On Top of the World Again

Instead of focusing on the failures of USA softball (how do you lose the gold medal in the last time the world plays softball at the Olympics) and the U.S. track and field team (it's simple guys; handing off batons is like breathing), I'm going to focus on some winners.

This team wasn't supposed to win. Some called them underdogs. And without its best player, with a new coach, with a new style, the Americans won another gold medal, redeeming their performance from last year's World Cup debacle.

And the thing that made this stick and might be one of the best victories that no one will remember from the U.S. women's soccer team, it was against the same Brasil side that thrashed them 4-0 in last year's semifinal in China, in the World Cup. According to reports, the Brasilians outplayed Team USA, but in football, all you need is that one shot.

I didn't watch the game, so I have no basis of judging how the Americans played (I'll leave that to SI.com's Grant Wahl).

But I do know this: this has to be one of the most difficult tournament a U.S. women's soccer side has ever played in. Why? Because of all the circumstances: No Abby Wambach (the team's best player); the psychosis from last year's 4-0 defeat; an opening 2-0 loss to Norway (?!); and on and on and on.

And here's another thing. This team was totally devoid of any stars that played with Mia Hamm or Julie Foudy or Shannon Box. Okay, yes, some of these ladies were subs. Some of them played along side them. But no one on the team really got substantial minutes with the true crux of USA soccer.

Winning the gold without them (and their baggage and celebrity and star power) is probably the most important thing that this current U.S. side earned. They gained respect. And they don't have to do look to Mia Hamm for support anymore.