World Cup Fever
Well, unless you have been sitting under a rock, you know that the world cup is currently going on. And let me tell you, I'm quite excited about it. My goal this time around was to watch every single game. Which lasted about 3 days before getting up every morning at 5am finally took its toll on me.
So, I missed a few, and then realized that this was okay because some of them were actually pretty boring.
Last Wednesday my fiance and I got DVR and this makes watching the games even easier. Now I can record the games and watch them at my liesure, and I can just fast forward through the boring ones looking for interesting moments.
What makes a game boring? Basically, if I don't care who wins. And even that isn't enough sometimes.
And unless you have been sitting under a giant rock, you know that the US has had two very exciting and very close games. And let me tell you, those games have me so incredibly pumped. Everytime I think about the goals I get goosebumps.
I'm actually hoping that we can make it to the semi-finals and maybe even the finals. That's how excited I'm getting. That would be amazing!
I recommend watching this YouTube video of people's reactions to Landon's goal in the 91st minute of the game against Algeria. I love the fact that you can see people visibly respond to Dempsey's shot being blocked right before the final kick in. I can imagine that I was going through the exact same emotions.
That video and these photos (and these too!)
really emphasize why the World Cup is such an amazing event. When I am watching
the games, I am participating in something that simultaneously millions of
people all over the world are participating in. It is amazing to think about.
The World Cup really is a global experience. There are few other times when
I feel this way. I can't honestly think of another one right now.
And the US is finally getting in on it big time. Sports Center had a statistic the other day that stated that trading on wall street was down 32% from normal during the second half of the Algeria game. I really do find that statistic hard to believe, but if US soccer was really the cause, that's amazing!
Even if the US gets knocked out though, it is still fun to watch. You just have to choose new teams to root for. So far Argentina and Mexico have been fun. Though on principle I always root for African teams (unless their playing the US—I'm looking at you Ghana and Algeria!).
As to what the US is actually capable of, who knows. We have the elimination round next, where one mistake can mean everything. Let's hope they come out strong. Nate Silver, the statistician extradonaire (he very accurately predicted the last election), has the US at 50-50 odds against Ghana in their match today.
Let's hope they can do it.
And here's to us all watching together at the same time. You, me and the rest of the world!
P.S. Check out these photos of the World Cup preperations as well.
P.P.S. See what people were tweeting during the games in high speed replay.
P.P.P.S. This is interesting, too: Statistically determining the group of death (it isn't who you think it is).
26 June 2010 01:41pm UTC • 279 views • 6 comments
Tagged with soccer, worldcup, excited
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6 comments
Seamonster Bruceeng
26 June 2010 03:32pm UTC
I was listening to the US Algeria game at work on ESPN radio. Talk about stress. After the game I was so wound up I had to go pace the hall for about 20 minutes before I could get back to working. This is the first time I've really been excited about US soccer.
Dread Pirate Benjamin
26 June 2010 09:13pm UTC
Screw it. The world cup sucks.
Sailing Master Keri
27 June 2010 02:35am UTC
:(
Seamonster Mom
27 June 2010 06:13am UTC
usa usa usa
Seamonster Mom
27 June 2010 06:14am UTC
That didn't look right. Let me try it again:
usa. usa. usa.
Dread Pirate Benjamin
27 June 2010 06:18am UTC
How about this?
U! S! A!
U! S! A!
U! S! A!