Goooooaaaal! ESPN scores with Women's Cup

ESPN doesn't need you or me rooting for it, not with the piles of money it sits on in Connecticut, indirectly but efficiently collected from, yup, you and me.

But just this once let's do it anyway:

The Bristol Stompers made a huge, risky bet in time and dollars chronicling the Women's World Cup as thoroughly as they have, and they deserve to reap the reward of an event that has paid off big.

Not only did the United States make it to Sunday's final -- a must to capture the American TV audience -- but it got there with an improbable win over Brazil that had mainstream sports fans discussing Hope Solo, Abby Wambach and friends.

That sort of thing hasn't happened since 1999, the last time the U.S. reached the final, and it never has happened in a World Cup held overseas. The last time the Americans reached a final on the road was 1991, when they won it all in China and hardly anyone back home noticed.

No chance of that this time, between ESPN's exhaustive coverage and the U.S. team having taken 21st century social media by storm, something the '99 champs didn't experience. (Speaking of which, do not forget to wish Twitter a happy fifth birthday today.)

"We had great hopes we would get to some measure of our success to date,'' ESPN senior VP Jed Drake said from Germany. "But needless to say we have benefited immensely from the interest in the U.S. team.''

ESPN couldn't go wrong with Ian Darke on play-by-play after his fine work at last year's men's World Cup. (Americans evidently won't accept anything other than a witty Brit for their soccer play-by-play.)

Beyond that, the network predictably loaded up on the stars of the sainted '99 team, including Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain, Briana Scurry, Mia Hamm and coach Tony DiCicco. Their work generally has been solid, but they have walked an admittedly fine line between analysis and advocacy, what with their personal ties to the program -- and their viewers' patriotic ties to it.

"I think it's virtually impossible to have the cast of announcers we have and not have some measure of pride, if you will, in the job that this team has done,'' Drake said.

"We have found a balance. We are not cheerleaders for this team. But needless to say, we are pleased when they perform to the extent that they have and the way that they have.''

Said Foudy: "It is a fine balance of, obviously internally I want that team to do well, but at the same time I have to call the game as objectively as I can and step out of that.''

On a more touchy note, the constant presence of '99ers on television has furthered the impression that group is a shadow looming behind every subsequent U.S. team. As goalkeeper Hope Solo put it: "To be honest, we're tired of hearing about '99.''

Chastain called that sentiment "a little disheartening for me personally,'' because she believes every generation of Americans should share a bond.

Foudy was more sympathetic: "I'd be tired of it, too, if I were them. That's all they've heard for 12 years.''

Sunday they can complete their own story. Japan's upset of Germany in the quarterfinals should be a plus for the U.S., which would have faced a packed, hostile stadium in Frankfurt had the hosts been there.

Regardless, as anyone who knows sports in general and American sports in particular understands, all of this quickly will be forgotten if Japan wins.

"The first thing they have to do,'' Foudy said, "is finish it off.''