Why the World Cup is like NBA 2k.

Poor Jurgen Klinsmann. The US coach is most likely going to get destroyed by his native and far superior soccer-playing country on the world's biggest stage. Actually now that I think of it, he should be happy with this draw, right? Either he pulls off the most incredible win in US soccer history or the team that he would normally root for marches on. Regardless, the US Mens National Team (USMNT) got a really unlucky draw in Group G with Germany, Portugal, and Ghana. I can just imagine the Manning Faces on the likes of Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, and Clint Dempsey as they heard their name called into the 2014 Group of Death (http://www.manningface.com)

As a US fan, I've come to peace with the high probability of us getting knocked out in the group stages. This acceptance arises from my belief that we will go out as a martyr dying for the sake of beautiful soccer. I don't think any US soccer fan will argue that we have a good chance of outplaying Germany or Portugal, or that we play a beautiful style of soccer. The truth is that we will be holding on for dear life against both squads...and it won't be pretty. However, Germany and Portugal are not only great teams but they are very fun to watch. And as a fan of the sport of soccer, I don't want to see the likes of Mesut Ozil, Phillip Lahm, or Cristiano Ronaldo knocked out in the group stages. Just think of the possibilities that arise if they both advance: Ronaldo and Portugal could play Messi and Argentina in an international version of El Classico, Germany's up and coming midfield comprised of Ozil and Goetze could match up against Spain's power house of a midfield comprised of Xavi, Iniesta, and Xabi Alonso, or Cristiano Ronaldo could go berserk and score hat tricks throughout like he did in Portugal's 3-2 victory of Sweden. No US fan can deny that Cristiano Ronaldo is at least 5 times more entertaining to watch than anyone on the US squad.

So how is the World Cup like the video game series NBA 2k?

I know I'm going to lose in 2k every single time I play. I'm flat out bad, there is no getting around it. That doesn't take any fun out of the game though. I still enjoy launching three pointers with Zach Randolph and fading away with Shaq. As a soccer fan first and a US fan second, I know we're going to lose in the group stages but I'm quite alright with it. The USMNT is going to die a martyr for beautiful soccer and I'll enjoy watching the spectacles of Cristiano Ronaldo and the entirety of the German National Team in much the same way I enjoy calling an isolation for Darko Milicic.

In other words, losing to these great teams won't be so bad. And if we advance, drinks (by drinks I mean chocolate milk) are on me.