On.. the World Cup

Every four years, the world stops for a month, and soccer/futball takes center stage. This is the first year that I have been truly into the event. My former favorite sporting event the Olympics (summer and winter) is nothing compared to the World Cup, but the World Cup truly celebrates the world and sportsmanship for me. In the Olympics, individual athletes take focus. Shaun White rocked the Vancouver. Michael Phelps (my lover) dominated Beijing. I can't remember special about Turin. Soccer, however, is a team sport. One star player does not make a team (*ahem* Ronaldo! I picked you for my fantasy league, and you disappointed me). As the England vs USA game proved, you are only as good as your weakest link's mistakes.

There are several things I love about the World Cup and this World Cup specifically...

1. I love that it's in South Africa. I have always wanted to visit South Africa. It's such a beautiful country with beautiful people but a tragic history. I realized that I know quite little about the history, and I'm glad that I'm being educated through this sporting event. I know the general history of the apartheid. I have heard of Youth Day, a remembrance of the Soweto riot (I don't like the term riot here. It implies that the youth involved did something wrong). I want to learn more. I just heard a great quote from a South African who said something along the lines of this after Nelson Mandela's release from prison: We will never forget, but if Nelson Mandela can forgive, then we should too. How beautiful is that?! This reminds me of the teachings of a certain son born of a virgin birth, you know him? :)

2. I love the atmosphere at the games. People are wearing crazy hats, painted in their country's colors, drinking lots of beer, blowing in their vuvuzelas (my opinions on that later), chanting, singing, and creating all sorts of ruckus. You don't see this much pride in other sporting events. Win or lose, I hope everyone who traveled to South Africa to watch the games will come home with pride for their own team and also a greater appreciation for other countries.

3. I love that soccer is a true international sport. Everyone can play soccer. All you really need it a ball. The World Cup inspires kids to play soccer and be active. It's an equalizer, a redeemer. Rich Switzerland can play, and so can not so rich Honduras or Ghana or North Korea. The world hasn't seen any North Koreans for decades, and now they score a goal on soccer giant Brazil! That's amazing! What other sport is like that? Sure, watching Federer vs Nadal is exciting and all but how many kids in the world gets a chance to play tennis? Not many. Go futball!

** my thoughts on the vuvuzela. I say, "stop being a baby!" All (exciting) soccer games are loud. If they didn't have vuvuzelas, then people would have other noise makers. I was sitting next to someone with a ratchet at the Mexico vs Angola qualifying game, and I nearly popped an ear drum. The only people who are complaining are the people who haven't gotten their way and need a scapegoat. If it's not the vuvuzela or the Jabulani ball, they would find something else to put the blame on. You can't please everybody because many people just like to complain. Plus, I like the buzz that the vuvuzelas creates in the stadium. I find it very festive and memorable. I love waking up to the sound every morning because the bf gets up at 7 to watch the first game of the day.

GOALLLLLLLL!!!