Emotion in Sports

Sports fans constantly look to connect emotionally.  The most common form of emotional ties is shown in the communal way fans watch games.  But even more than the benefits of belonging to a sports community, fans appreciate when sports embody something larger and are more than ‘just a game’.  Examples of this appear consistently from the American resilience post 9/11 to the determination of a once-injured athlete. 

Swimming Olympic Trials Preview

Starting tonight and running a week, swimming returns to the national spotlight for the Olympic Trials.  For those unfamiliar with the process, the top two swimmers from each event make the Olympic team.  Get third by a hundredth of a second and you’re waiting four years for another shot.  While the Trials are just a precursor to the games themselves, they should be action packed and full of drama nonetheless, as the Olympic team is formed.  Here are some storylines to watch throughout the week:

A major opportunity missed for US Soccer

Last night I witnessed one of the most heartbreaking defeats I have ever seen--and it wasn't technically a defeat. The US men's national team--comprised entirely of players 23 and under to oblige with Olympic rules--gave up a goal four minutes and twelve seconds into stoppage time to tie El Salvador 3-3. It was a must win game for the US team, who was trying to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament, where they could lock up a spot in the 2012 London Olympic games. The goal cost the team a spot in the semi-finals of the Olympic qualifying tournament and a whole lot more.