June 10, 2026
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Michael's Daily Notes
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From "Socialist" Sport to the World Stage.
Jack Kemp was a former NFL quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, a nine-term Republican congressman, Bob Dole's vice presidential running mate in 1996, and my onetime boss at HUD, where he served as Secretary. Back in 1986, he took to the House floor to weigh in on whether America should host the 1994 World Cup. His answer was no, and his reasoning was memorable.
"I think it is important for all those young men out there who someday hope to play real football," Kemp said, "where you throw it and kick it and run with it and put it in your hands - a distinction should be made that football is democratic capitalism, whereas soccer is a European socialist sport."
Kemp would later say his tongue was firmly planted in cheek. Maybe. But the attitude he captured was real. A national survey at the time ranked soccer 67th among favorite spectator sports. Tractor-pulling was 66th.
Congress disagreed - passing a joint resolution unanimously in August 1987 to back the hosting bid. The World Cup came to America in 1994.
Tomorrow, the FIFA World Cup opens - and 78 of the tournament's 104 games will be played right here in the United States, with the final set for July 19th at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
A new Economist survey shows that 10 percent of Americans now name soccer as their favorite sport - edging out baseball, the self-described national pastime, at nine percent. Soccer ranks third in America today, behind only football and basketball.
The man who called it a socialist sport would have appreciated the irony. Tomorrow, the whole world comes here to play.
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DAILY POLL
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Which would you rather watch: Baseball or Soccer?
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TOP STORY
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After the U.S. blamed Iran for a collision involving an American Army attack helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump warned that Tehran would “pay the price” for delaying negotiations as both sides exchanged new strikes that threatened to further escalate the conflict.
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TODAY'S YOUTUBE
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SPONSORED BY PARX CASINO
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IN OTHER NEWS
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Steve Hilton advanced from California’s crowded all-party gubernatorial primary to set up a November showdown with former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, though the Republican faces long odds in the heavily Democratic state.
Democrat Graham Platner, a progressive combat veteran and oyster farmer, will challenge longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a nationally watched Maine Senate race that could help determine control of the chamber, even as Platner faces ongoing scrutiny over past controversies and personal conduct allegations.
Teams are turning everything from elite boarding schools and college campuses to luxury resorts into temporary World Cup headquarters as the expanded 48-team tournament stretches across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
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A MESSAGE FROM COMCAST
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A Texas jury convicted teenager Karmelo Anthony of first-degree murder in the 2025 fatal stabbing of fellow student Austin Metcalf at a Frisco track meet, concluding a closely watched and deeply divisive case that now moves to the sentencing phase.
The Washington Post's Editorial Board argues that President Trump has weakened Iran through military pressure and economic blockades, but warns that pursuing a rushed peace deal could undermine U.S. leverage and give Tehran resources to continue its nuclear and regional ambitions.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who scored 32 points in a Game 3 win to cut the Knicks' NBA Finals lead to 2-1, told ABC News he's looking to "have fun" as the Spurs look to even the series in a pivotal Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.
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CARTOONS
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by Rob Rogers
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MORE NEWS
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New research suggests the rise of smartphones and digital technology since 2007 may have played a significant role in declining fertility rates, with studies linking increased screen time and reduced in-person interactions to fewer births among younger generations.
A pending Supreme Court decision on whether states can count mail-in ballots received after Election Day could force California to change its voting procedures for federal elections, potentially affecting ballot deadlines, voter participation, and election administration ahead of the midterms.
As anticipation builds around Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's highly secretive wedding, experts say the couple is likely employing elaborate privacy measures to keep details of the celebrity event under wraps.
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For the Left
An appeals court is weighing whether records from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Mar-a-Lago investigation should be released, as a separate controversy involving a former federal employee accused of improperly handling investigation files adds scrutiny to the preservation of the case’s records.
For the Right
Amid ongoing turmoil and leadership changes at 60 Minutes, veteran correspondent Lesley Stahl said Paramount CEO David Ellison personally assured her that the program's editorial independence would be preserved, offering reassurance to staff seeking to restore morale after a period of uncertainty.
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