Yesterday I was too hungover to deal with it and I try to work when I'm work (at least most of the time). Yes - I'm finding this a nice way to keep "involved" with US soccer while there's not much going on on the senior team front.
Not to belabor the point, but this argument suggests Hawaii was not part of North America until (EDIT) 1959. Continents are not political bodies, as we know from Russia being half in Europe and half in Asia. The "continental United States" is a familiar phrase that recognizes the fact that Hawaii, a pacific island chain, is not part of any continent, including North America. (Hey, I grew up before NAFTA confused matters, what can I say? )
Hey, it's all arbitrary. Hawaii is closer to NA than any other continent, I believe. Some important bureaucrat says "I officially declare Hawaii part of N.A." (or whatever continent), and away we go.
Then I stand by my clue because bureaucrats still haven't declared Hawaii part of N.A. (Though bureaucratic declarations have as little impact on plate tectonics as they do on gravity.)
Okay, I realize that I was probably too broad in my clue. So I'll narrow it down some. I am now too old to play for any youth teams. I have never played for a club team in the land where my parents come from.
A good example might be Bermuda. Bermuda is an island nation 650 miles off the coast of North Carolina, due east. Bermuda is part of N.A. Hawaii is an island hundreds of miles off the coast of Mexico. The fact that Bermuda is an island far off the continental coast does not eliminate it from being part of North America. Actually, I'm gonna stop there. Saying any more might give you the impression that I actually care if Hawaii is in N.A. I don't. Speaking of Hawaii, I would like to go there in Winter of 2005. Best beaches in the world, eh?
Technically thousands of miles, not hundreds, off of Mexico, and not part of the North American plate, but I agree that whether Hawaii should be part of North America is not worthy of debate here. I'm just defending the factuality of my Ching clues. I'll be there in two weeks. I'm not a beach guy though, I'm more of a lava, hiking and volcanoes guy. Gonna stay on the Big Island this time. (Counting on the local ABC affiliate to not preempt network programming sunday at 7:30am ).
Slightly OT, but something I found on soccerage that is related to my search--A potential USian abroad: 07/15/2003. Everton keeper Espen Baardsen has decided to hang up his gloves at the tender age of 25. "Yes, I have decided to quit," confirmed the former Norway international keeper, who has been mired in reserve teams since his days at Tottenham. "The last years in football have not been good for me," he explained. "Now I am more dedicated to get an education. "But first I will take a year off and travel the world. My car is packed and I am raring to go."
Not off topic at all, my friend. Okay, you backed into this one, but to not give you the answer and make people think it's someone else wouldn't be fair. It is in fact California-born Espen Baardsen, who, being a GK, decided he'd be better off trying to play for Norway. He only got four caps, but he did make the squad at the 1998 World Cup.
Okay, I guess I didn't realize he had played for any of our youth entities. Better lucky than good, I guess Bring on the next one...I think I'm getting good at this.
Alright, enough with the geography debates. Now, I'm someone else. I represented the US on youth teams and scored a goal at a U20 World Youth tournament. My senior team experiences have been limited. Professionally, I've never played outside the US.
American citizen=quite possibly someone who is captied to someone else or has not played for the Nats. I'm not sure how long he's been playing down in the lower divisions of the English League and the Conference, but I'll guess Junior McDougald.