America, The Beautiful Game

That Wheel of Fortune-inspired post title serves to jam together two thematically unrelated yet temporally linked events of interest to the G:TB community.

This morning, the Doofus Overlord and the Bride of Doofus Overlord walked from their place of employment to the Supreme Court to take in the sights and sounds. SCOTUS heard arguments this morning on the validity of California's Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage. Judging from their personal recollections and dispatches from others on the ground, it would be hard to find a gathering of two more polarized groups. From the Christian wingnut right to the Equality is Metal/Unicorn left (picture below), the breadth of human understanding was on full and vocal display.

Veteran SCOTUS observers seem to think that the Court may decide that the appellants
have no standing in the case, in which event the lower court's ruling overturning Proposition 8 will be upheld. This would have the effect of legalizing gay marriage in California, but permit the Court to stay mute on the broader Constitutional question. Punting, if you will. Chris Kluwe will not be amused, though Solicitor Ted Olson is on record as saying that such a result is a win for the pro-equality forces. This very clearly seems a case where the moral arc of the universe is bending towards justice.

Later, in today's other major America, Fuck Yeah news, the U.S. Men's National Team enters its traditional house of horrors to play Mexico in Mexico City's venerable Estadio Azteca. The U.S. has never, ever, not even once prevailed against El Tri in Azteca during World Cup qualifying, compiling a 0-13-1 record. In all, Mexico sports a 68-1-6 record in home qualifiers, losing only to Costa Rica in 2001.

To make matters worse, the U.S. catches an angry side this evening, after Mexico squandered a two-goal advantage in the final 14 minutes on Friday as Honduras escaped with a draw at home. After two matches, the Mexicans find themselves in the unfamiliar position of 4th in the CONCACAF table, while the U.S. sits in second on the strength of Friday's snowy 1-0 win over the Ticos.

Chicharito is a duck.

Further complicating things, the U.S. won't have Jermaine Jones or Tim Howard tonight, with both lost to injuries. Landon Donovan's still wandering on a peyote-fueled journey of discovery, as well, though Jozy Altidore's shown his best form as a national team member of late and Clint Dempsey remains a stalwart. The Jones injury may well be the biggest blow, as his yeoman midfield work was a key against Costa Rica. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has never lost to Mexico, either with the U.S. or with Germany, but the odds are long tonight.

We'd be thrilled with a draw on the pitch. And, now that I think about it, we'd be pretty happy if the Supreme Court gave us the judicial equivalent when they rule in a few months.