An Ode to Rapinoe's Cross

Have you seen it yet?

You probably watched the United States and Brazil battle it out in the Quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup. Even if you have, watch it one more time.

Ok, are you ready? Obviously Abby Wambach needed to be on the end of that cross to score. She called for the ball, and got up in the right spot to beat the keeper and head it home. Kudos to her.

But that cross. Wow. Megan Rapinoe's cross was incredible. Even if it hadn't changed the outcome of the World Cup, if it had rolled across the box without an American waiting for it, it would have been beautiful. It was a cross that players practice their whole lives and can never hit quite right. The distance it covered, the power, the perfect weight of the ball...amazing.

That was a stand-alone cross. It was so beautiful it was almost a shame somebody had to get a head on it (ok, that was a joke). Looking back on that game, with its ups and downs for both sides, for the dramatic penalty shootout, that cross will be the lasting memory.

I am tempted to change my name to "Rapinoe's cross" so that years from now, when non-soccer fans ask me how I got such a strange name, I can tell them to watch the clip. And they will watch, and they will be astounded. It will make them instant fans.

I will be dreaming of that cross in my sleep for weeks. It was a moment that demonstrated the skill, the artisty, the beauty of the beautiful game.