World Cup in America simply a distraction

It seems impossible at this juncture to ignore the popularity of World Cup soccer in the United States. Americans of all ages are clamoring for Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore, and Tim Howard. People all over America are chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” like its going out of style. National media organizations are capitalizing on the interest in the tournament by breathlessly providing coverage and analysis. Seattle – the capital of U.S. soccer – is filled with joyous and raucous soccer fanatics pleased with America’s two draws and a single win thus far in the tournament. Is this the birth of soccer in America or is it a well-timed distraction?

In May, the unemployment rate in the U.S. was 9.70 percent. Layoffs and frustrating job searches are an ongoing reality. Americans are, understandably, concerned about their economy and their job prospects. Now, an oil spill is further threatening the American economy and American job prospects and having devastating impacts on wildlife and natural habitat. Service men and women continue to serve abroad in two theaters of war, with one perilously close to a devastating tipping point. Americans need a distraction and the World Cup is providing it.

For sports fans, the World Cup is being showcased in a national sports vacuum. The NBA season is over, the NFL has yet to heat up, and Major League Baseball is trudging through the front-half of a 162-game season. In other words, the World Cup is providing a new and international landscape for sport during a lackluster spring sports season; what else is there to watch?

In March, the United States faced Canada in the 2010 Olympic Hockey gold medal game in Vancouver. Hockey fever was high – so high in fact, many people thought aloud about further NHL expansion in the U.S. 27 million Americans watched the U.S. lose to Canada in a dramatic overtime game featuring – probably – the NHL’s biggest star scoring the game-winner. Hockey is here to stay! America loves hockey! Please, NBC, broadcast more NHL!

Needless to say, hockey fever was quickly squelched.

Soccer in the United States will follow Hockey’s well-trodden path once the 2010 World Cup is finished.

Hey, Republicans: The NFL is a Business

Rush Limbaugh is no longer part of the team of investors hoping to buy the National Football League’s St. Louis Rams. Good riddance. Maybe now Republicans and conservatives can reflect and understand the term ‘picking your battles’ is an adage that doesn’t just translate to a successful marriage.

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Hundreds Rally Against ObamaCare

Hundreds of grassroots opponents of government-run health care lined Northgate Way in Seattle this afternoon. KOMO 4 News reports that “volunteers” for the President’s on-going campaign now housed at the DNC–Organizing for America–took a different approach.

Quoted in their story is “Dustin Lambro,” who isn’t actually a volunteer–he’s a paid organizer for OFA. A closer look at his resume linked above shows he’s got a background in union organizing.

Were you at the “Recess Rally” along Northgate Way today? Send us your photos or video: publisher “at” nwdigest “dot” com.

UPDATE: A reader sent in this link to photos he took at yesterday’s protest.

Bag Tax: Fail, Mayoral: Tie, KC Exec: 37 to 22

The Seattle Bag Tax, as earlier polling suggested, was dead on arrival. No word yet on whether the enviro-left campaigners who championed the measure believe this result will cause the world to end tomorrow.

The big city news, however, is that incumbent Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is currently sitting in third place.  Nickels hasn’t thrown in the towel quite yet, but has a tough fight on his hands, even if he manages to eke out a second place, or first place finish–he’s essentially in a 3-way tie with the other two lead contenders, Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn.

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Seattle Link Light Rail Ridership Report

UPDATE: Welcome Sound Transit employees.  We’re proud that we apparently made your intranet news links!  If you happen to be in the advertising department, you can submit an ad quote request using the form on our Advertise page (we’ve made a note of your ad at the liberal-leaning PubliCola.net).

Courtesy of T. England. Taken today during morning rushour (or what should have been).