No doubt about it, the USA soccer team's win over top-ranked Spain in the semifinals of the Confederation Cup last week was a biggie. But it should be - and has to be - so much more.

The U.S. managed to grab a place in the final four in South Africa under the most unlikely of circumstances, beating Egypt 3-0 for its only win in pool play, while Brazil was beating Italy 3-0 to provide the goal differential the Americans needed to advance, then showed it belonged with a 2-0 decision over the Spainards.

Team USA should not be content with that win, though, nor should fans, from hard-core followers to those just jumping on the bandwagon.

A win over Brazil and it's salsa-singing fans (an oh-so-welcome respite from the South Africans' vuvuzela horns which remind one of the pleasant sound insects make as they are swarming) would be perfect, of course.

It's also highly unlikely (just like beating Spain was supposed to be, it must be noted), considering the Brazilians beat the U.S. 3-0 in pool play, but a solid showing against the first nation of soccer would be an encouraging sign that the good ship USA Soccer is again on course.

Such seemed to be the case in 2002 for the World Cup in Asia, when the U.S. rode a win over Mexico into the quarterfinals before losing to Germany.

Somewhere along the way, though, the Americans lost their way, ending with a last-place finish in pool play in 2006, killing all momentum and interest gained by the 2002 finish.

If indeed life is the journey, not the destination, beating Spain should just be a coffee break, not a full meal stop, as the countdown to the 2010 World Cup picks up speed.

That's the difference between a team that's just happy to be there, and one that's a consistent winner.

And now, a few more thoughts hopefully worth that second cup of coffee on a Sunday morning as we await that game and all the other sporting delights this day has to offer:

• Hearing someone on television go on about how Michael Jackson did more to put blacks in the mainstream than Oprah or President Obama makes me think: Have we forgotten about Jackie Robinson that quickly?

• But before you start cowering in the corner fearing more, that's going to be the only Jacko reference for this effort, except to wonder when public mourning of a superstar, in entertainment or sports, stopped being about grieving and turned into a spectacle to be Twittered about. That ancient tome, the Columnist Manifesto (not to be confused with the book by Karl Marx), said I had to do something, lest I no longer be a member in good standing.

• You really, really, really want to believe Golden State Warriors coach Don Nelson when he says the team's top draft pick, Davidson's Stephen Curry, won't be traded ... but then you look at the three-ring circus that's passed for running a professional basketball team in Oakland the last 15 or so years, and you fear they will chase after that shiny object (Amare Stoudemire) instead of concentrating on becoming a serious playoff contender. On the other hand, given his apparent lack of interest in playing defense, the moody, oft-injured Sun may be right at home with the Warriors.

• Speaking of the Copper State, given the disarray with the Suns, the insolvency of the Coyotes and general malaise that's seized the Diamondbacks, who would have ever imagined that state's most successful pro team would be the once-woeful Cardinals?

Richard de Give is The Sentinel's sports editor. He can be reached at 583-2430 or rdegive@HanfordSentinel.com.

(June 28, 2009)