Are we still having this discussion?

Seriously.

We live in an era where we celebrate and watch in record numbers such stirring sporting activities as professional billiards (“Watch closely for the 4 cushion rim rocker with a left hand spin twist that will allow The Mambo Garden Snake to literally and figuratively expectorate on her foe”), professional poker (“Watch closely for the slight upper left lip sneer that contorts into a stirring image of a raised middle finger from the Champion, a subtle indication that he is about to steal every nickel of his opponent’s mortgage payment”), and competitive eating (“Watch closely as the instant replay shows a clear Nostril Injection Violation from the Swedish competitor in a vain attempt to make up lost ground by seeking to use both facial orifices as part of the ingestion process”).

Yet we, as Americans, still can’t seem to swallow the fact soccer is a “real” sport, one that not only deserves but demands our attention.

Let me rephrase to be more “on point.”

Yet we, specifically those who (A) have neither the capacity nor desire to understand the sport, (B) worship at the altar of American sports talk radio that deems anything that cannot be wagered on, placed into a fantasy league, or show immediate ratings and financial gain unimportant and unworthy of our attention, (C) cannot conceive anything being a “real” sport when it involves fuzzy little foreigners, unwashed heathens in the stands blowing on plastic horns, or grown men wearing shorts above the knee, (D) are convinced that any sport where you cannot use your hands has to be a Socialist plot concocted by remnants of the USSR Politburo, (E) hold firm to the fact that any sport not invented or improved by America has to be for sissy boys, or (F) cannot get excited when it’s played by girls at a professional level AND even endorsed by the United States with a National Team, refuse to acknowledge that soccer is just as exciting and more important on the world stage than competitive lumberjack competitions.

And ESPECIALLY when it’s a bunch of girls trying to play a MAN’S GAME.

Indeed, for I am stunned, STUNNED I say, to report that the time-tested “hey, it’s just soccer and girls soccer at that” drone has been heard once again in light of a rousing historical sports note for American soccer.

Not just that fact OUR (and I place that in caps purposely for those who seem to conveniently dismiss this is a National team comprised of American athletes playing on a global stage, flying OUR flag and representing OUR country) team shocked mighty Brazil at the Women’s World Cup, but it’s in how they did it that should place this tale above that of locked-out jocks, lying former jocks who never met a manner of cheating they couldn’t take advantage of, or yet another college football coach skulking away in dismissed defeat with his tail and a fat settlement check between his hind quarters.

Defeating mighty Brazil. One player short after what may go down in World Cup history as the most badly imaginative penalty call seen since the first ref was bought off with new loin clothing and sandals.

The ensuing Brazilian goal coming on a second try awarded by the same crooked ref who put the 1919 Chicago Black Sox to shame with such a pathetically bad performance at trying to throw a game for one side.

With a heart-stopping goal in “extra time,” meaning no one had a real clue as to when the officials would call the match over. Then in penalty kicks.

The clincher coming from the foot of a dedicated player who has never been mentioned in the same sentence as steroid use, law breaking or having one cross word with anyone, likely even including her dentist.

Led by a goaltender who once was thought to be forever ostracized by team and teammates when she openly questioned why she wasn’t in the net for a monster game.

Simply stated, one of the most dramatic, shocking and exhilarating victories for ANY American team in global competition.

Sadly, an historic sports moment that many people still have to be convinced is something that must be celebrated.

Therein lies this tired, worn-out and dilapidated battle still being faced by not only soccer here in America, but women’s athletics in our sports-addled culture.

The biggest mistake this sport has made here in the USA dates back to the North American Soccer League. A grand idea, and from a roster standpoint well executed.

The idea was to increase the level of soccer interest in the States by bringing over some of the more legendary European and South American players to populate the various rosters.

Despite some being rather long in the soccer tooth, their play showed American soccer audiences what could happen if the sport was allowed to impact a younger generation of both players and fans.

Pele. Beckenbauer. Chinaglia. Best. Granitza. Hudson. Magicians all. Their impact resounds to this day with soccer now unquestionably a major sport in America.

But the made one near-fatal mistake. They told American fans they HAD to love soccer. They MUST become a member of the world game. To do anything less would show our empirical ignorance.

And while they carved a still-growing niche, they turned off the majority of fans here in America who rejected these demands. Called the game boring. Roared with indignation about being involved in a sport where one or two goals in a match was called thrilling.

Broached at silly yellow and red cards. Ridiculed their bad acting when it came to diving for penalties. Joked about their non-manly displays of emotion after scoring a goal.

Most of which remains to this day. Now, thanks to the plethora of Neanderthals raised by a generation of boorish radio sports talk hosts, narrow-minded commentators and former jocks from every sport belittling soccer in order to insure their endorsement deals stay in multiple figures, soccer is in many places still fighting to be recognized in America as a major sport.

Granted, enormous strides have been made in the last 20 years. More so in the last 10 thanks to the US National effort getting serious about grooming and cultivating our own homegrown stars.

Which brings us full circle to the matter at hand.

The soccer effort in the US needs to stop trying to convert those who don’t like the sport for any number of reasons. They’re not worth it, and their minds will never be changed.

At the same time, those who care not a whit for the sport should stop babbling about what they perceive as its flaws and faults. Especially the line about “it’s only a women’s game” that proves a lack of civility and intelligence.

Congratulations. Not to the American Women’s team. But to the American team.

When it comes to athletic excellence, there has been and never should be any reason to make such an obviously unnecessary and unwarranted distinction.

For excellence in athletics knows no gender.