Bulletins From BA #28
17 junio 2014
¡Hola! there… Rodger
French here.
World Cup Report #1
La Copa
Mundial de 2014 (2014 World Cup) is well and truly underway in Brazil, and Buenos
Aires is in the grip of some profound fútbol fever. Having lived in South
Africa during the 2010 World Cup, I find myself once again giving over to it
with great enthusiasm.
Which is not to say that I am any kind of expert about the game itself.
In fact, it barely turns up on my sports radar in between these quadrennial
outbursts. Naturally, this in no way precludes my having very strong opinions
about the whole extravaganza; opinions I am willing, nay, obligated to share.
With you.
FIFA – The international
governing body of fútbol is an enterprise of operatic proportions; answerable
to no one, subject to no laws but its own, and corrupt to the core. It is an
organization seriously in need of a few RICO indictments.
Patriotism - Not so much.
Nothing against the USA side; they’re good and might actually survive Group G
(“El Grupo de la Muerte”). I’m just not all fired up about them, that’s
all.
Best Outcome - Argentina wins,
preferably beating Brazil in the final match. Oh, por favor. This place would
go berserk.
Likely Outcome - Four years ago, I
fearlessly predicted that Germany would win the 2014 World Cup. I stand by
that.
Favorite Player - Argentine forward
Lionel Messi is easily the most popular person in Argentina, with the Pope running
a distant second. Messi is brilliant, his footwork is impeccable, and he does
not reenact the death scene from “Camille” every time he’s touched. Plus, he
looks like the guy who makes pizzas at the corner café.
Favorite Team - Ghana. The Black Stars
should have made the semi-finals in 2010, but were robbed through a combination
of flagrant cheating and bullshit rules. Also, it would be nice to have a World
Cup Champion from somewhere besides Europe or South America, but, I don’t see
that happening this year.
Sworn Enemy - One of the great
things about the World Cup is that it allows one to harbor and nurture grudges
for four whole years. Mine happens to be against Uruguay; specifically, forward
Luis Suárez. Suárez is a world-class player and (arguably) racist drama queen.
It was his totally intentional hand block that resulted in Ghana losing in 2010
and, thus, I hate him to the bottom of my socks. I don’t just want him (and
Uruguay) to lose: I want them defeated and humiliated. I make no apologies.
Happy Consequences - I remarked on this
is a one of my “Postings From Pretoria,” but it bears repeating. The World Cup
inspires no end of informal chats among Embassy employees. Everyone is engaged
and conversant and it all makes for a very cool working environment.
More
later. It’s game time.
¡Adelante!
Rodger
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