COLUMNIST

Michelle Kaufman has been a sportswriter for 21 years. She is a Miami native and graduated from the University of Miami in 1987 with a double major in Journalism and English. Her career began at the St. Petersburg Times, where she covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was one of the only women covering the NFL at that time. From there she went to the Detroit Free Press, where she spent seven years before returning home to the Miami Herald in 1996. She has covered 10 Olympics, four World Cups. Everywhere she goes, she marvels at the passion for soccer, a level of passion rarely seen in American sports. Her love of soccer began on the sidelines of K-Land park in Kendall, where she spent many-a-Saturday cheering for her brother, Steve, an outstanding sweeper.
Email her.

Top Story

In My Opinion

Gold Cup fever begins to set in

Honduran Soccer player Carlos Pavon with the soccer tournament Copa de Oro in the Miami Herald studio on Wednesday, June 26, 2013.

The 2013 Gold Cup opens at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Sunday, and then heads to Miami’s Sun Life Stadium on Friday with Honduras-El Salvador and Haiti-Trinidad and Tobago matchups. Among the many story lines in the 12-nation regional championship are these two burning questions:

Michelle Kaufman: Brazil-Spain a dream final in Confederations Cup

After weeks of clashes between police and protesters on the streets of Brazil, Sunday offers a confrontation everybody is excited about, a dream Confederations Cup final between Brazil and Spain at 96,000-seat Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
In My Opinion | Michelle Kaufman

Michelle Kaufman: Americans have plenty to improve after Belgium beating

Jurgen Klinsmann rarely is at a loss for words, but the U.S. national coach struggled to find an answer Wednesday night when a reporter asked him to name three good things to take from a 4-2 loss to Belgium that wasn’t as close as the score suggests.
In my opinion

MLS fans in South Florida are getting a treat this week

You wanted MLS to return to South Florida? You got it.
IN MY OPINION

Michelle Kaufman: Landon Donovan’s leadership missing as U.S. prepares for World Cup qualifiers

Will Landon Donovan ever rejoin the U.S. national team? Will he play in the Brazil World Cup next summer? That remains to be seen. It looks like he won’t be on the team anytime in the near future, and that’s a shame, because he has been such a good leader on and off the field.
In My Opinion

Going Dutch pays off for Altidore

If only the U.S. national team could borrow some of Jozy Altidore’s goals from the Dutch league, what a happy man Jurgen Klinsmann would be.
In my opinion

Platini wary of Germans’ success

Much is being written around the world this week about the shift of power in Europe from Spain to Germany after Bayern Munich thumped Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate and Borussia Dortmund knocked off Real Madrid 4-3 to set up an all-German Champions League final in London on May 25.
Tennis spotlight

Roddick, Fish show support for Collins

Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish were among the many athletes to publicly support NBA center Jason Collins on Tuesday when he announced that he is gay. Collins is the first male athlete playing a major U.S. team sport to come out, and the two tennis players congratulated him for his courage.
IN MY OPINION

Michelle Kaufman: European soccer sees shift in power to Germany

Judging from across the big pond, it appears there is a changing of the guard taking place in European soccer, a major power shift, a passing of the torch.
In My Opinion

Michelle Kaufman: ‘Miami runs for Boston’ at Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run

The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for a race in downtown Miami late Thursday afternoon — bright blue sky, 79 degrees, gentle breeze blowing in off the bay, and surprisingly little humidity for this time of year.
In My Opinion

Revolution family deals with tragedy

The Boston Marathon bombing hit the New England Revolution family hard. John Odom, the father-in-law of Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis remained in critical condition heading into the weekend after undergoing three surgeries for severe injuries to his legs and ribs from the blast.
In My Opinion

European-style final four enough to dance about

The final four of European soccer has been set, and if college basketball analyst Dick Vitale were calling the semifinal matches, he’d have plenty of reason to shout, “Yeah, Baaaaaaby!”