This is today’s Art Chansky’s Sports Notebook as heard on 97.9 WCHL. You can listen to previous Sports Notebooks here.

Are the USA Women cool, or what?

Full disclosure. I really don’t like soccer because, pure and simple, there is not enough scoring for me. We live in a society of immediate gratification, and watching 90 minutes plus stoppage times for a 1-0 or 2-0 result is not worth it.

Unless, of course, you are pulling for your country with the coolest bunch of women soccer players ever. Thank Anson Dorrance for creating the monster that created so many good gal players. Is Alex Morgan not the bomb, and pretty hot, too. How about Carli Lloyd, who’s been on fire in the World Cup.

The game last night was the most exciting 2-0 match I have ever seen, even with a scoreless first half. When Julie Johnson committed the cardinal sin of fouling in the box, the Germans looked like they would take the lead with a penalty kick, which they missed for the first time in World Cup history, adding to Hope Solo’s record for shutout minutes which is now up to like 518 without giving up a goal.

When Lloyd stepped up for her penalty kick a few minutes later, you knew she was going to bang it home. And then she assisted on a spectacular goal by Kelly O’Hara to seal the victory and send the USA to the championship match for the second straight World Cup, which I think is another record in itself.

I never noticed how much holding is allowed. These women grab each other from behind, ward off opponents with forearm shivers and go sliding and diving and flying throughout the match. Women’s lacrosse needs to lighten up and allow more contact; after all, they wear helmets and pads, while soccer players wear no armor at all.

The skill level just keeps getting better. My favorite move is when Morgan is advancing the ball, stops on a dime and controls it with the top of her foot like a ballerina, then spots an opening and takes off again. The USA’s passing to the open woman and terrific defense are remarkable, and I can’t see either Japan or England beating us in Sunday night’s final in Vancouver.

But what do I know? I just watch because our women are so cool and they ARE, after all, OUR women.

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