I hate Ken Rudin for coming up with a soccer line funnier than mine.

From his “Political Junkie” column:

The World Cup seems to be the only thing people care about lately; for all I know, these people could become the latest voting bloc. I know that’s already the case in Japan; there, they are called Osaka Moms.

That jokes makes it a soccer-style blow out, 1-0.

Will President Bush make a detour from the Budapest summit to take in the USA’s Group E World Cup soccer closer tomorrow against Ghana?

Soccer fan sites are speculating.

I like this comment at big soccer: “That would be perhaps one of the coolest things ever if Bush got a scarf and started singing with the fans.”  Although a another fan points  out:  ”He called before the first game and we got our butts handed to us.”

White House press secretary Tony Snow recently said, “The President follows sports. And, obviously, soccer is more popular in other countries than it is in the United States, but it got a pretty good constituency.” 

So, is the Bush team in Budapest wondering this: Here today, Ghana tomorrow?

The U.S. soccer team today plays its first World Cup game against the Czech Republic.

As we patriotically cheer on America, it’s worth to pay a bit of tribute to the Czechs for their embrace of freedom and capitalism.

The Czechs have had a spotty record in the democracy department.  During World War II, they willingly gave up Prague’s Jews to the Nazis.  Their despicable actions cost thousands of innocent lives.  And by depleting their economic base and ridding themselves  of their own entrepreneuers, the Czechs cost themselves valuable time in rebuilding their economy, particularly after Communism was defeated.  They only had themselves to blame for getting a late start.

But now, in the modern day Czech Republic, freedom has really caught on.  I’ve been to Prague twice in recent years, and have been amazed both times to see a vibrant capitalist economy, full of American companies — and even Western-style casinos.  The Czechs also are out front in their support of the Cuban dissident movement, and Prauge has hosted freedom-in-Cuba conferences.  Meantime, Prague is home to Radio Free Europe, which enjoys the friendliest of relations with its host.  And Vaclav Havel continues to play a world-wide role in the freedom movement.

So cheer on the USA today, but save a little joy for freedom and democracy, Czech-style.

Extreme Mortman’s New Media Strategies colleague Rick Spies is an avid soccer fan – poor guy – and has been closely following the World Cup fan websites.  He spotted a thread with 52 comments spanning the weekend.  The topic?  You won’t believe this, but it’s true: These folks are debating — get ready for this — the referee assigned to the US vs. Czech Republic match.  Did you catch that – the referee!

Here’s Rick’s report:

The Ref’s name is Carlos Amarilla, from Paraguay—a few were quick to note that his last name, which means “yellow” in Spanish, is fitting considering his record of liberally handing out yellow card cautions:

“…looking at his record from the year before, 2004-05, seems a bit card-happy. Twenty-one of them in his final five matches of that year.”

“Obviously lives up to his name…”

Others get into how the selection could impact the US and who should be worried: 

“if you buy into the prognostication that italy will win the group and it’s been the czech republic and the u.s. for second, does it hurt us or them more if a bunch of players pick up yellow cards when a yellow in the next game would require sitting out the third - ghana for the u.s. and italy for the czech republic.  my point, it seems that the czech republic have to be as concerned if not more about a ref who is prepared to call penalty kicks and willing to give cards, and one can only hope that opens the game up for the speedsters!”

“they’re the ones with the slow back line, not us. and their forwards: one rickety-old 6′8′’ redwood coming off 8 months of rehab, and another who is a nice poacher, but let’s be honest, doesn’t exactly rival Thierry Henry in the areas of speed and lateral quickness.  if anyone should be worried about penalties, it’s Czech Rep., not us.”

On his record:

“Has dealt with the Americans, at a FIFA-level tournament, twice. WYC in 2001 v. Ukraine and Confed 2003 v. Cameroon.  Seen Czechs once, v. Australia at 2001 WYC.”

“Keep in mind he refereed the 2004 Copa America final between Brazil and Argentina. For all of his “card-happiness” there were no sending-offs in that game and very little trouble (after the whistle) when Brazil tied it in injury time. I can’t recall any particular complaints from that game.”

And on the language barrier:

“One good thing - I bet we have a lot more guys that can talk to this guy in Spanish than the Czechs do…”

Don’t ever argue that the US fans don’t take their soccer seriously—there just aren’t as many of us as you might find in other countries!