Perhaps the most telling example of the impact the USA's run at the World Cup had was the reaction at Major League Baseball parks.

Fans at the Kansas City Royals' Kauffman Stadium broke into chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!"when Landon Donovan scored on a penalty kick. Royals infielders stood together behind the mound and watched the USA-Ghana game on a giant screen as a pitching change was made in the ninth inning. Chicago White Sox players waiting the take batting practice let out out audible groans. Asamoah Gyan had just scored to put Ghana ahead in overtime.

Fans in Kansas City for the I-70 interleague series between Kansas City and St. Louis had to decide whether to watch the baseball or soccer game. The Royals accommodated them by showing the soccer game on their CrownVision.

"I actually emailed the Royals ticket office when I found out there was going to be a conflict with the games and asked them what they were going to do," said Cardinals fan Brian Dopplick. "My friends were coming in town for the game and we debated selling our tickets so we could watch the World Cup. But when the Royals said they were going to have the game on TVs, we decided to do both."