" safeway: It was a joke ya big windbag! LOL! Lighten up. This topic isn't about the war. I guess the real answer to my question to you, about you having any sense of humor whatsoever, would be a resounding NO! (chuckle) Just my "opinion" of course. ;-) "

" I have a fine sense of humor. In fact I noted that I was having a good time and having fun today at 10:14 am. Before that and since then nothing has changed.

It seems that you're the one who has a problem with discussing the differences of opinion. Rather than being rational, you whine about being "attacked" when it is apparent to any reasonable person that no attack was ever launched.

Enjoying one's self on the Internet isn't reserved for those who simply agree with one another all of the time. Satisfaction comes in other forms as well, such as the dissecting of ideas and opinions, presenting countering beliefs with factual evidence and information and either accepting or rejecting those opinions accordingly. Who knows one might just learn something new if minds are permitted to be pried open just a little. What, that's not fun for you? "

" safeway: Do you have a sense of humor? And did you try to share a recipe with me or something? Do you always try to be this serious or are you just in a gloomy phase? "

" Lodisafeway looks like a person who handles himself quite well without
my helpBut I couldnt let this pass as it was what I referred to about
how Americans come across to the rest of the world as loud rude and
crudeWho cares about soccer, its boring and sissified, well my friend
more people will watch a World Cup Soccer match on one day than will
Watch a season of MLB and the NFL combined, that says a lot. Now that
is out of the way lets give World Cup Rugby a shot. It is every thing
Pro Football wishes it was, They play faster, longer, harder and score more.
all with no pads they have about the same numbers viewer wise as soccer
And to be blunt there isnt one star of the NFL that could cut it in Rugby.
my team, The New Zealand All Blacks, if you like the blood and the mud
Rugby is the one!! "

" As for soccer being boring to watch (as someone recently suggested), in spite of the millions of non-American nations around the world who would vehemently disagree with you, I agree completely. It is difficult to watch.

But playing it is an entirely different experience, having participated in the game during my high school years. Rarely did we ever draw a crowd anywhere near like the ones Friday Night Football does in countless American towns during the fall months.

Our "football" isn't played with a round ball. I imagine those who love soccer feel the same as many of us do about our football. Since the Olympics is an international gathering of youth including what is played by the majority of the world's young people seems only natural.

Many believe baseball to be boring, and often times it really is. But now we probably won't see it played in the Olympics ever again. And unless I've missed it, I don't think there has been too much international disappointment over it being eliminated.

No, now we've got beach volleyball, bmx racing and a host of new sports to garner us a medal or two in the future. "

" You guys worry about yourselves, okay? This feigned concern is near nauseating. I'm doing great and having a good time.

I'm weary of those who simply cannot tolerate differing opinions (or theirs being challenged) in a website designed for precisely that. There seems to be this notion that blogs are a social club where people get together to share recipes or little league moms gather to bemoan the fact that little Johnny didn't get to play that day and blame it all on the coach.

This "kid" participated in the Olympic experience - something the majority of us will never experience. Why he didn't get to play is something we may never know. But (again) if he comes back home with a chip on his shoulder with the same attitude as some here complaining about his coach, that will "undoubtedly" indicate that he should not have been chosen to go.

I didn't attack anyone, yet I suppose I could complain about having my character impugned, but I won't. We're supposed to be playing blogosphere-hardball here; those who cannot tolerate the speed and risks of the game should sit in the bleachers and just watch. "

" Who really cares about soccer anyway? It is the most over rated sport there is. It is boring to play and even more painful to watch. The average American could not tell you the name of one player on the team. The original letter to the editor certainly must have caused some embarrassment to this guy, he is a grown man and does not need somebody to stick up for him. Im sure his head is buried in the sand right now. "

" Hey, safeway, are you okay? You are losing it, man. "

" You know Lodian, if it gets a little rough in here for you all you need to do is aim your mouse pointer at the "X" in the upper right hand corner of the browser. Once you click on it, all this disappears and you don't have to play anymore. "

" What you see as an "attack" I see as challenging your opinion by voicing mine with more than just a "feeling" about something. Those who state their opinions based upon nothing but emotions usually wind up with a reputation for not thinking through the possibilities before uttering what often turn out to be nonsensical remarks. Again, there is no possible way to have accurately predicted the outcome of any one of those games had he been permitted to play.

Imagine if this one player had taken your approach and told his coach and/or teammates after the games were over that had he been permitted to participate the outcome would have "undoubtedly" been better. He would have been treated with some rather "odd" looks as well as opinions from those very teammates that he really wasn't much of a "team" player at all. And again, it would have cast doubt upon just why he was chosen in the first place. I suspect that he did not do this but rather expressed thanks for the opportunity to be a part of the team in the first place. "

" Oh, and FYI, you didn't merely state your opinion. You came out attacking my opinion. Check yourself buster. :-) "

" I agree. You're rather sad. "

" lodisafeway: Wow! You're so deep! LOL! I guess ya can't chill at all or even find that funny bone, can ya? That's really too bad. Hope you can try a little harder next time. Life shouldn't always be as serious as you make it... especially when simply stating "opinions" regarding playing time. I hope you can smile and laugh someday. Give it try. "

" I didn't ask anyone to change their opinion. I merely stated mine; the "chilling" needs to be done in a different part of the blog.

