She Shoots, She Scores?

Maybe it's the soccer fan in me, or maybe I had nothing better to do on a Sunday morning, but I have to admit that watching the United States women's soccer team beat Brazil in the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup got me pretty jacked up.  I literally yelled when Abby Wambach headed in the tying goal in the 122nd minute to force the match to penalty kicks (see: Short-Handed U.S. Stuns Brazil, wins in PKs).

Abby Wambach heads in the tying goal in the 122nd minute

I'll also admit that women's sports do not generally excite me.  It's not because they are inferior (at least not in all cases) to men's sports.  It's primarily because I am a male and can relate more closely to male sports than I can to female sports.  I know what it's like to throw a touchdown pass, get sacked by a defender, or get hit in the leg with a fastball. However, I'm a bit inexperienced when it comes to hitting a fast-pitch softball or spiking a volleyball down some girl's throat.

But on Sunday, sitting on my couch, I was pumped.  My heart was beating like I was watching the biggest sporting event of the year.  It brought be back to 1999 when the U.S. women defeated China 5-4 on penalty kicks to win the World Cup (see: Brandi Chastain hits decisive PK and takes her shirt off in celebration). 

In fact, it even brought me back to just last year when I was watching the U.S. men trying to advance in their own World Cup.  The U.S. women's match was able to equal the level of interest, excitement, and nerves as the men's matches a year ago, at least for me personally.

It seems as though the rest of the country is getting energized and excited by this match as well.  LeBron James recently tweeted the following via his Twitter account:

"USA!! #HopeSolo. Congrats ladies!"

Whether you're a soccer fan or not (but especially if you are), the U.S. women have a chance to do something the U.S. men have been unable to do: win the biggest championship their sport has to offer.  Doing so not only helps create excitement for the sport of soccer within the United States, it also gives it some legitimacy.  Let's embrace the fact the Team USA might actually be the best in the world at something other than basketball.