World Cup - South Africa - 2010

I am fascinated with all the the hype and emotion surrounding the FIFA World Cup. In many of this world's nations, football (or soccer to us) is the most talked about subject next to politics. Nothing has the power to shut down a nation like their team's appearance in the biggest sporting event on the planet. Even the Olympics don't have that kind of mass appeal.

Every four years for one month the attention of everyone (aside from much of North America) is focused on the nation hosting the games and in this year's case, the entire continent of Africa.

I am fortunate that our national network, the CBC, has really put a lot of effort into their coverage. This is the kind of stuff that the CBC does right. They have a new broadcast center and a nice mix of experts to carry me through the next month of games. They also have been airing documentaries about life in modern day Africa which is the kind of thing I want to go along with the sport spectacular.

I have no team to cheer for though I am tempted to throw my lot behind some underdogs from Africa like Cameroon. In University I used to audit dentistry classes that my buddies were taking by claiming that I was an "exchange student from Cameroon" so there is some history there. I guess I will also cheer for Australia until they get eliminated. I really would like to see someone other than the heavily favored countries like Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Spain or France to win.

I love going to a sports bar during World Cup. If you are lucky to be in a city with a large enough ethnic population you can really absorb the whole spirit of the event when their particular home country is playing. It's fun to see them lose their minds in celebration or defeat and you quickly realize that 'home is home' no matter how far you may be from it. We have a small German population in my home town so I am going to their club to enjoy the fine beer and bratwurst along with the game. I do loves me that bratwurst.

I am perplexed by the inability for the sport to penetrate the minds of North America sports fans. But what should I expect from a part of the world where the championship of baseball is called the 'World Series' and only has teams from two countries. It will probably take a generation of kids playing soccer on every empty field I drive past for the sport to really take off here. Even with the Americans being in the tournament I have heard little about their team leading up to the start of play.

It's a good game that builds up the sense of anticipation since goals are few and far between. The release of emotion that comes with the scoring of a point is cathartic and joyous in a way that few things are. For these reasons and many others, I will be watching.