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National Pride — Part II
Top ten reasons why the US doesn't like soccer
By John Neeley
May 15th, 2012

What is the true nature of man?  Are we victims of our environment? Or, are we naturally good or evil?  Is there a God? And if so, does He or She (my wife is checking for spelling errors, so I had to put that pronoun in there) control every aspect of our lives? 

Such questions have plagued mankind throughout the ages. Oh, I almost forgot. The most intriguing question of all is: Why do most Americans hate soccer? Many sports enthusiasts have pondered that question and have never found the answer. 

I have. It's in the rules, baby.

National Pride — Part I
Together not again
By John Neeley
May 8th, 2012

The "Great Event" is a time in a nation's history that seems to stand still, kind of like a young boy's going out on his first date. Everyone, including lawyers, doctors, teachers, and even criminals, has one sole purpose in life — to watch the event.

Oh, I'm sorry: Did I say lawyers? Yes, we shed the daily trappings of our mundane existence and wait with anticipation for history to be made. A nation tunes in; and for that brief period of time, there will be no liberals who dream of equal rights, no conservatives who live in a world gone by, and no socialists who preach of the promised land.

Political philosophy is dead, and the world is as one.

The game is on.

And It Was All Yellow
Desperate officiating
By Jeff Kearney
April 17th, 2012

Today, I share a soccer story from a varsity game in 2004 where I tried to do some good by keeping the cards in my pocket. Alas, my valor only made the situation worse.

The column title comes from a great song by one of my favorite bands, Coldplay.

Editor's note: I'm sure that Gwyneth, Apple, and Moses would agree.

While Coldplay isn't exactly in the pantheon of greatest bands ever, like, say, Flock of Seagulls, they're still pretty damn good. Note: The name of the high school in today's column has been changed to protect the guilty.

Someone at the office asked why I waited so long to relate the story. The answer is simple: I don't know.

The Roots of Dissent
The evolution of player backtalk
By Craig Bohnert
January 13th, 2012

We all know where dissent comes from.

Usually it stems from a player who is either temporarily or chronically out of sorts, dissatisfied with his own or his team's efforts, and in need of an outlet for that frustration.

That's true on the surface. But there is a cultural foundation for such behavior and why it's tolerated in soccer.

Click the title to read this excellent analysis.

The Art of the Restart
The referee can keep the quick restart option alive
By Craig Bohnert
January 3rd, 2012

A key strategy for upper-level teams is to employ a quick restart in foul situations. Unfortunately, the referee often deprives teams of that useful offensive tool.

Check inside to see how the better referees, including our own Craig Bohnert, handle that situation. Following his advice is sure to give your career a shot in the arm.

Considering this article is about soccer, perhaps we should have said it will give your career a leg up.

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