The World Cup

Unless you have been sleeping under a rock, you probably have heard about the world cup by now. You have most likely seen Zinedine Zidane's headbut of Marco Materazzi at the end of overtime in the final match. At the time I wrote this post, the date was July 5th...and I had no idea at the time that Italy would be the crowned soccer champions of the world.





7/5/2006


This year's world cup of soccer is being played in Germany. I'll have to be honest. I'm not the biggest soccer fan. My soccer experience was 4 years as a kid in the house leagues. My position was left fullback. This is a defense position where I am supposed to prevent the ball from going into our goal. To be honest, I was more likely to play with more mounds of dirt when I took the field rather than a soccer ball.

But the thing about the world cup is that everyone in the world stops shooting their guns, taking their hostages, persecuting would-be terrorists and watches the tele. This year is no exception. I have become a soccer fanatic. Back home, I get up at 6 AM Pacific time just to watch Iran play Mexico.

Italy is addicted as well. At the time of this journal entry, they are playing the semi-final match against Germany. I've watched Italy beat Ghana, the Czech Republic and Australia. Everyone in Italy watches. Shopkeepers, Street Sweepers, and Bus Drivers alike - you name it, they watch it. In some towns, every store will close for 2 hours as little TV's glow across the land. In other towns, large TV Screens are illuminated and as many as 300 people watch on a given screen at a given time.

I do not know whom to root for. Italy? The country I am traveling in right now or Germany? The host country. Who knows? I am rooting for soccer - the bringer of peace, the bringer of madness...for even a short while. Play ball!