We thought we did. However, things have toned down quite a bit following USA’s exit from the tournament. And that’s an understatement. We were all jumping on the bandwagon, until it came to a screeching halt. So why is it that the rest of the world is so passionate about this fútbol? Sports fans in the US will say that soccer is “too slow,” “too low-scoring,” or “too boring.” I actually thought the matches were thrilling, and will continue to watch. I mean, if you’re a true sports fan, you gotta love this….

Soccer is probably the most played sport in America right now. Seems like every kid plays for AYSO or on some kinda club. Still, it is not even considered a legitimate spectator sport in our country. True, our best athletes do go into football, basketball, or baseball. That’s where the money is.

But still, I feel somewhat apologetic that America doesn’t appreciate the World Cup for what it is. It is a global event. We are too egocentric. This is way beyond our Super Bowl, World Series, and NBA Finals combined. Here are the stats using only TV viewership:

Super Bowl: 106.5 million viewers.
World Series: 17.9 million viewers per game.
NBA Finals: 18.1 million viewers per game / 28.2 million for Game 7.

World Cup: 125 million viewers per match.
World Cup Final: 715 million viewers.

Hopefully, things are changing, and will continue to change. Remember this….?

So, where were you when Landon Donovan scored that goal?