Benefield: Women's World Cup, Warriors present TV dilemma

Sports fans are facing their own version of Sophie’s Choice tonight when the U.S. Women’s National Soccer team kicks off against Nigeria only an hour before the Warriors tip off against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

Which to watch?

The Stars and Stripes could potentially claim the top spot in their World Cup group and the Warriors could clinch their first championship in four decades.

The women’s team, long dominant on the world soccer stage, have not won the World Cup since 1999. And while tonight’s game against Group D cellar dweller Nigeria is not in the knockout round, the outcome certainly dictates how the team advances.

But the Warriors. How can you not watch them?

Vinnie Cortezzo, coach of both the Casa Grande girls soccer squad and the semi-pro Sonoma County Sol, is doing his best King Solomon imitation and will split the proverbial baby.

He’s on vacation so he plans to find a locale that will show both games - at the same time.

“If I was at home I probably would be taping the women’s game and watching the Warriors game,” the longtime Warriors fan said. “I do think if the women’s game was a knockout game, it would be a little bit more of a difficult decision for me.”

Maybe, because of the magic of recording, there’s no such thing as decision making when it comes to conflicting marquee sports events.

But there is a certain purity in watching sports in real time.

For one, you don’t have to hide your phone in a drawer to avoid all of those “Did you see that?!?” texts.

“I’m not a taper, I have to watch live sports. I’ve got to know,” said Pat McDonald, longtime coach of the Montgomery girls soccer squad but also a Warriors season ticket holder.

“I know the women are going to move on. I’m so confident,” he said. “I’m planning on them being up by two at the half.”

That confidence will make it easier to pop over to the Warriors game at?6 p.m., he said.

McDonald was not the only one to do some quick math calculations to maximize exposure to both games.

The women kick off at 5 p.m. and the Warriors don’t tip off until 6 p.m. That means at least a full half of soccer before beginning the channel bounce.

With a win, the U.S. would clinch the top spot in Group D. A tie will do the same, provided that either Australia ties Sweden or Sweden beats Australia by one goal. A top spot in their group means an easier path forward.

While locals may be torn tonight, millions of others are not. The U.S. viewing audience has clearly made its preference known.

Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night drew an estimated 20 million viewers. The U.S. versus Sweden game on Friday? About 4.2 million viewers, slightly less than ABC’s “Shark Tank.”

“As a basketball coach, I must admit that I will be watching the Warriors,” said Monica Mertle, coach of the Cardinal Newman girls basketball team.

“But from a male-female standpoint, I think there should be equal recognition for what is going on with women’s teams and women’s sports in general.”

And what makes Mertle’s point all the more compelling is that the women’s national soccer team has historically been leaps and bounds better on the international stage than their male counterparts and yet men’s games typically draw a greater following and more media coverage.

But even locals who root for soccer are wrestling with forgoing what could be a historic moment for the Warriors.

Steve Bell, longtime coach of the Montgomery girls basketball team, said he’ll tape the soccer game but his focus tonight will be hoops. It’s not because he doesn’t like soccer; he’s followed it for years and his daughter Christina was a prep superstar at Montgomery who went on to play professionally. But the dynamic of the Warriors-Cavaliers series is too much for a basketball junkie.

While rooting for the Warriors, Bell is in awe of the Cavaliers’ (see: LeBron James) otherworldly effort that has turned this into a series.

“What they are doing is crazy,” he said. “They are making it a good series. But right now it would be good to have the Warriors take care of business - keep it at six.”

Plus, a win tonight will leave our calendars clear to watch soccer until the World Cup final on July 5.

You can reach Staff Columnist Kerry Benefield at 526-8671 or kerry.benefield@pressdemocrat.com, on Twitter @benefield and on Instagram at kerry.benefield.