A Tribute to Cornerbacks and Goalies | BALL-KICKIN'

To use a Street Fighter analogy, the cornerback in (American) football and goalkeeper in soccer (called football in the rest of the world) are the Sagats of their games.

If the end zone or goal is the M. Bison, then the cornerback or goalie is the henchman, the ultimate gatekeeper in a defense whose obvious goal is to prevent scores.

In the Adidas ad campaign Futbol Meets Football, Reggie Bush and David Beckham have some fun trying to learn each others' forms of the game with the same name. We see Beckham kicking field goals and seeing what it feels to put on the heavy pads that football players wear. We also get a glimpse at Reggie Bush's natural athletic ability, as the first free kick attempts of his life don't look so bad.

Personally, I dig the cornerback-goalie comparisons, because these positions are two of the most mentally demanding in sports, requiring extreme resilience and the utmost belief in one's abilities.

I don't care if your name is Deion Sanders or Iker Casillas; if the attacker or quarterback is on target, there's a good chance you're getting smoked.

The rewards for cornerbacks and goalies are great. If you're a soccer goalie, you wear a different uniform from the rest of your team and your brilliant saves will be recognized. If you're a football corner, you're frequently matched up in one-on-one situations against blazing wide receivers, who're likely to be taller and bigger than you. Blanket them and you'll get the prestigious moniker "shutdown corner" bestowed upon you.

My Goalie Is My Hero

However, you're on an island, and when you get toasted, you really get roasted - on national and international television. Often, there's no way to stop a kicker who's on target or a penetrator who's got a clear path on goal. The goalie can only hope that his defenders force the offensive player into shooting at less advantageous angles. Likewise, when a quarterback throws the perfect pass, it often means pay dirt for the wide receiver.

But the cornerback or goalie must come back. He must come back for more punishment. He must come back for more potential reward. It's like the boxer who must return to the fight round after round, taking blows to the body and head in exchange for the glory of knocking his opponent out, because that's what he does.

For example, in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup, Spanish goalie Iker Casillas got burned twice - by Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey - and world power Spain's 15-match international winning streak came to a screaching halt 0-2 against Team USA. Casillas took more punishment from hosts South Africa in the third-place match, a 3-2 victory by La Furia Roja.

Iker Casillas is arguably the world's finest goalie, and his toughness to carry on enables him to put on legendary displays of goalkeeping, like against Italy at Euro 2008. The courage of a goalie like his is a big reason that Spain has emerged as the powerhouse of Europe and despite settling for third place at the Confederations Cup in 2009, a favorite to win the 2010 World Cup.

American goalkeeper Tim Howard is going to have to bounce back strong if the United States is going to have another shot at an improbable title run in 2010. His goalkeeping in the first half of the Confederations Cup final against Brazil was marvelous, but when Brazil gets down, they really get down, as they showed in their 3-2 comeback to become 2009 champions.

courtesy of mrninfutbolero

The US still must qualify for the World Cup, and how he responds to the heartbreaking American loss will play a huge role in not only the national team's international success, but the future of the sport on US soil.

"Straight to My Feet" by Hammer & Deion Sanders

At the end of the day,
A cornerback is still a cornerback
A goalie still a goalie
And a Street Fighter still a Street Fighter.