I have a pretty boring wardrobe. I tend to wear a lot of green, blue and beige.
But for at least three days in June, I will wear a bright red shirt. It’s time for the World Cup.
Since the schedule for soccer’s biggest event came out late last year, I had June 12, 17 and 22 circled on my calendar. That’s when the United States plays its first three matches. Hopefully, they will move on and my red shirt will come out again.
For each game, I will put on the red jersey I bought in 2001 and go to a bar or a friend’s house to suffer through two hours of anxiety and excitement. I will feel solidarity with friends from all over the country – many of whom are traveling to Germany to watch the matches – wearing red, the color favored by most U.S. fans.
Now I know there are some of you out there already yawning or balling up the paper in anger. To tell you the truth, I don’t care if you don’t care.
I know soccer doesn’t make other people feel like I do. I know that some people seethe when they hear the sport mentioned. I know it still hasn’t gripped everyone’s conscience.
That can’t stop me from getting excited. This month is for me and my equally soccer-geekish friends. I don’t need everyone to care whether DaMarcus Beasley plays on the left or right side of midfield when the U.S. kicks off against the Czech Republic on June 12.
But you should care. I’ll spare you the whole everyone else in the world loves soccer cliché because it’s beyond overdone.
Don’t care because the sport grips much of the rest of the globe. Care because this is the United States. Care because we have exciting young players. Care because not too many sporting events allow fans the opportunity to have Guinness and eggs while watching the game.
Actually, that might be one of the letdowns from this tournament for me. Four years ago with the games in Korea and Japan, the latest starting time for matches was around 8 a.m. I didn’t do the beer and eggs things, but I’m going to miss going to bed early so I could catch the 2:30 a.m. match while dozing on the couch. I could catch all or part of two matches then before even leaving for work.
Now, I will listen to the matches on satellite radio while I work. I’ll also record all the action and watch as much as I can when I get home.
Yeah, I’m going a little overboard, but that’s what I do. I don’t expect everyone to care as much as I do. I just hope people take the time out to care.
Don’t listen to the few remaining nitwits working in sports departments across the country who use the World Cup as an opportunity to mock the sport.
Think about it – do you really want to listen to a sports writer or broadcaster who doesn’t like a sport?
Instead of dismissing something out of hand, take a chance to learn something new. Get to know Bobby Convey, Oguchi Onyewu and Landon Donovan. Appreciate the skill and enthusiasm of teams from all corners of the globe.
You don’t even have to wear a red shirt for that. But every little bit helps.