The Importance of the World Cup

Posted Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at 9:34 AM

FIFA World Cup Trophy

I am not a soccer fan, nor can I play it efficiently. When I would play intramural soccer at UE (University of Evansville), I was the guy who the team did not want the ball to go to. Since soccer did not like me, I felt the same way about it. Regardless of the hate-hate relationship I (continue to) share with the sport, I understand its importance in the world.

Soccer is the world's most popular sport, and for the next month we will see the world do something rare: unite. The World Cup does something that politics or religion cannot achieve, and that is bringing the world together for a month long soccer tournament.

We will see the world celebrate and cry as country after country advances or loses. Furthermore, we will see fans cheer their favorite players and jeer their least favorite ones. People who never claim to be soccer fans come out of the woodwork to cheer on their home country.

The most important aspect the world will do for the next month is not fight. Sport, alongside music, unites people. Until the 11th of July, the world will not fight (as much), nor shall it see severe periods of distrust from one country to another. Furthermore, the world will rally around the World Cup because in all reality, it is the one of two things that can really connect a diverse and difficult world. For that reason, I am a fan of the World Cup.

Till Next Time

Comments
Showing comments in chronological order
[Show most recent comments first]

I was not aware that all fighting/wars were suspended during the world cup, thanks for the info.

-- Posted by chevygleen on Mon, Jun 14, 2010, at 7:42 AM

Like you, I am not a huge fan, but I did find myself trying to catch a snippet or two of this past weekend's action.

And like you, I think the reason I like soccer (futbal) for one month every four years is because of the global unification it invokes in the majority of countries. There will always be the bad apple, much like commentators in this newspaper, but the World Cup does something that not even the olympics can do. All countries, large and small, free and oppressed, have just about an equal shot at it.

-- Posted by RDK on Mon, Jun 14, 2010, at 12:44 PM

What a bunch of feel good nonsense. To actually believe that the world is significantly less violent because a soccer game is played is insane. There are some that attribute many deaths to the sport of soccer.

-- Posted by wotownboy on Mon, Jun 14, 2010, at 9:20 PM

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/1...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footbal...

Just Google world cup violence, if you need some facts.

-- Posted by wotownboy on Mon, Jun 14, 2010, at 9:31 PM

Many soccer fans take the sport more seriously, and are more intense in their rivalries, than any American Football fan. Youtube is a good source of video evidence.

Stallion Security Consortium, the union security team in charge of watching over the World Cup stadium in South Africa, went on strike and the demonstration turned violent. Police broke it up with tear gs and rubber bullets. Fights and violence are not uncommon at soccer games.

-- Posted by James30096 on Tue, Jun 15, 2010, at 10:30 AM

I only have a very simple thing to say about the World Cup.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

-- Posted by Wordmaster on Tue, Jun 15, 2010, at 4:18 PM

I did some reading, I am afraid that it seems as though the world cup causes more pain than comfort to most.

http://www.bongoline.com/blogs/world-cup...

A lot of stories about HIV spreading and many other problems. It is a sad commentary that most times competitions cause fights not unity.

-- Posted by johnpaulcoleman on Tue, Jun 15, 2010, at 5:40 PM

Drew,

I kind of agree with you.

But it would be much more enjoyable to watch it if they did not blow those horns.

-- Posted by Wiglund on Wed, Jun 16, 2010, at 12:08 AM

Wiglund, I read an article that said, paraphrasing, those horns are an expression of "African Pride". So, I'm betting any attempt to get rid of the horns would be labeled racist so I wouldn't hold my breath.

Here's the article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jun...

-- Posted by James30096 on Mon, Jun 21, 2010, at 9:27 AM

While I agree with you that there are fans that come out of the woodwork(me included). It is naive of you to think that soccer unites anything but soccer fans, if that. Soldiers are still dying on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. Oil is still spilling out in the Gulf. Iran still wants to annihilate Israel and anyone that supports them. The list goes on. Perhaps the fighting might stop in some of these countries when the game is on, but after that it is back to normal.

-- Posted by POP on Fri, Jun 25, 2010, at 4:10 PM

The Point

Drew Landry

- Recent posts
- Archives
- Blog RSS feed

- Comments RSS feed

- Login

Hot topics

The Grand Finale
(8 ~ 11:53 AM, Aug 11)

For The Dads
(1 ~ 12:13 PM, Jun 19)

The Once and Future Subject
(49 ~ 5:59 AM, Jun 15)

Personal Story
(6 ~ 9:48 AM, Jun 1)

Mom's Day
(3 ~ 8:27 AM, Jun 1)

Home