World Cup 2010

There are many sporting events that I can claim as favorites: March Madness, the NBA playoffs (especially when the Spurs are still in them), college football Saturdays, and some of the Olympic events. However, none of those really compare to what I consider the greatest sporting event and my favorite of favorites: the World Cup. The finals are played every four years, but the process of qualifying starts at least two years before (and the finals refers to the final 32 teams, not a singular game). It's the culmination of hopes, dreams, survival, and luck. It's dramatic, gripping, disappointing, and heart-breaking. It's an incredible ride.

One of my earliest memories is from the 1986 World Cup. I don't remember the game, I don't remember the score, and I don't remember the round. I simply remember Brasil getting eliminated, going back to my room in our house in Brasil, climbing into a hammock, and crying. It was a crushing loss, but that's part of the game and part of the tournament. The tournaments infrequency adds more pressure, hope, and suspense.

This year represents an incredible opportunity for the US team. There will probably be more Americans watching the Cup than ever have, especially their opening game against England. Not only that, ABC and ESPN will be showing practically all the games, giving the US audience a chance to watch some great soccer; beyond this summer, ESPN will carry English Premier League (EPL) games beginning in the fall, affording the chance for Americans to continue watching some of the world's best soccer. With a strong showing from the US team, soccer could take a great step in this country towards further developing the US game and its players.

This improvement, I think, will come from the exposure to the world's best players and teams. Some might try to claim that the World Cup is the best soccer; a lot of others believe it's the most dramatic, but not necessarily the best played. The best soccer, arguably, is played in the EPL, La Liga (Spain), the Bundesliga (Germany), and/or Serie A (Italy); these leagues, and others, also place their top teams in what's called the Champions League, further showcasing the top teams in the world. Since these games have been largely absent from American TV, it makes sense that the US game hasn't been and isn't as sound, creative, or strong as the rest of the world's. Americans watch the world's best basketball (NBA), football (NFL), and baseball (MLB), and typically produce some of the world's top players in those sports. Merely watching doesn't produce that talent, but it certainly enhances it and plants seeds to that top development. That same hope, I think, exists for soccer and it gives me great excitement for the future of US soccer.

For this summer, though, the drama and excitement are right around the corner. The  opening game is Friday between South Africa and Mexico. The US and England play Saturday afternoon; the other two US games will be against Slovenia (June 18) and Algeria (June 23). If they place first or second in their group, they'll move on to the round of 16, when the Cup becomes single elimination. And the drama gets taken to a new level.

So join in. Find out more at http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup and tune in to ABC on Saturday at 1:30 Eastern for the pregame coverage. Kick-off is at 2:30 (EST). And get ready for a wild ride.