FIFA fever

Sports fans around the globe are in the grips of World Cup mania, and it's no different inside the Lim residence in North Greenhills. Every evening finds the four of us (we're missing the biggest football nut of us all, but Hanks will be home in just 9 more days, hurray!) with butts firmly planted on our living room couches, watching the nightly games live, thanks to the pay-per-view box we had hooked up to our TV. I don't have my dad and brother's comprehensive understanding of the sport and its rules (I still don't get the whole offside thing), but I like seeing countries, especially the smaller, underdog ones, coming together in nationalistic pride and solidarity to cheer for their team (crazy face paint, kooky hats and all). When Trinidad and Tobago survived a goal-less match versus a supposedly stronger Sweden squad, the nation celebrated like they had won the championship. When the beleaguered Togo team scored the first goal in their match against Korea, the players rejoiced by doing a bunny hop dance on the field. No matter that they eventually lost-- it was their first World Cup Finals appearance, and they had a goal. It's really amazing to witness such spirit and unbridled, achingly primal yet deeply human joy.

And yes, I enjoy watching cute players running around in their shorts. That's the main reason I'm rooting for England. Can I help it that Becks is so darn hot? :p