WORLD CUP FEVER!!!!

mood: competitive
pandora/ipod: "vogue" by madonna

It happens every 4 years: a strange illness envelopes Americans from coast-to-coast. A bizarre event where hot, hot men run around a ridiculously large field kicking a black and white ball at each other for 90ish minutes. ("Ish" because sometimes is 91:45. Sometimes, 94:02. Or 93:33. It's like a surprise - you never know exactly when that whistle is going to sound!) And it gets better - there isn't necessarily a winner. Matches can end in a tie! Insanity!!!!

And yet we, as country, are utterly addicted. I was walking the dog at 7:15 this morning and heard at least three apartments in my neighborhood with the Portugal - Ivory Coast match on. I mean, this isn't even a sport that most Americans embrace on a professional level, and yet here we are watching two countries we don't have much emotional stake in, dueling it out in soccer match.

World Cup Fever. I haz it.

Okay, there are added bonuses. Like this:

(England goalkeeper Robert Green)

And this:

(American goalkeeper Tim Howard)

Or these:

(Italian Soccer Team)

These are all really, really, REALLY good reasons to be a World Cup soccer fan. But to me, there's something about nations coming together, about rooting for the underdog, about see the crazy passionate fans sitting around the rain for hours and hours to see their team - it's sort of intoxicating, isn't it?

I love the World Cup. I love that ESPN is getting massive ratings - again - for showing all the matches. So if you haven't checked it out, I suggest you do. You can watch online at ESPN3.com. At work. Like I do. :)