Cruelly, the weather is great on weekdays, and sours on the weekends. The seasonally-cool intermittent rain is a good excuse to stay indoors and watch the World Cup.
Is it just me, or is America beginning to take notice of the World Cup? No, you’re right. It’s just me, rooting in earnest (and ultimately in vain) for Algeria to prevail over Slovenia (the only country in the world with “love” in its name.)
Since we don’t have ESPN, and since I don’t feel comfortable hanging out in bars at 10 in the morning, we must watch most of the games on Univision, the Spanish-language channel. I’m trying not to absorb too much Spanish because it screws with my French retention. Every other word is “La pelota,” which happens to be the first Spanish word that I learned in middle school. But I’m rapidly learning other words, like “falta” (foul), “cabezazo” (ball hit with the head), and “Ooooooouuuuuuuuhhhhhhh!” (missed attempt at a goal.)
Yesterday’s big US versus England game was on network television. It’s not often that Mr. P will be all “Rah, rah, America,” but apparently the world of soccer is the only place where the USA is less objectionable than England… probably because the English want it so bad. (12% of English fans would give up sex for a year to see their team win the World Cup, here). Because England hasn’t won since 1966, they feel entitled to win… which is why the NY Post headline today read “USA Wins 1-1.”
Yes, England is a better team, and the USA was lucky to score a goal off the bobbling, buttery hands of English Goalie Robert Green. But make no mistake: Luck is a personal attribute like any other. To have good luck is no different than having a loud voice, a bad temper, a proclivity for sweets, or the ability to kick a soccer ball. You can’t win a World Cup solely on luck, but you certainly can’t win a World Cup without it.
