Twistity Sports Exclusive: A Loss is a Win, Tiger Woods, and the Heat

 
Not many days ago, fans of the US World Cup team rode the zipline of emotion in a 2-2 tie with Portugal. Portugal scored in the waning seconds, and a tie, for the US, felt like a loss. On Thursday, a 1-0 loss to Germany felt like a win.

Even in defeat, the US side moved on in World Cup play to the round of 16. It escaped “the group of death,” the treacherous Group G from which there was supposedly no safe passage, and heads into the round of 16, or “the knockout round.” Losing becomes a really bad thing from here on out and disappointment won’t masquerade as good cheer any longer.

The US’ happy fortune in part stemmed from Portugal’s 2-1 win against Ghana. The US was able to finish second to Germany in the four-team group by virtue of its four points (three for its win over Ghana, one for the tie with Portugal). Germany and the US advance, Portugal and Ghana go home (or to each other’s homes if they feel they’ve made a love connection).

Next in line for the US: Belgium, which hasn’t lost to the US in the beautiful game in 86 years. Eighty six years? Hey, the US is due. Beyond being considered great, good or lucky, a team can always hope for the most desirous appellation – team of destiny. You don’t mess with a team of destiny. Can the US actually be that? Perhaps the fun is only beginning.

The fun is about to continue for Tiger Woods. Returning to competitive golf after back surgery at the end of March, back after missing the Masters, the British Open and the U.S. Open, Woods took to the course at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland in the Quicken Loans tournament. Rusty early in the round and Tiger-like late, he shot a 74. He said his health was excellent. He’s always welcome to enliven PGA Tour competition. He’d been missed.

Lastly, from a huge sportsy Thursday, the Miami Heat announced their intention to retain LeBron James. They didn’t use those words, but they pulled off a trade during the NBA draft to get guard Shabazz Napier of UConn. Napier was a player James had praised and seemed to want on his team (if his team would still be Miami after his contract opt-out earlier in the week). The Charlotte Bobcats, eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Heat, took Napier with the 24^th pick. Miami, at 26, offered a package including that 26^th pick, its second-rounder (55^th overall) and an unspecified second-round pick in the future to get exciting young guard. If Miami needs help anywhere (and it does), it’s at point guard. James then tweeted: My favorite player in the draft!

When the King rejoices, so do his subjects.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .