking over as gaffer in 2005.

Granted, this is not the same legendary team led by Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Michelle Akers that throngs of the sports-viewing public became so familiar with after their amazing 1999 World Cup triumph. But don't be fooled; although many of the "name" players have retired, this squad is not only supremely talented, but collectively young enough to where its success can be forecasted for years to come as well.

The WNT match vs. Mexico, which will kick off at 5:00pm, is the first game of a soccer doubleheader taking place at Gillette Saturday. In what promises to be an eventful evening filled with top-notch soccer all being played on the same turf, the Revolution will continue the festivities by squaring off against MLS-expansion team Toronto FC at 7:30pm.