The numbers are in, and they are astounding. America has officially gone wild for the World Cup, providing prime evidence of soccer’s—nay, football’s—ascending rise in popularity stateside. The Yank’s match against Portugal was a bit of David v. Goliath situation, as Portugal—a team loaded with international superstars—was universally expected to defeat the US Men’s National Team. That didn’t happen of course, and the television ratings were anything but Davidian.

Sunday’s match drew over 24.7 million viewers, the highest ratings ever for any US soccer event. For a comparison, the fifth game of this year’s NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs drew 18 million. The 9.6 Nielsen rating the US/Portugal match received also does not reflect the hordes of people who attended viewing parties (Grant Park in Chicago reportedly attracted over 20,000 fans, to the point where they began turning people away).

Or the estimated 200,000 US faithful that purchased tickets to attend the World Cup live.

The United States was second only to the host-nation in terms of ticket-sales, and as evidenced by the raucous chants of “I believe that we will win” emanating from the Arena de Amazonia in Manaus on Sunday, they attended in full-force.

Soccer’s popularity growth in the States has obviously been a glacial process, but since David Beckham decided to take his talents to Los Angeles and Landon Donovan watched his star rise to the level of ‘National Hero’ in the 2010 World Cup, the sport has expanded exponentially. ESPN and FOX have television deals in-place to broadcast Major League Soccer games, sports stores are stocking English Premiere League jerseys alongside US-based gear and MLS is continuing to add franchises in new cities (including Orlando.)

A sport that has struggled mightily to gain a foothold in the United States has finally has its hooks set in the hearts of the US sports fan population. There’s no denying it anymore. Part of this, I feel, is the inclusivity and unity that an event like the World Cup promotes. Just search “Jermaine Jones goal fan reaction” on YouTube for throngs of people collectively losing their minds. Strangers hugging strangers. Thousands flooding street-parties and local watering holes to root for the same team. It’s a feeling that I personally have never experienced watching a sporting-event prior to the 2014 World Cup, and hope resonates in the minds of Americans once it’s over—building on the momentum and viewership gains this summer.

The day was winding down, and for whatever reason—possibly the afternoon showers that roll-in like clockwork during every Florida summer that contribute to the early-evening doldrums that so many Floridians experience—but I found myself ruminating on a day in elementary school.

It was 1995, and my family had just relocated to Orlando from Atlanta. Being the new kid in class, I was looking for ways to ingratiate myself with my classmates. As a shy ten year old, I wasn’t exactly the best at making friends, so I did what a lot of kids my age would do: I recruited my Dad to help.

My class was hosting a ‘bring your parent to school day’ where parents would come in and discuss their careers. My dad wholeheartedly volunteered—unfortunately, the parent presenting before him just happened to have the coolest job on the planet. My dad followed a classmate’s firefighter father by enlightening a fourth-grade class about the basics of annual percentage rates and appreciation values. He powered through it, realizing that the principles of credit card responsibility were falling flat after the tales of heroism that preceded him.

Watching a floundering presentation is normally extremely uncomfortable: but I remember feeling tremendously proud. Proud of my dad for knowing that the ins and outs of his chosen career would not resonate with a group of children, but having the willingness to help.

I sat on my porch and reflected on that day as the storm clouds draped the Orlando skyline, and how it was a microcosm of my entire relationship with my dad. He is the epitome of the supportive parent, regardless of circumstance. I am incredibly blessed to have him in my life, and the moments I get to spend with him are never taken for granted.

Happy Father’s Day, Pops. I’m honored to call myself your son.

The highly anticipated Belmont Stakes was Saturday evening, and scores of households tuned in to see if California Chrome could achieve the coveted title of Triple Crown winner—the first horse since Affirmed accomplished the feat in 1978. What they got instead was a Cinderella Story turned a Sore Loser’s Saga. After failing to win the race, California Chrome’s owner Steve Coburn made an absolute fool out of himself by fervently protesting owners who had held their horses out of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, referring to them as ‘cowards.’

He then doubled down on his remarks on the Sunday talk-show circuit, going so far as to invoke nonsensical analogies such as playing a game of basketball against a child in a wheelchair or scoops of ice-cream as Baskin Robbins. This man either had a few too many bourbons over the last few months, or he’s completely off his rocker.

Coburn appeared on Good Morning America yesterday, issuing a presumably lawyer-penned mea culpa, but a staged apology will not remove the bitter taste in many Americans’ mouths. With his verbal tirade about cowardice and the rules of horse racing, Steve Coburn removed all of the joy and hope that accompanies an underdog story, and made himself into a poster boy for poor sportsmanship—eliminating a longshot horse as the storyline altogether.

Emotions always run high at sporting events, especially when you have a stake in the outcome. This creates an arena for running off at the mouth and embarrassing yourself, as Mr. Coburn learned Saturday evening. Guarding your tongue is important, especially if you’re in a position of prominence, as allowing the heat of the moment to overtake your reason can produce image-tarnishing results. Steve Coburn wanted to be remembered as the owner of the horse that did what hadn’t been done in over thirty years, instead history will paint him as an example of what not to do when you lose.