MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2014
PAGE 22
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BREW
Past World Cups change U.S. opinion of soccer
Regardless of the outcome this United States Men's National Team has in the 2014 World Cup, we should all stop and look at how far the United States soccer team has come as country in the past 20 years.
Before 1990, the National Team hadn't qualified for a World Cup since 1950. And even in 1990, the team lost all three matches in the group stage. The sport was nonexistent in the United States.
I say 20 years, because soccer first hit the U.S. center stage when the
1994 World Cup was hosted in nine cities around the nation. It was the second consecutive World Cup the U.S. qualified for, and just the first time they had advanced past the group stage.
And following 1994, the sport took off from there. Major League Soccer (MLS) formed in February 1995, and began in 1996 with 10 teams. Today, there are 19 teams, with two more to be added in 2015.
But getting back to the United States soccer team, for the past 20 years, soccer has opened doors
through their performances most never thought would come. In 2010, they won their group for the first time ever. As of Thursday, another first was captured. They advanced
to the knockout stage for the second straight World Cup.
All U.S. soccer pioneers made this type of achievement reachable, like Landon Donovan and Carlos Bocanegra, whose final World Cup was in 2010. Then there's Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard who very well may be playing in their last World Cup because their age.
These are the players that put the U.S. on the map. They made a name themselves and made a name for U.S. soccer.
the biggest matches in U.S. history, and we are expecting to win. The attitude of soccer has changed in the States, as well as what other countries think of when the see the name.
Now we sit here a day before one of
The expectations are higher than they've ever been, and they will only continue to rise. Who is to thank? You can thank 20 years of soccer for that. It's truly incredible to see how far we've come.
COMMENTARY
— Edited by Ashleigh Lee
Isaiah Austin displays character while facing adversity
Amidst the swarm of questions throughout NBA Draft media day, there was one moment where potential, length or NBA IQ didn't matter. There was a moment of humanity and compassion and it's something I'll remember for the rest of my life.
This moment didn't happen around Aaron Gordon's media table, or Dante Exum's or even Andrew Wiggins'. It didn't happen with any other media members around. It didn't even happen with an NBA prospect. It happened after the madness of the day when I saw Isaiah Austin.
Less than a week ago, Austin was projected to be a late first-round or early second-round draft pick. Unfortunately, Austin was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome just four days before the draft. Austin will never play the game he loves competitively again.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Marfan syndrome affects one in 5,000 people and is an inherited disorder that commonly affects the heart, eyes, circulatory system and skeleton
Even though Austin will not be selected by a team, NBA commissioner Adam Silver invited Austin to the draft as his special guest. When media day ended, the ballroom
cleared out and I made my way to the escalator to exit the building. On the escalator going up, I saw Isaiah Austin with two other people he seemed to be close with. That's when I turned around and went back up.
I'll never know exactly what compelled me to say something to him. I wanted Isaiah to know that I appreciated him as a player. I wanted to bring some light to a terrible situation. I wanted to let him know that I admired everything he did on the court for Baylor.
"Isaiah," I said as he turned around "I'm a student at the University of Kansas, and I just wanted to let you know that you have always been one of favorite players to watch. The memory of seeing you play on the court is something I will never forget."
Austin paused for a second and replied, "I can't even express to you
The amount of courage it takes for someone in his shoes to show up to the NBA draft and to media day is incomprehensible. This is something he has worked for his entire life only for it to be taken away from him at the final moment. And for him to show up in support of his fellow prospects is a lesson that everyone can learn from. It's a rare moment in the world of sports that goes beyond the box score, a moment that really moved me.
how much that means to me." He smiled, and we shook hands.
The other prospects entering this year's draft have had very emotional responses to Austin's misfortune. "It's real difficult," former Kentucky forward Julius Randle said. "He was always a top guy, there was never a doubt he was going to play in the NBA. It hurts me a lot to hear what happened."
Isaiah Austin is dealing with this situation with grace and bravery. Two Saturday ago, Austin tweeted "I would love to thank EVERYONE who has reached out to me. Toughest days of my life. But not the last! Life goes on. GOD IS STILL GREAT!"
Austin and the two people he was with turned the corner and I made my way back to the escalator.
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Seeing the way Austin is handling his situation makes you take a step back from the rest of the world and appreciate all the opportunities that are given to you. I want to say thank you to Isaiah Austin for one of the
Austin is a competitor, a grinder, the type of player that demanded on-court respect as soon as he laced up his shoes. He has always been considered a great person off the court, but now Austin is someone to be admired and looked up to.
most humbling and memorable experiences of my life.
Everything happens for a reason, and there is something bigger and better out there waiting for Isaiah Austin. And when he finds it, he will handle it with as much class and professionalism as he does everything else.
- Edited by Tom DeHart
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