Not unlike the celebration of eating Sir Robin’s minstrels, there was much rejoicing this evening to hear Clint Dempsey, America’s own enigma wrapped in a riddle wrapped in a microphone cord, will be able to play in this summer’s World Cup. Provided, of course, he doesn’t suffer a different injury between now and then. Someday, I will expand on Dempsey’s role on the US National team, as soon as I understand it more fully. I do believe his impact is profound, just not always positive. His play, more even than Landon’s or Howard’s, may be what sparks or sinks the Nats.

This is a great commercial. Nothing like a jingoistic war tune to get the soccer blood a-boiling.