by cfmullen ••• I really do love the excitement and spectacle of The World Cup. How could you not enjoy the pomp and circumstance that surrounds it.
The colors, the venue, the genuine exuberance of the South African people, the fanatical crowds: it’s compelling TV. But boy, to be honest, soccer is a difficult sport to watch. ••• As much as I try to stay interested and attuned to the “action” on the pitch, I just can’t help picking up my iPad and drifting off into my Apps. However, I do leave the match on as background noise (thank you vuvuzela players). And when I hear the roar of the crowd and the announcer shouting “GOAL”, I look up and watch the replay - which unfortunately happens only about two, or maybe three times, in ninety minutes. Consequently, I’ve played a lot of Scrabble while watching the World Cup. ••• Now, I know that one has to make an effort to be a “forward thinking, not gonna grow old and set in my ways” kinda guy. So I will accept the challenge that is the World Cup. I will learn to like and appreciate the intricacies of the sport. I will try root like a true fan.
(And by the way, who knew that soccer was a hand-eye coordination sport? Good thing that English goalie never played catch as a kid.) I will yell “goal!” at the top of my lungs at the appropriate times. I will buy
a soccer ball and kick it around the yard with my beloved brown lab, Bert. But world, I’m sorry, I will never able to call soccer, football.