Apologies to fans of 80s rock, but Van Halen's 'Panama', despite its semi-iconic video, doesn't quite hold up. It's not as bad as 'Jump' but its lumped in with a group of songs that make me want to take crazy pills whenever I tune into Classic Rock radio.
Guess that's why I decided to start with it ahead of the U.S./Panama Gold Cup quarterfinal Saturday in Philadelphia.
If last month's Confederations Cup had enough storylines and drama to match with, say, HBO's 'The Wire.' (Okay, maybe a season two episode.) Then through three matches the Gold Cup ranks right up there with the network's 'Dane Cook: Tourgasm.'
Call me crazy, but I wouldn't be stunned if Panama actually gives this current U.S. team a good run for its money, assuming Bob Bradley doesn't call in some reinforcements.
Panama, even if it's almost ancient history, is due. Remember that game in the second stage of 2006 World Cup qualification where Cobi Jones needed a 93rd minute goal in a monsoon to salvage a 1-1 draw. Then a year later, in 2005, Panama took the U.S. to penalty kicks in the 2005 Gold Cup final.
Then again, most of that squad, such as Roberto Brown won't be troding onto the Linc, so maybe it's a moot point.
The U.S., as currently constituted, can't expect to set foot on the field, either and expect an easy win. Freddy Adu won't be there, neither will Charlie Davies, Steve Cherundolo, Benny Feilhaber and Michael Parkhurst.
It's up to the rest of the B or C team to step up it up in a knockout game and show Bradley they're worth keeping in the mix for the next 11 months. It's that simple.
The first three games haven't been great in this tournament, but considering there is finally something on the line, it all changes.
Speaking of change...time to hit the ground running.
Sorry, Van Halen bites.
Miscellania:
* For what it's worth, there isn't an American referee in the four quarterfinal matches.
* I'm wholeheartedly rooting for Canada to beat Honduras for a possible date with the U.S. in the semifinals. That match might actually have some juice.
* In case you missed it, Danny Szetela's contract wasn't renewed by Racing Santandar, so he's back in MLS with DC United. He's still only 22, so will he get a look between now and 2010? Or has that ship sailed.
* Jozy Altidore? Hanging out at the ESPYs or coming in for training? Just curious.
* Let's see if Stuart Holden can keep it up. If he becomes a viable player on the right, it gives Bradley the option of moving Clint Dempsey up to a forward position, where he seems to make his biggest impact for the U.S. The only problem for Holden, how much experience will he get against top flight competition between now and the World Cup?
* This might be one of, if not the last shot for Kenny Cooper to make an impact.
* All U.S. fans ought to keep their fingers crossed about the defensive back four Bradley selects. Could get dicey.
* Sons of Ben ... I'm expecting big things.
Guess that's why I decided to start with it ahead of the U.S./Panama Gold Cup quarterfinal Saturday in Philadelphia.
If last month's Confederations Cup had enough storylines and drama to match with, say, HBO's 'The Wire.' (Okay, maybe a season two episode.) Then through three matches the Gold Cup ranks right up there with the network's 'Dane Cook: Tourgasm.'
Call me crazy, but I wouldn't be stunned if Panama actually gives this current U.S. team a good run for its money, assuming Bob Bradley doesn't call in some reinforcements.
Panama, even if it's almost ancient history, is due. Remember that game in the second stage of 2006 World Cup qualification where Cobi Jones needed a 93rd minute goal in a monsoon to salvage a 1-1 draw. Then a year later, in 2005, Panama took the U.S. to penalty kicks in the 2005 Gold Cup final.
Then again, most of that squad, such as Roberto Brown won't be troding onto the Linc, so maybe it's a moot point.
The U.S., as currently constituted, can't expect to set foot on the field, either and expect an easy win. Freddy Adu won't be there, neither will Charlie Davies, Steve Cherundolo, Benny Feilhaber and Michael Parkhurst.
It's up to the rest of the B or C team to step up it up in a knockout game and show Bradley they're worth keeping in the mix for the next 11 months. It's that simple.
The first three games haven't been great in this tournament, but considering there is finally something on the line, it all changes.
Speaking of change...time to hit the ground running.
Sorry, Van Halen bites.
Miscellania:
* For what it's worth, there isn't an American referee in the four quarterfinal matches.
* I'm wholeheartedly rooting for Canada to beat Honduras for a possible date with the U.S. in the semifinals. That match might actually have some juice.
* In case you missed it, Danny Szetela's contract wasn't renewed by Racing Santandar, so he's back in MLS with DC United. He's still only 22, so will he get a look between now and 2010? Or has that ship sailed.
* Jozy Altidore? Hanging out at the ESPYs or coming in for training? Just curious.
* Let's see if Stuart Holden can keep it up. If he becomes a viable player on the right, it gives Bradley the option of moving Clint Dempsey up to a forward position, where he seems to make his biggest impact for the U.S. The only problem for Holden, how much experience will he get against top flight competition between now and the World Cup?
* This might be one of, if not the last shot for Kenny Cooper to make an impact.
* All U.S. fans ought to keep their fingers crossed about the defensive back four Bradley selects. Could get dicey.
* Sons of Ben ... I'm expecting big things.
Did you know that if you've been a DJ at a classic rock station since 1970 you've been playing pretty much the same 40 or 50 songs everyday for 40 years.
Reading that comment just gave me shivers.