Of the handful of Olympic sports America is expected to dominate every four years, women’s soccer might be the most elastic.
The team tends to snap back from disappointment with a strong showing the next time out.
Witness Sunday’s matchup between the U.S. and Brazil at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, the first U.S. women’s match in Colorado since a 1999 game at Mile High Stadium. There’s more than history between the U.S. and Brazil, there’s a brewing rivalry.
The U.S. team’s occasional blemish rarely lingers. Third-place finishes in the 1995 and 2003 World Cups were followed by gold medals at the ’96 Atlanta Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Games.
Since 1990, the U.S. has captured two World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals, six CONCACAF championships and numerous other international crowns.
But a shocking, disappointing showing at the ’07 World Cup in China has stuck with the U.S. team for months. The third-place finish — after a 4-0 trouncing from Brazil in the semifinals — still lingers. The U.S. team goes to Beijing next month looking to rebound.
Out is former coach Greg Ryan, who took the brunt of criticism for mishandling a goalkeeping rotation in China. In is new coach Pia Sundhage, who installed an attacking style for the U.S. team.
“There’s a whole different approach to things,” midfielder Carli Lloyd said Thursday from New Jersey. “Our goal is to play a full game of good soccer, which is a tough task. But we’ve shown glimpses of magic, and I’m sure we can peak in China.”
That aggressive approach led to a slew of U.S. goals this year. In compiling a 19-0-1 record since January, the U.S. has outscored opponents 59-11.
And striker Abby Wambach is flirting with a milestone goal-scoring mark. Wambach could become just the eighth women’s player to reach 100 goals in international competition. She needs just one to hit the mark.
After Sunday’s game, Brazil and the U.S. meet again Wednesday in San Diego. The U.S. opens Olympic play in China on Aug. 6 against Norway. A rematch meeting with Brazil in China would not be a surprise.
“Brazil has been very unpredictable, that’s what makes them good,” Lloyd said. “The more we can be unpredictable, the better.”
Best of the best
U.S. Olympic women’s soccer vs. Brazil
When: Sunday, 2 p.m. TV: ESPN
Where: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City
AROUND TOWN
Cheating death.
Just talking about it would sap the wind from most people. But for the six Colorado athletes heading to Death Valley, Calif., this weekend, it’s a chance to accomplish a significant feat.
The Badwater Ultra Marathon runs 135 nonstop miles from Badwater (at 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere) in Death Valley to Mount Whitney. It covers three mountain ranges and a total of nearly 14,000 vertical feet of climbing. Racers must endure temperatures upward of 130 degrees. The very idea of the race would be stupid if it weren’t so impressive.
The Colorado contingent includes four-time winner Marshall Ulrich, 57, from Idaho Springs, who could finish his record 14th Badwater. Also running: Littleton teacher Jamie Donaldson, 33; Louisville’s Jack Humphrey, 51; Fort Collins’ Alene Nitzky, 44; Superior’s James Smith, 43; and Littleton’s Scott Snyder, 53.
Racers will arrive at Badwater this weekend, prep for the heat, then race Monday through Wednesday.
STAY ON THE COUCH
Rockies, Mets exposed.
When the season schedule came out earlier this year, TV execs and fans had reason to be excited for Sunday’s nationally televised Rockies-Mets game.
The game — airing on ESPN at 6 p.m. as part of the network’s Sunday Night Baseball package — was supposed to feature two of the better National League teams, a Championship Series preview, perhaps.
But things changed. The injury-riddled Rockies sank fast in May. The Mets, barely holding steady above .500, trail the Phillies in the East Division.
Still, the game could get good. Among NL teams, the Rox and Mets rank near the top in batting average and stolen bases. And the Rox are No. 2 in doubles, the Mets No. 4 in triples.
GET OFF THE COUCH
It’s a blast.
This weekend’s Blast the Mass mountain biking races in Snowmass Village will determine winners in downhill, super downhill, cross country and mountaincross events. It’s part of the Mountain States Cup Series and will crown regional champs for significant UCI points in international rankings.
It’s a tight-knit group, the competitive mountain biking clan. And to break through on the state level is to join a kind of crazy fraternity of cyclists. It’s also a chance for established riders to hold ground. The events run today through Sunday. Check for more info.
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
We’ll CU in the final.
Something in Buffsland will give today when Colorado teammates Derek Tolan and Luke Symons duel in the final match of the 108th Colorado Golf Association Match Play Championship, one of the longest-running and most prestigious tournaments in the state.
Tolan on Thursday knocked out Colorado State’s Zen Brown, the defending champ, in a to-the-wire quarterfinal. The 36-hole final tees off today at 7 a.m. at Plum Creek Golf Club in Castle Rock.
WEAK IN REVIEW
What’s in a name?
It was the cruelest move since Art Modell ripped the Browns out of Cleveland.
In a flash, bad-guy owner Clay Bennett moved the former SuperSonics to Oklahoma City. Seattle will retain the Sonics’ name and colors, leaving the OKC team needing a name.
The leading contender, according to reports: the Oklahoma City Outlaws. Not very original, considering the Denver Outlaws already are established in Major League Lacrosse. But if Bennett was dumb enough to move out of Seattle, what’s stopping him from stealing the name?
