The Beautiful Game

Soccer is the most beloved sport in the world.

It just isn't America's beloved sport. I am ok with that. I like different.

I like most sports, hockey and soccer being my favorites. American football doesn't excite me like it used to but I still enjoy the Colts and the Dolphins were my favorite team until Dan Marino retired. To me, hockey has the toughest, fittest players due to the skating and intensity of the sport. Some might say basketball is but most sportsmen in basketball and football are showboats and are cocky. It grows tiring and makes the sport less important. Hockey players give the most polite and humble interviews after games. I like that. They have class.

World Cup 2006 resulted in Italy beating France in a shootout. Shootouts are rare ending to World cups but wow, are they it ever exciting. I rooted for Italy the whole month through the World Cup 2006. Zinedine Zidane, a French player whom I never cared for because of his arrogance ended his career in disgrace. He was ejected from the game after head butting an Italian player in the chest. It was embarrassing to watch.

It is now 2010 and I root for Italy again, the defending champions. I hear the critics opinions that the team is old. I am disappointed that some of the key players in 2006 were not rostered for 2010. I am distraught that my favorite player, Luca Toni was considered to old to be rostered. Luca is 33 years old. He is one yummy, tall, hunk of Italian and maybe that is part of the reason I am going to miss him! A 6 foot 4 inch hunk playing the Beautiful Game is quite beautiful! Heck, 6'4" is just plain beautiful on its own. Ok, I will regroup......woah.......

Anyway, I realize the importance of speed. Speed kills is a familiar saying in soccer and probably other sports too. But skill and experience go a long way too. There are some amazing footballers out there young and not so young. Brazil, Spain and Argentina are going to be exciting to watch. There has not been a repeat at the World Cup since 1962 Brazil won back to back title. The Italians gave an ok performance today, ending the game in a tie with Paraguay.

I am still a real fan, not a fair weather fan.

If Italy happens to fall out early- I am going to put my money on Argentina.