Disappointed²

dis⋅ap⋅point⋅ment  [dis-uh-point-muhnt]–noun 1. The act or fact of disappointing: All of his efforts only led to the disappointment of his supporters. 2. The state or feeling of being disappointed: Her disappointment was very great when she didn't get the job. 3. A person or thing that disappoints: The play was a disappointment. It would be true to say that upon returning to my lovely home on Sunday evening that I was overcome with deep disappointment, dissatisfaction, defeat. All of these emotions stemmed from one common source: The 2009 Confederation Cup. I am a proud American but I’m sorry to say that Team USA is not number one on my list. Spain takes first place, USA a distant second. I’m sorry but players like Iker Cassilas and Fernando Torres win out over Landon Donovan and the rest of the red white and blue. Unfortunately both my beloved Spain and the USA managed to disappoint. So what happened? First bump in the road came with the Spain vs. USA game when the underdogs managed to upset the world’s number one team. Sure the fact that America was the one to end the Spaniards fifteen game winning streak was slightly comforting but I couldn’t help but feel . . . disappointed. I managed to let my confidence to get this best of me which resulted in all of my smack talk being put to shame. Head Coach Vicente del Bosque was quoted as saying, “This is an accident, a little step backward,” I however see it in a much different light. I see nothing good about it. I was shocked to say the least when the goals by Altidore and Dempsey gave the USA a 2-0 lead, a lead that would secure their place in the final. I couldn’t watch as Casillas screams of frustration were drowned out by the celebratory cheers of the Americans. Does that make me unpatriotic? The only upside was that I still had someone to root for in the final. After Brazil managed to sneak by host South Africa I knew USA was going to have to come out guns blazing. That’s exactly what they did. After they took a 2-0 lead in the first half I allowed myself to be optimistic truly believing that it was over. How wrong I was. At the forty-sixth minute they gave up a goal but managed to keep their composure for another thirty minutes or so. Then things started to unravel in the seventy-sixth minute when Brazil tied it up. The kill shot came in the eighty-fifth minute with a goal from Lucio. . .more disappointment. It’s hard to say which game disappointed me more. I would have to go with the USA losing to Brazil. I stupidly convinced myself the game was over after only twenty-seven minutes. I set myself up for that one. All I know is that the Confederation Cup only brought me disappointment and more disappointment. Congratulations to Brazil for the victory and condolences to those whose celebrations never happened (mainly Spain & the USA). I’ll get over it. . . . . .someday. . . KB