By Richard Carrier
Contributing Writer

Primarily it was because I was bored, but all of the hype – the event was getting almost 24-hour coverage on both ESPN networks – convinced me to tune in to the USA versus Slovenia FIFA soccer match last week. I was doing something more important (flossing my teeth or clipping the dog’s nails) so I missed most of the first half and tuned in to find the USA squad down 1-nil, soon to be a supposedly insurmountable 2-nil, against a team from a country with a population equaling that of Maine and Rhode Island.

 Now come on, even the most informed (or fanatic) soccer fan in the county – and I know who you are – would have had to be questioning the progress, or lack there of, for the US soccer program. This tiny little country was, literally, kicking the crap out of the world’s greatest super-power and, using the game’s own standards, the USA was doomed to fail.

 I listened to Landon Donovan’s post-game interview about the “mission” he had been on for the past four years, as well as those of game analysts who pointed out his propensity for “disappearing in big matches.” But putting all of that aside, the pure physical achievement involved in Donovan’s 1-2 goal was amazing. The angle was severe, (an almost perfect camera angle confirmed this) the window exceptionally small and it wasn’t nearly the point-blank shot he took to win the Algeria game. But I got to thinking about it purely from a hand-eye coordination perspective, realizing that not being a hand-eye function made the feat even more remarkable.

 A baseball player, who can actually put the entire ball in his hand, easily controls distance and trajectory with his finger-grip; the considerably larger basketball is also controlled by the fingers, with larger hands generally offering better control. Even accurate throwing of the misshapen football is a function of finger control, again, with larger hands generally providing more accuracy.

A larger foot may be a factor, providing more surface area, in controlling a soccer ball, but the foot certainly doesn’t provide any grip on the slightly-smaller-than-a-basketball soccer ball. When you think about it from a purely physiological aspect, purposely kicking a ball through that tiny window was a great physical achievement.

For sure, it gave the USA squad a great emotional lift.

And yes, the USA team got jobbed.

Not only did the referee call a phantom foul on the go-ahead goal, he also failed to call two Slovenian fouls inside the box on the same play.

 Admitting that we vicariously share the achievements of our athletes, don’t fail to Google the player roster for the 2010 Pittsburgh Steelers. Look for number 67, a rookie offensive tackle.
Powhatan’s own Kyle Jolly is on the official roster of the Steelers.
Sure, as an undrafted free agent on the current 80-man roster, it’s a stretch that he will stay there, but no one can take away the fact he made it.

 I considered calling him to check in to see how he was doing and what the experience was like (I would really love to know, but realized he didn’t need even the smallest distraction).
But I did contact his dad, Eric, who has always been very forth-coming and he willingly provided some insights.

The OTA’s (Official Team Activities) are a test of learning the extensive playbook and concentration during practices and, according to Mr. Jolly via Kyle, he has not missed any assignments.

“[That’s] a pretty substantial feat given the rapid pace they introduced the offense,” Mr. Jolly said. But that was pretty much Kyle’s signature as a player at the University of North Carolina: smart, steady and fundamentally sound.

 It is interesting that survival has also become a team effort. Kyle and his roommate, Highland Springs’ (6’2”, 306 pound guard out of James Madison University) Dorian Brooks work together to learn the playbook. He has also learned the consequences of less-than-stellar performance.

Another roommate, a rookie center from Vanderbuilt, has been cut.

And then there is the rubbing-shoulders-with-the-super-stars syndrome.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger invited all of the offensive lineman to his home (I do not know the time-frame as it relates to his recent legal problems, but it would almost have to be post-suspension by the Commissioner) with a large pool and swim-up bar and multiple sports cars in the driveway.

In the end, though, Kyle remains pragmatic, according to his Dad and “he takes things as they come.”

Next for Kyle is summer camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and the gradual paring down of the roster to 53 players.