It\u2019s perfectly in Nikola Jokic\u2019s right to delay signing a contract extension until next summer. With the inability of the Nuggets ownership and front office to attract a star free agent, Jokic may be forced to go\u00a0 elsewhere in the NBA to get another ring.<\/p>\n
\u2014 D.J., cross-fading and scratching<\/p>\n
Kiz: Unlike you, Mr. Worrywart, everyone knows I\u2019m a sunny optimist. I do believe Jokic loves Denver. Rather than walking away as a free agent in 2027, waiting to sign an extension could commit him to the Nuggets through his 37th birthday. So what\u2019s there to worry about? Well, now that you mention it \u2026<\/p>\n
Jokic delaying his commitment to the Nuggets? I\u2019m anxious, for sure. I won\u2019t feel like it\u2019s only a strictly business decision until he signs the extension.<\/p>\n
\u2013\u00a0 D.N.F., Denver<\/p>\n
Kiz: Let the tampering begin. How much trolling will Lakers fans do to Denver during the next 12 months? How many times will we be reminded Luka Doncic and Joker are twin basketball brothers from different mothers? Every time the Nuggets visit L.A. to play a game, how much effort will go into the homemade signs waved in the Crypto.com<\/a> Arena that tell Jokic that life\u2019s better at the beach?<\/p>\n The 4-1 loss to Belgium allowed us to see that soccer ranks fifth among sports chosen by American youth. The athletic skill from Belgium was better than the USMNT. But it was a good tournament run, and we can hope this World Cup encourages more boys to choose soccer.<\/p>\n \u2014 M.M., born in the USA\u00a0<\/p>\n Kiz: Although more U.S. kids play basketball than soccer, when you check participation levels in youth sports, soccer ranks right alongside football and baseball. So the problem isn\u2019t the size or quality of the U.S. talent pool. The problem is how we develop our young male soccer players. For 25 years, there has been a false assumption that our bigger, faster young boys can be taught how to become soccer players. That\u2019s round-peg, square-hole thinking. Yes, athleticism matters. But the 40-yard dash isn\u2019t nearly as reliable a predictor of innate soccer ability as simply watching how many times a kid can juggle a ball with his feet.<\/p>\n Kiz, soccer isn\u2019t cool in the United States. The biggest studs in middle school or high school aren\u2019t playing soccer. It\u2019s not fun to play at all.<\/p>\n \u2014 S.D., the \u201cS\u201d stands for studly<\/p>\n Kiz: If soccer isn\u2019t cool, explain why 33 million Americans tuned in to the USMNT\u2019s loss to Belgium, while 24.5 million U.S. viewers were glued to their televisions when the New York Knicks won their first NBA championship since 1973. You are right about one thing, though. Soccer is a pain to play for a husky kid who can find a home on the offensive or defensive lines with his middle school football team.<\/p>\n And today\u2019s parting shot takes exception with my assertion that a wretched World Cup performance revealed Christian Pulisic as the most overrated player in USMNT history.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t know anything, Kiz. Agree Pulisic didn\u2019t play well. But the most overrated? OK, crazy man. Geez. Thought you were better than that. But I guess not.<\/p>\n \u2014 Erik, Mukilteo, Wash.<\/p>\n
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