Warszawski: U.S. women’s soccer triumph brings viewers, rapid-fire scoring

Enter the Warzone, never offside but occasionally off-putting.

▪ Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final drew an average of 26.5 million viewers (FOX and Telemundo), making it the most viewed soccer telecast in the United States by a sizable margin.

Of course, the men’s team never scores five goals — let alone four in 16 minutes.

▪ Thank goodness Carli Lloyd had the audacity to attempt that midfield shot when the Japanese goalkeeper strayed too far out.

Because it sure beats Brandi Chastain in a sports bra as a signature moment for women’s soccer.

▪ The U.S. Women’s National Team will receive $2 million from FIFA for winning the World Cup. That’s $6 million less than the U.S. men got last year for getting knocked out in the round of 16.

Just in case you thought things were equal ...

▪ Rory McIlroy may miss the British Open after rupturing an ankle ligament while playing soccer.

That’s what happens when golfers try something athletic.

▪ Last year Fresno State and UCLA agreed to a 2018 game at the Rose Bowl. Total payout for the Bulldogs: $650,000.

Last week Fresno State and UCLA agreed to a 2021 rematch: Total payout: $1.1 million.

In between, Fresno State hired a new athletic director.

▪ The official NCAA men’s basketball attendance figures are out, and they show Fresno State ranked 86th in the country and sixth in the Mountain West at 6,190 fans per game.

That’s obviously tickets sold and not actual attendance, because only a couple times were 12,380 butt cheeks actually touching fabric.

▪ Those same NCAA figures show the Fresno State women ranked 53rd in the country and third in the MW at 2,428 fans per game.

Same disclaimer.

▪ Could Clovis High product Jenna Prandini qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro? Oregon track and field coach Robert Johnson says, “You would think she has a great shot.”

Yes, indeed.

▪ The Lakers didn’t land LaMarcus Aldridge. Nor did they sign Kevin Love, DeAndre Jordan or even Greg Monroe.

So much for Plan A, B, C and D. Roy Hibbert? Thanks for shopping at Stopgaps R Us.

▪ Aldridge reportedly spurned the Lakers because team officials were more focused on branding opportunities than actual basketball.

In Los Angeles, of all places.

▪ Draymond Green re-upped with the Warriors for five years and $82 million, a relative bargain in NBA dollars.

And only in NBA dollars.

▪ Before he injured both hands in a fireworks accident, Jason Pierre Paul did not sign the New York Giants’ $14.8 million tender offer.

That’s one decision that blew up in his face.

▪ History was made Sunday at Chase Field when Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa opposed Diamondbacks righty Rubby De La Rosa.

First matchup in baseball history of mediocre pitchers with the same surname.

▪ The Giants lost six straight games after they cut former Bulldog Casey McGehee for the second time. Coincidence? Probably.

▪ It’s one thing to read about how bark beetles and the drought are doing a double whammy on our forests.

Quite another to hike up Bear Creek and see dead and dying trees peppering every ridge in sight.

▪ For no particular reason: Brian Bocock

▪ When there’s a crash at the end of a NASCAR race, do fans get to keep the parts that go flying into the stands?

▪ Pretty pathetic how so many auto racing fans only watch for the crashes.

Says the guy who hit the replay button three times to re-live a multi-bike pileup in the Tour de France.

This story was originally published July 6, 2015 at 4:51 PM with the headline "Warszawski: U.S. women’s soccer triumph brings viewers, rapid-fire scoring."