Quake survivors are real Japanese heroes

We always try to make even the most compelling sports events seem to carry more importance than they actually have.

Japan's women beat the favored United States to win the women's World Cup soccer title in Germany. The game was dramatic, compelling at every turn. The champions went all the way to sudden-death penalty kicks after playing to a 2-2 draw through 120 minutes of play.

That isn't enough for sports fans or the sports media, though. The game had to mean more than a 2-2 draw that went to penalty kicks in the World Cup finale that resulted in a major upset. So, we're going on about the ridiculous notion that Japan's victory somehow makes life brighter for a country four months removed from an earthquake and tsunami disaster that killed and displaced thousands.

The quake and tsunami killed more than 15,000. Thousands of Japanese lost their homes. And, as they try to rebuild and start new lives after their towns and homes were destroyed those poor folks are going to find victory in a world soccer championship match some solace?

Really?

The nuclear power plant that was nearly destroyed remains a problem on the coast of Japan. There will be fallout from that disaster for decades to come. Large portions of land around the plant remain a wasteland. It's absurd to think sport, even the World Cup title game, can take the minds of Japanese off of the reality that crops could be contaminated and that future generations could face an increase in birth defects after nuclear radiation filled their air and blew across their country.

Sure, the Japanese victory brings pride to the people of Japan. Yes, it was an inspirational show of determination and heart by the champions. It was brilliantly-played soccer by a team the Americans seemed to have beaten twice, only to see the Japanese rally to tie.

It's hard to imagine how anything NHK, Japan's national broadcasting network, said after the win can make any sense.

“They kept saying they would bring courage to the victims of the quake disaster,” NHK said after the win.

Yeah, homeless people fighting for survival everyday ... in need of food and water ... will find courage in the fact that the Japanese soccer kept playing its hardest for 120 minutes on Sunday.

Fans in Tokyo, reportedly, hugged and cheered in the streets on their way to work after the victory so many time zones away. There are no reports of mass celebrations among the displaced, the hungry and the sick.

Frankly, it's ridiculous to insist that a soccer match can give courage to people fighting the type fight for their lives the Japanese have waged in the wake of the quake devastation. A soccer match doesn't compare to fighting to rebuild a life destroyed by natural disaster.

In fact, the Japanese who are battling to survive in the coastal regions should be inpirations and heroes to the soccer players.

We always have to make more of the games than is necessary.