I’ve been counting down to June 11, 2010, for more than three years.
And in 38 days, my dreams will come true. When I think about June 11, tears come to my eyes, I lose control of my emotions, and I think of the beauty that begins on that day.
The World Cup.
Held every four years, one fortunate nation gets to host the greatest month in sports.
The World Cup brings together not just 11 soccer players from one nation as a team, not just a country in support of their side, not just 32 nations, not just hundreds of thousands of fans in stadiums across South Africa. The World Cup brings together the world.
I’m not saying this because soccer is supposedly greater than sports like football or basketball. I’m saying this because the World Cup is free of the ills that have seeped into modern sports today. Players are not paid extravagant salaries by national teams, nor do players pick and choose the country they want to represent. There are no big-money contracts with players, no fancy shoe deals overshadowing the actual games.
Of course political struggles do seep into the World Cup, as with any other international competition. But those are not what the world is coming together to watch. Fans, and players, come together for the beautiful game of soccer.
What exactly does the World Cup have to do with UCLA? Not much, I admit. There’s little Bruin connection to the field of 32. But we are all part of the world. We can all enjoy what will take place in the stadiums of South Africa.
The World Cup’s beauty is also in part due to the nature of soccer ““ two 45-minute halves. No commercials, no time-outs. It’s all soccer for three quarters of an hour, then a 15-minute bathroom and hot dog break, then another 45 minutes.
And when the Republic of South Africa faces Mexico in Ellis Park Stadium in Jo’burg for the World Cup opener, I’ll be up at 7 a.m.
And that’s what I’m eager for ““ that’s what I’m mentally drooling over.
The World Cup is not just another sporting event. Countries put aside their internal differences and unite behind their boys on the pitch ““ just look at Cote d’Ivoire when it qualified for the 2006 World Cup. It was the country’s first trip to the games, and in the midst of a bloody civil war, Cote d’Ivoire put down its guns, and the factions agreed to a cease-fire. The team was made of players from different ethnic groups and religions, and people from Cote d’Ivoire came together in support of their team.
Some may say that sports are making people irresponsible, that they’re putting aside issues to watch a silly game. But I ask, what are the issues we’re putting aside? And what’s wrong with a nation, even the world, coming together?
That’s what the World Cup ““ in fact, sports ““ is about.
And that’s why I’m excited.
E-mail Mashhood at fmashhood@media.ucla.edu.
Love the article!