WORLD CUP FEVER

The epidemic has finally hit the ‘Ham

cover story: by sam george

I’m a baseball fan.

world has a soccer obsession, a few are bound
to have brought theirs along. It’s just that we
don’t really grow soccer fans here at home.
Let me clarify. I’m a baseball fanatic. I root ALL SMILES:
Not yet, anyway.
for the Yankees, a quality which endears me Soccer
FIFA awarded that 1994 World Cup to the
to few, but not because I like to win. I really brings joy
United States largely because they hoped that
like to win, actually, but I root for the Yankees to millions
holding the event here would increase soccer’s
because I rediscovered my love for baseball in around the
popularity in the U.S., and all indications
Yankee stadium after a long and bitter divorce world, and
point to success on their part. Maybe you’ve
with the sport. I grew up a Phillies fan, listen- the U.S. is
noticed? The World Cup seems to be on
ing to games on the radio with my dad and only just
everyone’s lips these days, including mine.
travelling to old Veterans Stadium once a year catching on.
Maybe FIFA created a generation of soccer-
to get a first-hand look at the grass. When
loving children in ’94, maybe we’re developing
Major League Baseball struck in August of
a national global awareness brought on by
1994 I was so angry I stopped following it.
worldwide financial collapse, or perhaps it’s
Until, that is, I made the happy mistake of
because ESPN and a host of advertisers sold
moving to New York. New York is a baseball
us on the thing. ESPN “poured more money
town, and I couldn’t live there long without
into its World Cup marketing campaign,”
absorbing a little of the old game in some way.
according to Sean Gregory in Time, “than it
Soon enough, I found myself sitting four rows
had for any other single event in the network’s
behind Yankee dugout, in a stadium that even
history.” Many big-time American brands,
Yankee-haters must agree is a shrine to the
including Budweiser and Nike, also fielded
sport. A shrine they tore down, but whatever.
soccer related ads.
Now, I watch some part of almost every game
Regardless of origin, this new found soccer
in the season, and in baseball that’s saying
obsession has led to record viewership for
something. Baseball is a part of who I am, and
this World Cup. 17.1 million people tuned in
I have a lifelong relationship with it. I don’t
to watch the U.S. vs. England match, which
know any other Americans who feel the same
was more than turned out to watch games 1-6
way about soccer.
of the NBA finals. The United States’ loss to
How could I? I’m almost twice as old as
Ghana last week garnered 19.4 million viewers
Major League Soccer, which was founded in
here, and while we were crying about that, the
1993 as part of the successful effort to lure the
Mexico vs. Argentina match on Univision be-
1994 World Cup to the United States. Soccer
came the most-watched show in U.S. Spanish-
is the fresh-faced new kid on the block, when
speaking network history. I know I watched
it comes to national sports. It can’t possibly
the U.S. vs. Algeria game on Univision, be-
have the kind of deep emotional ties to the
cause the English version wouldn’t work on-
American psyche the way that baseball and,
line. It was more fun anyway. They just don’t
say, college football do. I’m not saying soccer
know how to yell “Gggggooooooaaaaalllll!!!”
fanatics don’t exist here. The United States
on ESPN and ABC.
is filled with many cultures and many races,
Speaking of which, I’ve been doing a little
and since almost every other country in the
yelling myself these days. I’ve got the World