This IS how this works here. I'm now convinced that the weak and the meek simply cannot handle opposing opinions. For some reason their egos are easily bruised and their blood pressures seem to rise. Rather than accept that someone doesn't agree with them, they get all defensive and huffy and suggest solutions that should be reserved for them (the chilling part). They should watch out for that; it really isn't healthy. In fact there are medications that might help.

It's rather sad. "

" lodisafeway: You really need to chill out sometimes. And I will stick with my statement of "no doubt"! That my opinion and it ain't gonna change for the likes of you. LOL! "

" Perhaps Patrick "could" have added to the outcome of the team's experience in China. Yet to state that there is "no doubt" that he could have "improved the outcome" is to delve into the area of prognostication before the end came and sheer Monday-morning armchair quarter-backing afterwards.

The coach has the sole responsibility to make these determinations; had the outcome indeed been different (with or without this one player's contributions), the coach would have either been glorified or vilified - in other words, there would have been no difference in how he (the coach) would be perceived. Of course this is all academic, isnt it? The 29th Olympiad is nearly over and we dont have a medal in soccer.

Regardless, Patrick Ianni should be commended for what got him to the Games and his sportsmanship that maintained him through the experience. We were certainly honored by his presence in China; as we have been by all of our Olympians. "

" Having seen Pat play many times, I know he would have added a dimension to this team that seemed to be missing. Pat could have only improved the outcome. There's no doubt. "

" My guess is that Patrick knew exactly what his role was going to be when he was selected to the National Team. I would also guess that he is far less upset about his playing time than has been expressed in the blog. "

" As a loyal soccer fan I was really disappointed to see that Patrick did not play, however soccer is unlike basketball in that only so many substitutions can be made each game. So a coach must use these wisely, and that coach's reasons are things we are not privliged to. But Good Luck Patrick on the rest of the season with the Dynamo, beat the Red Bulls on Sunday! "

" Bob, there may be no "I" in team, there is an M and an E. Letting Ianni hit the field for a few minutes to enjoy the Olympic experience would have been O.K. Especially considering how pathetically our soccer team performed. It wouldn't have hurt anything. "

" Yet in the area of gymnastics how many of those medals are legitimate (for the Chinese)? There has been "evidence" offered to the IOC more than suggesting that some of these gymnasts are a tad under the mandatory 16-year-old level. If this turns out to be true, it will certainly sully any ground the Chinese have gained by putting on such a grand show in the land of Tiananmen Square.

Like it or not; fair or not the rules have been put into place for a reason and apply to everyone. When they are violated, everyone suffers. And this is much more relevant during the Olympic Games although there would certainly be a parent or two at any local Little League tournament who would be equally outraged if cheating was uncovered.

Winning isn't everything; winning by the rules is the only thing. I don't think Lombardi would mind the small insertion; he was a coach of honor. "

" While you all might be right, remember what coach Vince Lombardi said, winning isn`t everything, its the only thing. Where does that insperation start? To bring out the best in an person, look at the little kids at 6 years old that are pushed by their China coaches, they get hammered. It all comes down to just how bad you want it. Look at the gold medals China has won. "

" I agree lodisafeway. This is not the YMCA instructional league and the coach is not some volunteer parent. It is disappointing that the local guy didn't get any playing time, but them's the breaks. There is no I in T.E.A.M. "

" And what happens to a coach who takes the approach that "winning" is not the most important aspect of any competitive sport? At the pee-wee level the emphasis is on developing the necessary skills to reach the ultimate goal down the line - winning. There the coach should be harshly criticized if he/she has his/her eye on the scoreboard rather than the study of the skill-set of each player as the games proceed.

By the time these "kids" reach the Olympics winning should be so ingrained in their minds, hearts and souls that anything less is simply unacceptable. And only one person is empowered to decide the path taken to reach that goal - the coach.

I am sure that Patrick is a fine player and is personally disappointed that he didn't get the playing time that he would have undoubtedly enjoyed. Yet if he was asked, I would suspect that he would not be so harshly critical with his coach because of his decisions in this regard. If he is, then he probably should not have been invited to join the team in the first place. "

" I agree. That is a coach that only cares about winning and not his team. If Patrick made the team it is obviously because he is good enough. 5 minutes of play would not have hurt the team. In fact it may have helped. Patrick - don't let this get you down. Continue on your path to a wonderful soccer career! "