It's put up or shut up time for U.S. Men's Soccer

This week could be the biggest game in 28 years for the future of men's soccer in the United States. To qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia, the U.S. team must win one, and at least tie in the other, in the two games scheduled this week.

They meet Panama at home on Friday and then Trinidad and Tobago away on Tuesday. With the way they have played recently, it is nowhere near a foregone conclusion that they'll make it to the tournament. If they don't, it will be the first time since 1990 that they will not be competing in the World Cup.

In what I thought was a surprising move, the Philadelphia Phillies decided to reassign their manager Pete Mackanin to an administrative position inside the Phillies organization. Since the Phillies had such a good second half of the season, with the brand-new players Ryhs Hoskins and Nick Williams, I thought Mackanin deserved another year as manager. I hope this change turns out to be a good one.

Well, it is October so the playoffs have started in Major League Baseball. I will be rooting for the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers to meet in the World Series. I would like to see the Dodgers win it all. They haven't won since 1988 and former Phillie, Chase Utley, is on the team.

Last week's Presidents Cup of Golf was very disappointing if you like close matches. The U.S. men crushed the International team 19 to 11. In the first three days, the U.S. team completely overwhelmed their opponents in the team portion of the event. The U.S. team got off to an insurmountable lead of 11 points to the International team's 2 1/2 points.

The International team leaders Jason Day, Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott just simply did not show up until the singles matches on Sunday. I hope the next Presidents Cup competition in Australia two years from now is a lot more competitive.