Sing Along

In the wake of the USA’s glorious win over Algeria Wednesday, criticism has surfaced about the way in which the US won the game. Yeah, I know the United States shouldn’t have put themselves in that position in the first place. I know they may have underachieved in falling behind early in the first two games of group play. I know Algeria isn’t a team that anyone would like to say USA made history against. But since when did we become so enamored with a need to pick apart and criticize that we can’t enjoy great sports moments like that of Landon Donovan’s game-winning goal in the 91st minute Wednesday.

In the age of twitter and blogosphere’s galore, anyone and everyone can have a platform, a soapbox, an opinion. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s the American dream. But more often than not, in a sportswriters world, the soapbox is a platform to exploit the bad in the good. Going down the page of sporting events on the biggest stage, and merely inking red marks on every great achievement. I myself have even fallen victim.

Imagine riding in a car with a group of friends when a great song comes on the radio. Everyone sings along at the top of their lungs while the one passenger decides to become the critic…analyzing everything that’s wrong about the song instead of singing along.

Have we become this? Is this who we are America? A culture never satisfied…never pleased…never content? A country analyzing every note of the beautiful lifesong playing around us? What Landon Donovan did Wednesday was historic. It was glorious. Scoreless for 90 minutes, the United States World Cup hopes nearly dashed, his putback…put back the Red, White and Blue into contention. Giving USA its first group win since 1930 - the very first World Cup. Enjoy it! Live for moments like this! Welcome them in blissful joy! After all, it took 80 years for a moment like this in US soccer history.

Saturday, the United States take on Ghana in the round of 16, and I can only hope the story gets even better. And if the US win in dramatic fashion again, don’t analyze, sing along.