Jurgen Klinsmann's Appreciated Honesty

In every realm of sports and possibly corporate America, the leaders of these teams try to sugarcoat things when it might not work out the way people want it. The coaches, managers or CEO's come up with the most politically correct answer possible to make it seem like everything is alright even though things are on the verge of heading southward. The reason being is no one wants their team or the people whom follow them to have a defeatist attitude. But once in awhile, it is nice to hear some refreshing honesty. Jurgen Klinsmann, the manager of the U.S. Men's National Team, said multiple times in the last two weeks that the United States has an unrealistic chance at winning the World Cup. For me, it's better to be realistic than have our collective heads in the clouds.

The overreaction to this topic is laughable. Many people are rushing to pedestals saying how this is a terrible way to start the World Cup for United States soccer, and what a bad message it sends to the players along with their fanbase. ESPN's Michael Wilbon went to the hottest of hot take to tell Klinsmann 'to get the hell out of America.'  All of the sudden, it is un-American to making an honest comment. Isn't honesty one of the major pillars of the United States of America or am I missing something here? Klinsmann making comments about the actual realistic expectations of his team should be viewed as a breath of fresh air more than anything else. It would be great to hear Mike Pettine, head coach of the Cleveland Browns, to say "It's highly unrealistic we are winning the Super Bowl." Most Browns fans know it already so why not embrace it?  

Klinsmann did not say 'There is no chance this team is making it out of group stages, we are completely f---ed.'  If he said that, we can have a discussion about why he is managing this team, but instead, he said, it is highly unlikely the United States is the best futbol team in the world.  The people who have a problem with what Klinsmann said believe Brazil, Germany, Argentina or Spain are worse than United States. Grasp your head around that for a second and remember those people are out of your goddamn mind. Grasp your head around that one for a second. Klinsmann recognizes this therefore he adds these quotes to lower the expectations of the United States soccer fanbase. Don't ask for the world right now, it is not the United States time.  

The worst part of the whole thing is if the United States find its way to the Knockout stages, there will be media members making columns and talking on the radio about doing it to defy their manager. That statement will be bullshit when it happens even though the national media will make it look like a talking point for a couple of days. Further if United States makes some improbable run to the Final Four of soccer, it would be a true Cinderella run comparable to what we have seen in March Madness from a high-level mid-major. United States would be Butler basketball from a couple years past. Bet Brad Stevens didn't think his team had a realistic chance at making the National Championship final, but he probably never said it out loud.

In a way, Klinsmann put pressure on himself for 2018. People now have the idea that their year will be in South Korea even though so many things can and will happen in four years. But let's give a standing ovation to the blunt honesty Klinsmann brings to his job.

Charlie.