Thirty-two proud countries are strutting their soccer stars at World Cup 2018, hosted by Russia.  A riveting feature of the pre-match aura is each team's national anthem and the robust pride it engenders amongst players and rambunctious fans.  No one is ignominiously taking a knee.  No player is sulking in the locker room.  Instead, everyone is relishing his nation's sovereignty and cultural treasures as if he were wearing the colors of Shangri La itself. The soccer players line up smartly, often overwrought with passion as their patriotic paeans permeate the stadium.  Sometimes more exhilarating than the subsequent action on the pitch, it's just compelling to observe their unbridled loyalty to their homelands.  Nevertheless, the greatest national anthem is not resonating at the World Cup – the U.S. didn't qualify. Disconcertingly, some of our athletes abdicate patriotism in favor of misguided...(Read Full Article)