I watch the World Cup on ESPN2. When someone scores a goal, the announcer says, “he scored a goal.”
On the Mexican TV station, the announcer says, “Goooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllll. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL. Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooall.”
See the difference?
When Mexico, Germany, France, Brazil, etc scores, their WHOLE COUNTRY ROARS. The whole country knows. But when the USA team scores, some kid in Chicago is buying a hot dog with no relish--clueless. And some other guy is sitting in traffic with his radio tuned to Howard Stern.
My Portuguese friends’ root for Portugal, my German friends root for Germany, my British friends root for England. And it’s the same with my French, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian, Australian, Iranian and Italian friends—all for their country of origin. Who roots for Team USA? Who in the USA really gives a damn? Just me? Hell, we probably outsource most of our players from other countries anyway.
Where is our National Camaraderie? Where is our National Pride? Has it dissolved into the mixing pot? Is this good? The greatest game in World History has no place in the Greatest Nation?
Maybe we have become so anti-establishment that we ARE the establishment. And what have we established--a Nation of modern day Hippies? Not to say there is anything ‘wrong’ with the Hippie mentality, there are the attractions. But I want to see a Hippie who can play soccer--a Hippie who can see a competitive game as a means to enhance peace and love; a Hippie who can respect and command respect from other Nations in the game; a Hippie who can talk peace, yet can also pick up a ball or gun and get excited about something. Excited about America!
Such a Hippie leader can bring back the Bond America is missing. A Bond that will put us all on the same page when acting on ‘What is RIGHT’ for our Nation and the Nations we share the Earth with.
A thousand years from now, our history books may credit the salvation of our Nation to a shorthaired Hippie sporting a tattoo of the Grateful Dead and carrying a soccer ball.
13 comments:
When I was in highschool we used to have 'pep' rallies, just before a game .... ANY team game. It served to whip up our 'team spirit' and resulted in the noise from the crowd that the players wanted to hear.
Maybe we need a 'country pep rally' for soccer!
I agree, Vince. Our country has a bad case of cynical apathy. Yikes.
mm--yeah good idea. It may take some time though. We have baseball, football, basketball, golf, and tennis etc. to compete with. But at least we have the Olympics. But I still feel Soccer is the answer to World Peace :)
jet--Wow, you've said in one sentence what I was trying to say on my long post, and you've even improved upon it! I guess that's why I enjoy reading your posts--your writing is an art!
Oh, please let me know if my comments to your posts are too crude or unprofessional/un-thought out; then I will tighten it up a little :) The last thing I want to do is minimalize your messages.
I don't think soccer is even considered a "real" sport by most Americans.
The only people I know of who think it is are the parents who spend the weekends carting their kids around for games with traveling teams.
The only world peace ambassador for soccer that comes to mind for me is Bob Marley. Too bad he's not still with us.
Fascinating idea Vince. It seems that us Americans care only about what goes on in our little space in this world.
There are those out there that are different. They're just hard to see, or hear.
Jozee--You seem better tuned into the world than me. Who is Bob? I think you're more of an ambassador to soccer than I am !!!
Colleen--yup. And that little space probably includes a computer which links you into the whole world. So we spend more time watching the world than doing stuff in it. Maybe.
Bob Marley? Surely you jest. He was totally into soccer. One of the brightest lights concerning world peace in my opinion.
***unrelated comment***
I come to you from Josie's. She said you want Neon Balls. Is this true?
Jozee--Oh yeah, I know of Bob. He sang that song "Disco Duck" right?
jk
~d--It's all related. Yes indeed, I would like Josie's neon balls.
haha!
my word there's a lot of rooting going on here...
Pix--What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in bed? Your own bed that is, and alone.
I don't think it proper to converse with the daughter of someone I'm already virtually socializing with--especially about 'rooting'. If you don't inform your mom JJ, then I will.
I'm fearful of your blog btw, but I must comment on your blog now as common curtesy demands it now.
I was a soccer player and a soccer coach...I love soccer!
Great post.
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