I watched in grim horror as the US Men’s National Soccer Team booted away their invitation to the World Cup in 2018, losing 2-1 to the Trinidad & Tobago Soca Warriors (with a great team name, representing the proud music of the islands) while Panama and Honduras took care of their own business in the CONACAF Hexagonal Qualifier, scoring late goals to climb ahead of the US into the quadrennial tournament. I may spend more time devoted to my hometown Boston teams (and watching the Red Sox bounced out of the playoffs by the Astros was another stinger this week), but there is no sports victory I would like to witness more than a World Cup triumph for the Stars and Stripes. It would be transcendent to see the country unite for the only team that truly competes on a global stage. But alas, we will now have to wait at least another five years for that opportunity…