The World Cup 2014
Yes there is a lot more buzz about soccer these days and I've even watched USA play their matches.
Twelve years ago I got up at about 5:30 am to watch Brazil play in the finals against Germany. The bar opened early and you could eat breakfast while you watched the match. Even then there were a lot of folks from Brazil in Miami and Houligans Bar was an interesting venue, even if playing in South Korea made the time difference a pain.
This year Miami was alive with soccer again. David Beckham and partners are looking for a handout to build a stadium downtown, first at the seaport, then maybe if they would fill in a part of the bay they had dredged to house maybe another cruise ship, and finally in a space near the Marlins Park site of the old Orange Bowl. TBA I guess.
I'm entertained by the gushing praise given the team this year. Getting to the Sweet Sixteen is much better than not qualifying for the Soccer Big Dance, but it is hardly like playing in the Final Four or winning the Soccer Super Bowl. The conservative nature of the games is very noticeable once you get to the "knock out rounds". Team USA really could have looked bad in their game against Germany except that their goaltender who really saved the day more than a few times. Players in these games are world class and I really appreciate all the running they do and in many cases these guys should also get academy awards for the dives they take and the miraculous recoveries they make.
I wonder if this would have been such a big deal if the games had been played somewhere other than Brazil. Miami being the gateway to South America and watch parties are a big thing for ex pats with a rainbow of team colors. The games are taking place maybe not in prime time but at least at a reasonable hour and in Miami you don't need much of an excuse to knock off early or have a very extended lunch break to watch a game.
The final game is scheduled for 3:00 pm, July 13, 2014. Worldwide this will be bigger than a Super Bowl, and I'll probably be watching. I may not have a horse in the race but once every four years I can make a space to watch a game that is mostly foreign to me.
Where else can Germany fight France without causing WWIII.
Twelve years ago I got up at about 5:30 am to watch Brazil play in the finals against Germany. The bar opened early and you could eat breakfast while you watched the match. Even then there were a lot of folks from Brazil in Miami and Houligans Bar was an interesting venue, even if playing in South Korea made the time difference a pain.
This year Miami was alive with soccer again. David Beckham and partners are looking for a handout to build a stadium downtown, first at the seaport, then maybe if they would fill in a part of the bay they had dredged to house maybe another cruise ship, and finally in a space near the Marlins Park site of the old Orange Bowl. TBA I guess.
I'm entertained by the gushing praise given the team this year. Getting to the Sweet Sixteen is much better than not qualifying for the Soccer Big Dance, but it is hardly like playing in the Final Four or winning the Soccer Super Bowl. The conservative nature of the games is very noticeable once you get to the "knock out rounds". Team USA really could have looked bad in their game against Germany except that their goaltender who really saved the day more than a few times. Players in these games are world class and I really appreciate all the running they do and in many cases these guys should also get academy awards for the dives they take and the miraculous recoveries they make.
I wonder if this would have been such a big deal if the games had been played somewhere other than Brazil. Miami being the gateway to South America and watch parties are a big thing for ex pats with a rainbow of team colors. The games are taking place maybe not in prime time but at least at a reasonable hour and in Miami you don't need much of an excuse to knock off early or have a very extended lunch break to watch a game.
The final game is scheduled for 3:00 pm, July 13, 2014. Worldwide this will be bigger than a Super Bowl, and I'll probably be watching. I may not have a horse in the race but once every four years I can make a space to watch a game that is mostly foreign to me.
Where else can Germany fight France without causing WWIII.
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