8 j u l y 8 - j u l y 15 , 2 0 1 0 B I R M I N G H A M W E E K LY
Cup fever bad, I’m telling you. When the portant thing is to choose, and then to watch.
U.S. scored against Algeria, I ran around the Be a team player, and wish another country
Birmingham Weekly offices screaming with well. One would only hope that other nations
my arms raised, not because I knew it was would do the same for us if we ever make it
the thing to do, but because soccer is such to a World Cup final.
an unbelievably nerve-wracking game that Now, perhaps you have a magnificent
I had to relieve the tension. It’s impossible home theatre with one of those new-fangled
to tear your eyes from the screen, knowing 3D televisions, and if you do, by all means
that if you walk away for even a second you stay home. The rest of you should head out
might miss the only part of the game that to one of the many World Cup viewing
matters. This is at the same time almost parties that will be happening around our
unbearable and incredibly alluring. I can city. I can’t think of a better way to cope
see how people might say soccer is boring, with your new World Cup fever than by
that nothing happens. But it’s the possibility surrounding yourself with other like-minded
of something happening that makes all that individuals. Personally, I’m headed for Sloss
nothing so compelling. Furnaces, where event coordinators expect
I also find the idea of participating in such over a thousand people to be in attendance
a massive global event appealing. I remember to watch the final on a 16’ x 12’ LED screen
when Greece won the 2004 European Football accompanied with live music and other activi-
Championship, because I was living in one ties. Tickets are a meager $3 and all proceeds
of the largest Greek communities outside of benefit the American Red Cross. Oh yeah,
Greece at the time and the entire neighbor- and there will be food and beverages for sale
hood shut down during the game and then as well.
Unfortu- remains, and
exploded afterward in a tumultuous and I’ll never stop loving baseball, I learned
nately, we’re out the winner will
impromptu parade that lasted for twelve that lesson long ago. It is too entwined with
of contention now, and play The Netherlands
hours. You would never see that happen after my identity and history to let go. But there
the easy thing to do would in the final. The semi-final is
an Olympic victory, but like the Olympics, the is room in my heart for a little soccer, and
be to turn away in disinterest and go back to a revenge opportunity for Germany, whose
World Cup is an event that unites the Earth if every four years I get distracted from the
watching baseball. The Yanks are leading the team still contains 19 members of the squad
together in a common experience. It levels the boys in pinstripes as they battle through the
division (barely) and are about to head into that lost to Spain in the final of the 2008
playing field, so that a tiny country like Ghana beginning of the sweltering summer heat, so
the All-Star break, and I have to say I do miss European Football Championship. These two
can beat a gargantuan like the U.S. using only be it. Next time I’ll be ready when the fever
the crack of the bat and the drone of the an- teams have met in the World Cup three times,
their athletic ability (and I must say, their hits, ready to sit anxiously on the edge of my
nouncer as I nod off into a nap. But it would and Germany holds all the wins (with one tie).
astounding ability to stall). My wife jokingly seat, eyes glued to the ball as the U.S. makes
be the wrong thing to do. Just because we’re Whomever the victor, I suggest you pick one
suggested that we should use the World Cup another valiant attempt at glory.
not in the picture anymore doesn’t mean the of the two finalists and root for them as if they
to settle our grievances with other countries
World Cup doesn’t have plenty of excitement were your alma mater. I’m pulling for The
bloodlessly, instead of warring endlessly with
to offer. Netherlands because I spent my honeymoon
them. If only such a scenario were possible!
As of the writing of this piece, one semi- in Amsterdam, and your reasons for choosing
Wouldn’t it be a gas to see national boundaries Write to editor@bhamweekly.com.
final match between Germany and Spain a team can be equally as irrelevant. The im-
decided with penalty kicks?

FIELD OF DOLLARS: Record WORLD CUP FINAL VIEWING EVENTS

spending on marketing for the
World Cup has produced record Cantina
viewership in the United States. (2901 Second Ave. South, (205) 323-6968)
July 10—3rd Place Match (1:30 p.m.)
July 11—Final Match (1:30 p.m.)
Get your “Goal!” on at Cantina, located in the Martin
Biscuit Building at Birmingham’s Pepper Place.

Rojo
(2921 Highland Avenue South, (205) 328-4733)
July 10—3rd Place Match (1:30 p.m.)
July 11—Final Match (1:30 p.m.)
Watch the game on Rojo’s 100” screen in the side room.
Happy Hour prices will be in effect during the game.
For more info, visit rojo.birminghammenus.com.

Sloss Furnaces
(20 32nd Street North, (205) 324-1911)
July 11—Final Match (1:30 p.m.)
The match will be shown at Sloss Furnaces on a
16’ x 12’ LED screen, and food and beverage
vendors will be on-site throughout the event.
Proceeds benefit Red Cross programs and services.
For more info, visit www.alredcross.org

Urban Standard
(2320 Second Ave. North, (205) 250-8200)
July 10—3rd Place Match (1:30 p.m.)
Keep yourself caffeinated during the match with
Urban Standard’s excellent brew.

july 8, 2010 B I R M I N G H A M W E E K LY 9