You can't credibly have a blog with "mayhem" in the title without addressing the hyped, larger-than-life, wacky, weird, eccentric, amazing, wonderful event that crowns a quadrennial world champion in the sport of (international) football. So, here's a few quick (or not) thoughts on the World Cup (which I've enjoyed more than ever this time around). May they give some perspective:
1. The mistakes of the referees have had significant consequences. The two disallowed goals the US suffered during group play forced them to expend a lot of energy and emotion in their match with Algeria. Which left their tanks empty when they tried to comeback against Ghana. That said, focus and discipline could have kept them from trailing early against Slovenia and Ghana. The team ultimately has to take responsibility. And has. Good for them.
2. While the personalities (good and bad), controversies (refs and vuvuzelas), and incredible competition all have their appropriate share of my attention, I still think the kits (uniforms) are fascinating! If I were cheering based on which jerseys I liked, I think I would have tossed the Americans under the bus and rooted for the Orange, La Celeste, Charlie Brown, Three Lions, Brazil's beautiful Blue and White, and the Classic Argentines. Good show!
3. Pursuing the World Cup Championship is an epic quest, not for the weak of heart. If you don't aim to give your all, you needn't bother showing up. But it's ultimately disappointing for EVERYONE. You disappoint your hometown fans (South Africa/the whole continent). You fall drastically short of expectations (Italy). You fall drastically short of acting like adults (France). You go unbeaten in 460 minutes of soccer, overcome early failures time and again (with a weak goal, some strong goals, and the most dramatic goal scored in the tournament), but ultimately can't overcome your weakness (I don't need to tell you which team this describes). You go deep in the tournament, but not deep enough to be satisfied (Brazil, and several others before this is over). You surpass expectations, but ultimately lose a winnable match by missing a PK in extra time, AND getting stopped twice on PKs in the shootout (Ghana). You sacrifice your ability to play to give your team a final desperate chance to win, and watch from the sidelines as they somehow pull off the victory. But then you have to watch for the next match against a team that would be tough to beat even with you on the pitch (Uruguay's Suarez). You put together one of those amazing strings of victories, somehow making it all the way to the final match. It's like a dream. But you come up short (runner-up). Or you don't. You win the whole thing! You're the champs! A special accomplishment to cherish. But then you go back to your club to play again. You win some, but not all. You lose some, too. Back to reality. Then, 4 years later when the next World Cup rolls around, you have to try to do it all over again (ask Italy how that goes). Ultimately the World [Cup] doesn't satisfy. It's vanity to try to find lasting happiness in it. Great things are achieved in competition and athleticism. Moments of exhilaration are plentiful. But they fade quickly.
What are you trying to fill your cup with?
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