Dawn in her yellow robe rose in the east...

...and John Tierney is still an idiot.

Today's column is perfectly emblematic of the Tierney style. "Contrarian" superciliousness. Cultural cluelessness. And this:

Yes, there are flashes of brilliant improvisation from stars like Ronaldinho, but I've come to think of soccer as a version of the Iliad without the Trojan horse maneuver or the heroic showdowns. You watch the armies going back and forth, but no one breaks through because they keep so many soldiers back on defense.

Is there no requirement that Time$elect columnists have some knowledge of their cultural references? Have the editors decided they won't...ya know...edit Tierney's columns anymore?

There is no "Trojan horse maneuver" in the Iliad.