by ButterflyEffect

For that, surely, is the lasting message of Sunday’s game. Americans, like practically everybody else, have gone a little World Cup crazy. As a lifelong soccer nut, and a naturalized American citizen, I welcome this development—and readily admit that I didn’t see it coming. Like most U.S. soccer fans, I’ve been conditioned to think of the sport as a minority interest. Twenty years ago, when the World Cup was held in the United States, it attracted big crowds, and Team U.S.A. played well, progressing from the group stage before losing to Brazil, the eventual winner. But the mainstream media, and most of the population, treated the event as a curiosity rather than as something to get exercised about. Now, although the tournament is being held three thousand miles away, things are different.

I was part of a world cup viewing party for the first time this past weekend and it was awesome. I've almost always watched the world cup, but never as a defined "we're going to drink and watch soccer". Also, I've noticed a ton of bars showing the games now, and even the House of Blues was filled to capacity for the US v. Portugal game.

Anyone else been watching the world cup?