Buenos dias. I have some beautiful news to share with you this morning, beautiful readers. And it has to do with the Maryland Soccer Team. Most Americans call it soccer, but to me, it is simply The Beautiful Game. That is what I like to call it. Because of the beauty, the passion, the artistry, the beauty, the majesty, and of course, the great great passion of its players and fans. So many congratulations, many bouquets both verbal and physical, are due now to the Maryland men’s The Beautiful Game team, who on Saturday made the Final Four (called the College Cup in soccer) with a 1-0 win over Creighton.

The Creighton coach said it was “probably the most we have been outplayed in any match in the last decade or longer.” Ah, yes. The game’s only goal came from Omar Gonzalez, who has a very very beautiful future in the professional ranks. I hope that a certain local pro team, who has fallen on hard times recently and may be in need of fresh blood, is paying attention.

The Terrapins join ACC mates North Carolina and the big juggernaut, top-ranked Wake Forest, in the cup. St. John’s, who will be Maryland’s next opponent this Saturday, rounds out the group. Dios mio, but I hope that Maryland continues to play The Beautiful Game with passion! I now kiss them, man to man, for good luck.

(Photo credit: One Game at a Time)