By Dave Roloff Published Jun 16, 2003 at 5:28 AM

I typically only write about sports people watch. There are a few stories from lesser-known sports worth telling, though, proving once and for all that I am a man of the people.

Funnycide's Loss is Also Horse Racing's

If there a sport that needs a Cinderella, it is horse racing. Once one of the most popular sports in America, horse racing is become as interesting as the WNBA. Once a top beat for sportwriters, it takes a magnifying glass to find results from various tracks--if they are there at all. Midnight came too soon for Funnycide at the Belmont Stakes.

Funnycide is a gelding purchased for $75,000 by six friends from Sackets Harbor (NY) High Class of 1966. Modern horse racing is dominated by multi-million dollar farms and the richest of the rich. Names such as Bob Baffert, D. Wayne Lukas and Nick Zito dominate the sport. Funnycide's 65-year-old trainer, Barclay Tagg, never trained a horse for a Triple Crown race. Funnycide racing at all is the equivalent of someone entering their rowboat in the America's Cup.

There hasn't been a Triple Crown winner since the great Affirmed in 1978. Nine horses have achieved the first two legs since, including five in the last seven years. Funnycide arrived last week at the Belmont with the weight of not only winning on his shoulders--but that of an entire dying sport.

Most die-hard sports fans cannot even name the three Triple Crown races and where they are held. That is likely to continue because Funnycide couldn't close the deal. Despite an amazing run at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Funnycide will just go down in history as just another horse no one will likely remember. (Try to name three of the nine horses.)

Funnycide will race again and might win more races and money for his owners. Another year has gone by, however, without a Triple Crown winner and horse racing has dipped further into the sunset of mainstream popularity.

Boxing Hypes Wrong Fights

If anyone else had the privilege of catching last week's fight between "Irish" Mickey Ward and Arturo "Thunder" Gatti at Boardwalk Hall, they were treated to one of the best fights in the history of the sport. As good as this fight was, it couldn't compare to the first time these two fighters met in the ring. There wasn't a title on the line--this was for the love of the sport.

All three fights went the full 10 rounds and there wasn't a second wasted in any of them. Contrary to clenching and grabbing of the heavyweights, these two junior welterweights constantly threw punches and didn't mind being hit. Both fighters seemed to be fueled by taking shots coming back with barrages of their own. Adding to the suspense, Gatti broke his hand in the fourth round on a punch to Ward's hip. At the end of the round, Gatti's trainer Buddy McGirt asked him what he wanted him to do. Gatti, seemingly in a scene from Gladiator, said, "I must go on." {INSERT_RELATED}

And he did, continually pounding Ward with that broken right hand to improve his record to 36-6 despite being knocked down by Ward in the sixth round. It was Ward's final fight of his illustrious and action packed career. This fight also ended a trilogy that has to be

ranked with the great trilogies of all time with Muhammed Ali-Joe Frazier and Sugar Ray Leonard-Roberto Duran.

Boxing needs to promote these types of fights. Like horse racing, boxing is dying. Overshadowed by scandal and the general lack of good fights in the heavyweight division, boxing needs to promote fighters people want to watch. Boardwalk Hall was sold out and raucous for a non-title fight in a non-glamour division. Fights like these could bring back a sport nearly down for the count.

U.S. Soccer Continues Good Showing

The U.S. national soccer team is building on its surprising 2002 World Cup quarterfinal visit by preparing for the upcoming Federation and Gold Cups. They're proving their seventh ranking in the world is no fluke. After tying Mexico in Houston a month ago, the U.S. defeated Wales and New Zealand.

While these teams are not world powers, the U.S. would have struggled against them 10 years ago. Not only have the handled these "friendlies" with ease, they have done so with their second team. Many of the best players are hurt or playing with their club teams.

Claudio Reyna has yet to play this year due to injury and goalies Brad Friedl and Casey Keller have been overseas with their clubs. Beating these teams with is ease is an improvement, but knowing the depth is there from the MLS is an even better sign.

A litmus test for American soccer is coming up in the coming months in the Federation and Gold Cups. Qualifying for the 2006 World Cup is only a year away. It is hard not to be excited about the direction that Bruce Arena has taken this team, even though some of games are about as exciting to watch as the NBA Finals.

The U.S. under-17 team is also preparing for the World Championships that are to be held in Finland. Experts from around the world, including Tommy Smith, are giving the U.S. a chance to take home the title. The player receiving the most publicity is 14 year-old Freddy Adu.

Originally born in Ghana, Adu along with Langdon Donovan and DeMarcus Beasley, are the future scoring threats for American soccer. The U-17 tournament is regularly looked at as a preview of the 2008 World Cup.

Dave Roloff
Dave was born and raised on the south side of Milwaukee. He is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh where he graduated in Business while playing four years of football. He is a sports junkie who, instead of therapy, just watches the Bucks and the Brewers. Dave is a season ticket holder for the Brewers, Bucks and Packers, as well as a football coach at Greendale High School. Dave still likes to think he still can play baseball but has moved on to the more pedestrian sports of bowling and golf. Dave is a Pisces and it depends on whom he is walking with to determine whether he likes long walks on the beach. Dave writes with an encyclopedic knowledge and a sarcastic flare. Mainly to insure his sanity.