world cup musings

Please note, I really am not a sports fan but I like to watch the World Cup. Oh, and play Tiger Woods golf on my PSP. That's the extent of my interest in sports.

I have to agree with Wil Wheaton that watching the World Cup on HDTV is totally fabulous. I'm so glad that it worked out for me to be at my dad's house during this tournament - the picture on this humongous tv is fabulous. You can see each blade of grass in the close-ups of the soccer ball! You can see the beads of sweat on the players' faces as they run around after a little ball for an hour and a half in 90 degree heat!

Oh, and the games are mostly fun to watch too (though you do see the odd game where you wonder if the players are half asleep or something). I've managed to see at least one game almost every day since the World Cup started and it's been pretty interesting. Today I found I had a lump in my throat watching the last game, Korea Republic vs. France. One of the things I love about World Cup soccer is the way the fans sing and cheer and chant their way through every game, but today was really something else. It was incredible to see the number of Koreans who came all the way to Germany and brought amazing costumes -- and drums! They drummed and sang their way through literally the entire game - I'm not sure if they sat down at all - and they were absolutely beside themselves with joy over the eventual 1-1 draw, while the French players and fans slunk away in a huff. It was really something to see Koreans of all ages putting on such a loud and enthusiastic show of support for their team.