USA-England: Drop the Puck

Drop the puck.

I don't know how many times I've heard my dad shout that at the television over the course of my life.  As I mentioned in a previous post, I lived in a Flyers-crazy household growing up; my dad has been going to games since the team was founded, and he's been there for almost every big moment in the team's history. 

Like most fans, he takes his fandom to another level in the postseason.   For 14 of the last 15 seasons, he has settled in to watch his beloved Orange and Black in the playoffs, where everything is magnified.  Each game gets a little extra attention, with a longer build-up in the media and a longer pre-game show, both of which only exacerbate his nervousness and anticipation.  Unable to bear any more previews and just wanting the game to finally get underway, my dad often boils over, shouting at anyone who will listen: "Drop the puck!" (With the occasional expletive added in.)  He's sick of waiting and just wants the game to finally get underway so he can actually see how things play out, rather than listen to others explain how they think things will go.

That's how I feel right about now.  I've read everything I could get my hands on about England, I've written and read far too much about the USMNT than anyone who doesn't get paid a salary probably should, and I've heard countless opinions on who will start, who will win, and how the match will play out.  Countless questions still remain for both teams: is Oguchi Onyewu healthy and sharp enough to be effective?  Will Jozy Altidore be hampered by his ankle sprain?  Will England have issues at the back without Rio Ferdinand?  Who will start at position X, and who will sub in at position Y?  The list is almost endless.  And while I myself have taken part in the insurmountable task of trying to answer all of these questions, I've reached the point where I just can't stand the wait any longer. 

We probably won't get an answer to our biggest questions until the match kicks off; Bob Bradley plays things close to the vest, so we probably won't know until the lineups are announced on Saturday if Oguchi Onyewu will be starting or if Clarence Goodson will take his place.  And as much as we'd like to extrapolate on his performance last Saturday, Edson Buddle might still start out on the bench in favor of Robbie Findley, who I still believe has a decent shot at starting because of what his speed does for the rest of the attack.  Who will end up starting up front?  This again will remain unanswered until game time.  I could spend hours parsing over quotes and highlights and match up information, but at the end of the day, I'm almost certainly better off if I just let it go, hope for a full-strength squad when training finishes up this week, and see who ultimately gets the nod from Bob.  I'm just tired of wondering and eager to finally know.

As long as the past four years have been, these last couple of days seem like an eternity (and I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling that).  I just want Saturday to get here already so I can just sit down (or, most likely, stand up) and watch the game that we have all been waiting so long for.  But for now my thoughts and daydreams constantly drift back to that match, as I play out every single possible scenario.  This is something that I've probably been doing since the draw was announced, but a habit that has gone overboard in recent weeks, thanks in part to the announcement that Carlos Simon will be refereeing the match. 

Now, images of Germany dance in my head, where red cards and a phantom penalty played a big role in deciding our fate.  I think back to last summer, when three red cards at the Confederations Cup threw a wrench into things.  And with that, I can't help but get a sinking feeling in my stomach, a feeling that this match, which has been hyped and looked forward to for months by millions and millions of people, could be ruined by someone who has a history of leaving a pretty big mark on the matches he officiates.  Like Jason Davis over at Match Fit USA, I'm just hoping this match plays out without us really noticing the Brazilian man patrolling the field.  To quote Coach Boone from Remember the Titans, "let 'em play.  Let the boys play." 

But as much as I hope to ignore those negative thoughts (or positive ones, for that matter) about what could happen, and as much as I don't want to get caught up in the same handful of questions that have been examined by every fan and pundit alike, I just can't help paying attention to every little bit of news and getting caught up in this tsunami of anticipation. 

But it's exhausting to be this anxious and excited, and I want Saturday's match to just get started as soon as possible so we can go from talking about what might happen against England to what is happening. 

Please, just drop the puck.