Alexis de Tocqueville wrote that part of the Americans' genius was their taming of the human pursuit of greatness. Their art was moderate, their religion egalitarian, and their guiding spirit was thoroughly anti-nobility. Their only stab at greatness was in the commercial world. "The Americans," Tocqueville wrote, "put something heroic into their way of trading.

With international soccer, there's a sense of national pride that warps everything, repurposes it in the hue of national flag, and makes everyone go crazy. Not that we really needed another reason to think we're proud, but now our soccer team doesn't suck, so we can spend an afternoon getting drunk on Bud and thoughts that we're the best.

"Soccer is the elusive, almost illusive woman you have taught yourself not to chase."

Me, right now, before I change my mind.

I've identified three problems with the American soccer missionaries.

1. Rarely so rarely have they been converted from Our Sports.

Did you know that Sir Alex Ferguson still doubts his tactical nous? The headline leaves no room for doubt: "Sir Alex Ferguson: I still doubt my tactical nous". I find this sad. Sir Alex would seem to have it all: a long record of championships, a range of expensive outerwear, a ruddy Glaswegian complexion, a knighthood but if you can't trust in your own nous, what is it all worth, really?

I have always been an early riser, but for a long time that meant only, or mostly, work: wake up, shower and dress, ingest the life-giving caffeinated fluids, and get some writing done before the rest of the world can start plucking at my sleeve. It's an M.O. that has served me well. The more I get done in the rising day, the earlier I can ease off the gas pedal, and the more completely I can relax in the evenings: sit back with a drink and watch some basketball or baseball whatever sport happens to be on with a wholly vacuous, nearly flatlining brain.

Jason Davis says most of what needs to be said about Andrew Hankinson's crypto-snide piece on the Sons of Ben for British GQ. Hankinson's piece somehow manages to sensationalize American supporter culture as out-of-control and scary ("There is no visible police presence today on the railway platforms.

It's Super Bowl weekend here in the United States and football is on my mind. I grew up in Los Angeles, a city without an NFL team. In fact I've never lived in a city with an NFL team. When I'm asked what team I support I run through a brief flow chart, and this year I'm backing the Pack.

LeBron James was going to sign with the Clippers. I was sure of it. Living in a city that prided itself on its basketball knowledge, I could not have been happier to defend my foolhardy (and completely non-researched) claim. I filled the microbreweries with my pomp and unbridled opinion, joyfully educating any local who dared to question my theory.