A Painful Loss Leaves A Bitter Taste for Team USA

As a tired and disappointed U.S. Women's World Cup team arrived from Germany to Newark, N.J. about 24 hours after the Americans gave up a pair of late one-goal leads and were beaten in penalty kicks by Japan.

The disappointed team was greeted with applause, but why?

Okay, I will go easy on them but how did we end up giving that second goal in extra time? I was extremely shocked it went in but how do we let the Japanese back in?

We had the game in the bag and a slip in the defense leaves Japan the winner after a pitiful round of penalty kicks. A lucky save and a sailor over the crossbar left U.S. in a hole in which Japan capitalized.

Well, a tough loss for the women but many things can be learned from this showing the world cup.

First, women's sports are being followed as fans helped the Women's World Cup final earn the highest television rating for any soccer game on an ESPN network.

The Japanese comeback to beat the U.S. in a penalty shootout drew a 7.4 fast national rating, while also having an average 13.5 million viewers, the sixth most watched soccer telecast ever in the US. Although, this was still runner up to the 1999 Women's World cup final, which had an 11.4 rating.

Second, that we shouldn't ever applause a runner up performance. Especially against a country like Japan. This is America people we never like not being the best.

And lastly the United States both men and women soccer teams need to live up to the hype. Grow a pair and finish what you started, instead of letting down millions of viewers.