UPDATE: The American

US wins first Gold Cup final since 2007

Match with Panama was repeat of 2005 final (which the US won on penalties)

(Just a small Update, but The American almost got it right - but then, who else was he going to pick?!)

Brek Shea scored just 42 seconds after coming into the final as a substitute, and his goal in the 69th minute gave the US a 1-0 victory over Panama in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final. It is the fifth Gold Cup title for the U.S., but it's first since 2007. The victory also extended the Americans' winning streak to a record 11 games, four more than their previous best.

(Here's the original post)

Is there any team in the world as good as the Americans right now??

I didn't have access to a television on Wednesday night and wasn't able to watch the US-Honduras game, so I had to rely on Twitter updates. Soon after the game started, tweets started scrolling across my screen saying things like Eddie Johnson makes it 1-0!!! 

A few minutes later: Donovan scores!, US up 2-0!!!

I emailed the Geezers and wrote what any red-blooded American would say: U-S-A! U-S-A!

With the Stars and Stripes' 3-1 semifinal win over Honduras, coupled with a loss by arch-rival Mexico, the US is in prime position to capture the CONCACAF Gold Cup, its first since 2007.

This begs the question: Is there any team in the world as good as the Jurgen Klinsmann's team right now??

Okay, come back. That is not a serious question. Yes, of course there are; better in fact. But that's what happens when you rip off a team-record 10-straight wins while channeling our nation's government by imposing their will on other countries; confidence gets high, so Americans get cocky.

And I know all this because 1) I'm an American and we get excited when we win anything. And 2) I read it somewhere. ESPN maybe?

Now, nobody is suggesting the Americans would go right out and play at this high a level against Brazil or Spain. However, it's fun to get excited about your national team and dream a little bit bigger.

On Sunday, the US will take on Panama--a rematch of the 2005 Gold Cup final. I know a little about soccer and even less about Panama the country. Therefore, any prediction presented herein is completely biased by my own national pride.

But screw it. US wins it 3-1. U-S-A! U-S-A!

                                                                                  - Nick Hatcher

The American

A Skills Competition for the MLS?

Would anyone win? Would anyone watch?

Tonight is Major League Baseball's home-run derby, an annual summertime tradition of watching the sport's mashers launch moonshots into the bleachers while listening to ESPN's Chris Berman cackle backbackbackback at every ball hit in the air.

The derby serves as prelude to Tuesday night's it-doesn't-count-but-kinda counts-for-something All-Star Game. This idea has caught on at the other major sports' all-star events. 

The NBA has the dunk contest, three-point contest and a skills competition. The NHL has its own competition featuring the hardest slapshot and most accurate wrist shot. Even the NFL had events leading up to the Pro Bowl and perhaps they still do, but nobody watches the Pro Bowl, so why am I still writing about it? 

But where is the MLS's home-run derby, its slam-dunk contest?!? 

I propose that the MLS hold a similar competition before its All-Star Game On July 31 in Kansas City. Want to get more Americans into this event? Start a skills competition!

Who has the hardest shot in the MLS? How many times can you hit the crossbar? How far can you kick a ball? Thread passes through obstacles or score as many goals as you can from impossible-looking angles.

You know, goofy stuff like that so we Americans can go "Well loogit there! He done kicked that ball 100 miles per hour!!"

-Nick Hatcher