Why Americans rooted for Brazil

instapundit.com ^ | June 30, 2002 | Glen Reynolds

[Conservative Chicagoan]

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June 30, 2002

WORLD CUP INSIGHT: Reader Jonathan Singer writes:

As the World Cup draws to a close, so does the latest round of pundits hectoring Americans to care more about soccer and insisting that we are missing all sorts of crucial information about the world by ignoring the sport. In that spirit, I'd like to share the insight the tournament gave me today.

As I was heading to work in Boston (having gotten up early to watch the game and cheer on Brazil), I got stuck in a traffic jam caused by dozens of Brazilians waving flags and Ronaldo jerseys, honking and cheering. Without exception, all the Americans were honking and cheering along with them. It occurred to me that everyone I'd spoken to who knew about the game was rooting for Brazil. It's pretty clear who we consider to be "us".

Admittedly, Brazil is one of the hemisphere's more likable and attractive countries. But it seems to me the EU would be a little concerned to know how much more our attention is focused south (and west) instead of east. It's a new millennium, and there's nobody Belgium can indict that will change that.

Yeah, I was rooting for Brazil, too, but I hadn't really thought about it that way. I think he's right.

Posted by Glenn Reynolds at June 30, 2002 04:08 PM

[Enterprise]

Ach ya, und why shud ve root for dem arrogant krauts anyvay! Dey run around der field yelling "Putzen der ballen in der netten" und the Brazilians "just do it."

[Mark17]

Why Americans rooted for Brazil

I didn't.

[irish guard]

Neither did I

[skeeter]

This guy is really straining to make a point, whatever that point might be.

[FreedomPoster]

I didn't root for either team, and neither did most Americans. This is likely because, despite all the soccer fans' boosterism, and hopes and wishes it were otherwise, soccer is not on the radar screen for most Americans (other than maybe as a little kid little-league sport).

The comment I saw on FR that sums it up best:

Americans prefer sports requiring opposable thumbs.

[grania]

There are some really good Brazilian restaurants in the Boston area, and the Brazilians there are really nice. So, yeah, I'm really glad that Brazil won that Soccer game.

[Calvin Locke]

Must be referring to the Brazilians' skill at robbing banks.
Did you hear about the immigrant would-be bank robber last week?

He was told more money was in the vault, and he goes in - *SLAM* went the vault door.

[BobinIL]

Maybe we rooted for Brazil because their chicks are hotter

[stainlessbanner]

Maybe we rooted for Brazil because their chicks are hotter

Bwaaahaahaahaaaa!

[poet]

That makes that of us. I'd rather watch a haircut than soccor or golf. Incredibly boring

[skeeter]

He was told more money was in the vault, and he goes in - *SLAM* went the vault door.

Whats scary is this guy is probably more intelligent by a factor of 5 than the INS guy who swore him in.

[BlueLancer]

I was hoping for a tie game and then maybe seven or eight hours worth of "golden goal" (sudden-death) penalty kicks.

That might have broken any inclination of television networks covering this sort of trash again.

[xp38]

Claudia Schiffer looks good.

[John O]

Brazil was playing? what at?

God Save America (Please)

[Mark17]

That makes that of us. I'd rather watch a haircut than soccor or golf. Incredibly boring

Yes, and so is baseball, but I do watch tons of NHL action. I think it was Brendan Shanahan, of the Detroit Redwings, who said they have the hitting of football, the athleticism of baseketball, the hand/eye coordination of baseball, and they play it on ice, so you gotta respect them.

[Koblenz]

Who roots for another country at 7:30 AM? Is this guy crazy?

[jordan8]

1. Most Americans weren't rooting for Brazil, because most don't give a damn about soccer (or to use its formal name, kickball).

2. Anyone in this country who in any way, shape, or form aids and abets the spreading of this malignant disease here should be shot.

3. Survivors should be shot again.