Keeping Some Perspective

I'm enjoying my quadrennial vacation -- or perhaps I should say homage -- for the World Cup. I've been collecting some random thoughts about things that have happened on the field or within the stands but today it's important to focus on the host nation. South Africa suffered a rather decisive defeat at the feet of Uruguay today. Adding insult to injury was the red card handed out to their starting goalie meaning that he won't be eligible to play in the crucial match against France. Having to defeat France for any chance of moving into the second round is not a good position. South Africa could very easily become the first host nation to bounce out of the World Cup in the first round. Despite serious doubts, the US team managed to make it into the second round in 1994; South Korea and Japan also managed to do so in 2002 (with the South Koreans making it all the way to the semi-finals). Host nations are supposed to rise to new heights. I hope South Africa can somehow pull out a miracle.

But then again, South Africa has already pulled out many miracles. Today is South African Youth Day marking the anniversary of the Soweto riots. Prior to the match, ESPN showed clips of current South African students who thanked the brave souls who protested in 1976. Not only did those earlier students make a stand for education in South Africa, their actions were also powerful expressions against apartheid.

While the World Cup may seem all encompassing at the moment, I hope South Africans reflect on this day against the backdrop of history and not the bleak picture of today's soccer. It was sad to see South Africans leaving the stadium early and to note the sad expressions of those who chose to remain to the bitter end of the soccer match. But no soccer result should diminish South Africa's journey. In the movie "Invictus" there is a scene where Morgan Freeman (playing Nelson Mandela) notes that black South Africans are cheering for England during a rugby match. One of South Africa's defenders, Matthew Booth, is injured for this World Cup. When I first watched him play, I wondered if some fans -- non-white fans -- were actually booing him. Not the case. He has become a fan favorite to the point where fans yell "Boooooooooth" when he touches the ball. During South Africa's matches, the stadiums has been filled with South Africans of all varieties cheering for the team. Those students during the Soweto riots were protesting for fundamental rights but in less direct ways their actions may have also led to the sights we're witnessing during the World Cup.

I'm sure that there remains much to do in South African in terms of racial equality or harmony or economic progress and equity. But then again how many nations can claim that they are done when it comes to such things?

A Dubious Start for the World Cup

Yesterday I watched the team drawing and placements for the 2010 World Cup next summer in South Africa. While many throughout the world are already mapping out what they hope will be the easiest path for their team (and no doubt I will start considering the various permutations soon enough), I am struck by the ongoing "Le Hand of God" saga involving Thierry Henry. If you follow soccer even casually, you are no doubt aware that Henry handled the ball (not just once, but twice) before the goal that secured France's passage to the World Cup (and doomed Ireland's hopes). Apparently even this year's World Cup draw host nation babe Charlize Theron entered the fray. During the rehearsal for the drawing it is rumored that when she drew the ball for France she called out Ireland's name.

Always ready to defend honor (and perhaps also to criticize the French), the English soccer press has insisted that nothing short of the "honor of the game" is at stake. SMS alert: the honor of the game has already been lost. Anyone who knows me somewhat knows that I am a soccer fan. But I'm not a fanatic.

FIFA and UEFA are investigating one of the biggest soccer match fixing cases in history that might include matches in the Champions League -- the jewel of European club soccer. Only three years ago, mighty Italian clubs Juventus, Fiorentina and Lazio were relegated to Serie B for match fixing. Players regularly dive looking for penalties or free kicks. Even one of FIFA's attempts at fair play has been twisted for perverse purposes. Players will regularly fall to the pitch and writhe around in apparent pain, seeking a stoppage in play or for the opposing team to kick the ball out of play. It's amazing how many of these players hop up right afterwards or if the ball returns nearby. And there continue to be truly unfortunate and reprehensible incidents of racism or violence associated with soccer. The beautiful game has a distinctly ugly side.

Apparently, Henry is quite distraught about this whole incident. This is the individual who helped launch FIFA's anti-racism campaign so he clearly has a civil streak within him. FIFA is investigating the matter. It's possible that they might even ban him for the opening match of the World Cup. France's last World Cup campaign ended with Zidane's inappropriate use of his head and their current World Cup campaign begins with Henry's inappropriate use of his hand. Let's hope that they and the other teams let their feet speak for them. With such a high profile case of cheating, it's possible FIFA might clamp down on unsporting behavior during the 2010 World Cup. Each World Cup offers another opportunity for FIFA to right the ship or at least keep it from hitting an iceberg.

There's a great deal of attention and focus on this first World Cup in Africa. Nelson Mandela was instrumental in bringing the World Cup to Africa and he offered words of inspiration and encouragement in the sublime manner that perhaps only he can manage. The movie "Invictus" will bring to the screen the story Mandela's simultaneously inspired and calculated move to unite South Africa behind their rugby team during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. At the least, sport is an interesting pastime and, at the worst, a terrible distraction from things that really matter. But it does have the power to unite, inspire and electrify an entire nation. If the 2010 World Cup brings attention to South Africa's remarkable journey, then perhaps we should celebrate that more than the soccer.

But at the end of the day, what drives soccer more than anything is money. Is it a surprise that players, managers, and football federations behave in an uncivil manner given the very large sums of money that are involved. Which team would sell more t-shirts and tickets: France or Ireland? This World Cup may bring attention to Africa but I doubt there will be much discussion about soccer clubs basically purchasing the "rights" to children from Africa in the pursuit of the next soccer legend. I have no doubt that FIFA will try to do something about fair play during this World Cup. But I suspect something else is worrying them even more at the moment.

World Cup ticket sales are much slower than expected.