In the 1970´s, a simmering movement left the film industry perplexed and forever changed. The concept was simple: black pride. Yet from this basic concept sprang a world of parody, action, and humor. The era´s name? Blaxploitation.

The US National team has similarly entered a new era of early goals but late comebacks, known simply as Bradleyextrapolation. The US went down 1-0, but a 3 goal explosion and a missed penalty resulted in an away victory and a ticket to South Africa.

And now, the carefully calculated player grades.

The Big Bad Shaft – Conor Casey

Calling Shaft the king of blaxploitation is like saying Julius Caesar played a part in Roman politics. But many gloss over the fact the theme song, by Isaac Hayes, won an Academy Award. Also, in 2000, the Library of Congress deemed the film worthy of preservation.

Did you expect Conor Casey to play well? Did you snicker upon seeing his name in the lineup? Did you suspect he got the nod instead of Ching because Bob had already called Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden in? Shut your mouth. Conor Casey scored two goals, and his far post finish was badass.

Subtly SuperFly - Landon Donovan

The soundtrack for Superfly actually outgrossed the film, which reflects the talent of Curtis Mayfield and the, well, not so good acting. Still, the plot´s subtle critique of the civil rights movement´s failure to provide economic opportunity and solidarity still echoes true today.

Landon Donovan has been criticized as a softy, as an attacking player who disappears when the going gets tough. Against Honduras, against the wall, Donovan bit back – his free kick was decently struck, but the sliderule pass to Casey will make the European scouts´mouths water. Subtle. Smooth.

The Not So Sweet Song – Stuart Holden

Sweet Sweet Badass´s Song, technically not blaxploitation, paved the way for Shaft with its commercial success and fast-paced montages. Still, despite the admirable perserverance of its creator, Melvin Van Peebles, the plot perpetuated and relied upon certain stereotypes. Ironic? Perhaps, but there is some room for debate.

Stuart is not a lock USMNT starter, but he coped with the pace of play and gifted a handball at a crucial moment. If Carlos Pavon had not skied his effort, Holden would have immediately became a fan-favorite…for Honduras. He also seemed to perpetuate the stereotype that MLS players can´t always handle the speed of play…but there is room for debate.

Better than the Original – Tim Howard

Is Blacula better than the original Dracula? All signs point to YES. The plot is airtight: the leader of an African nation enlists Count Dracula to suppress the slave trade. Dracula, racist, refuses and turns the leader into a vampire. The leader is imprisoned in a coffin for 200 years, but gay interior decorators buy the coffin as part of an estate, bring it to LA, open it, and mayhem ensues!

I loved Tony Meola. Brad Friedel was a stud. Kasey Keller begrudgingly earned my respect. Kinda. But Tim Howard has the athleticism and decision-making to bury those names in the back of my mind. Nice try Mr. Suazo, better luck next time. If Landon is a good player, Timmy is our world class player. Better than the original, although lacking a ponytail.

Not So Velvet Smooth – Charlie Davies

The plot in Velvet Smooth brings to mind the mirror shot from Citizen Kane: an endless cascade of illusory reflections. Questions abound – why would Calvin betray his boss King Lathrop? And what´s up with the Hanibal masks?

Davies did assist Casey´s goal, kindof. But his two misses in front of goal could easily have sunk the USMNT boat. The kid has a great attitude and willingness to use his pace, but seems to thrive more in a counterattacking scheme than in possession.

The Self-Assured Boss – Michael Bradley

Black westerns generally fall into two categories – bad with fleeting moments of amusement, or awful with few moments of amusement. yet Fred Williamson´s dead-on Clint Eastwood impression rocks the screen and even earned a favorable review from the NYTimes.

Michael Bradley did not score a goal or an assist, but did you notice this odd thing – the US actually completed passes! The US offense simmered and boiled and hummed, and usually went through this young man´s feet.

The Confusing Fox – Oguchi Onyweu & Carlos Bocanegra

Not unlike Casablanca, the script for Foxy Brown, an archetype of female empowerment, was a work in progress. At first, Foxy Brown was meant as a sequel to the successful Coxy. But the Studio changed its mind mid-production, and a dilemma arose – what exactly was Foxy Brown´s profession?

Is Carlos Bocanegra best in center or out wide? Is Gooch getting enough minutes at Milan? The bedrock of the US defense looked soft at times, a definite step back from the Confederations Cup. Is Jay Demerit in need of a callup?

The Poor Judgment of Jackie – Jonathan Spector

You are Quentin Tarantino. You have a cult hit to your name, Reservoir Dogs. You have a commercial and critical darling to your name, Pulp Fiction. What´s next? You are Pam Grier. You were a darling of 1970´s blaxploitation, but have since hit a career rut. I know, let´s combine the two! And, on top, make the film unbearably long.

You are Jonathan Spector. You impressed in the Confederations Cup against Robinho, David Silva, and other world class players. So why did Julio DeLeon cause you such a fuss? Less than impressive from the InSPECTOR…

Best Left Alone – Ricardo Clark

Shaft is cool and angry. Samuel L. Jackson has perfected the techinque of portraying the cool & angry character. A match made in heaven? Or hell. The film fell apart because of a subtle difference – subtlety. Samuel L is openly badass, whereas Shaft plays it under the radar when possible.

Ricardo Clark has shown his chops at th MLS level for sometime, winning two championships with the Dynamo. But his first half for the US was a nightmare – Palacios burned him time after time. While Clark can run and tackle, his passing still lacks that subtle something something.

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