World Cup Suspicions

Everyone loves the underdog and Cinderella stories but something just didn't seem right about the Women's World Cup final between U.S.A. and Japan.  In the weeks after the final many have expressed these same doubts.  No team from the continent of Asia has won the cup and in 25 matches between them Japan has never defeated the U.S.  The shoot out at the end brought up even more suspicion when the first three shots by the U.S. were very uncharacteristic of the team even being mentioned on the live broadcast.  The U.S. had not missed a shoot out shot yet and very good at hiding direction.  Two of the first three in this game were very easy reads and pretty much shot to the goalie while the other was booted well over the goal.  This just seems too easily given away to Japan.  Then we have the storyline of Japan riding emotions for their country in the aftermath of the horrible earthquakes and tsunami's that ravaged the country.  Add it all up and it just seems too good to be true like it was fixed for Japan.  I do think the parity between countries has definitely decreased and will continue to see more competitive games between most countries.  What do you think?

Fix From The Past - 1972 Olympic Gold Medal Basketball Game

The 1972 Olympic gold medal basketball game was marred by controversy.  Team USA won the game twice, the other team stepped over the inbound line on the third finish and the US still lost the game.  One of the most controversial basketball games in history especially during the cold war years with the USSR.  Watch this ESPN Classic video and judge for yourself.

Where Do They Get These Refs?

If you haven't heard by now team USA got robbed of a victory against Slovenia last Friday.  The go ahead goal was disallowed by referee Koman Coulibaly.  It was first believed to be a bad offsides call but was soon called an unspecified foul.  USA star Landon Donovan said, "We asked Coulibaly many times who it was on or what the foul was, and he wouldn't or couldn't explain it."  FIFA officials have been hush hush about the controversial call but have removed referee Coulibaly from officiating further world cup games.  This is one of many bad officiating calls this world cup has already seen from bad offside calls to premature yellow and red cards.