The 2010 FIFA World Cup, also known as "The Mondeal" in many countries, is upon us. The games began with the first match being played on Friday.I watched the World Cup match between the USA team and the team from England.
I can honestly say that the game was not interesting at all. It was a big snoozefest. With all the hype, I thought there was a chance that us Americans got it wrong. Perhaps there is something to the sport that is really captivating, that us Americans just have not picked up on until now. I figured I would give it a chance.
I gave it a chance and found out we Americans are missing nothing by not following soccer/football. It is a great game for fitness, but a boring game for sports.
There are many benefits to following professional sports. It allows you to dream, to live vicariously through others. What kid in New York did not grow up dreaming of playing for the Yankees? What kid in Chicago did not grow up dreaming to play for the Chicago Cubs?
One of the other things that is is great about following professional sports is that it urges and motivates you to play sports as well. You want to be like Mike. You want to see if you can pull off the same move you just saw Kobe do in the game the other night. You want to see if you can shoot the 3 pointer like Ray Allen. Hit the ball as far as Albert Pujols. And to dream to do something like Daniel Nava - to hit a grand slam in your first major league pitch is the ultimate.
Professional sports lets you dream, but it also motivates you to head out to the park and play ball. To go for a run, to start weightlifting, to play some one-on-one basketball. Whatever sport you happen to prefer, you will play harder after you watch a professional match.
The problem for us Americans with the World Cup is that we don't really understand the sport. We don't understand the strategy, the framework of the game, or even the positions of the players!