BLACK SWANS AND FOOTBALL (SOCCER)

BANZAI SPORTS--With the squad seemingly dead and buried after its opening two games and needing a miracle to qualify, one farsighted punter staked $50 on the USA to win the tournament -- at astonishing odds of 999-1.

After the extraordinary events of the final night of group play, which saw Bradley's men squeeze through tiebreakers -- then its glorious semifinal triumph over top-ranked Spain -- suddenly the hopeful gambler is one result away from a $50,000 payday.

Now thats one way to put a little money on a black swan!