Postscript

SPORTING GOODS

OK, I know I'm being ridiculously parochial here, but the more I hear about the World Cup, the less excited I get about it. Viz.,

South Africa's police commissioner says seven World Cup replica trophies have been stolen from FIFA headquarters in Johannesburg.

... FIFA said the trophies were taken from a storage room, but there was no sign of a break-in. The trophies, which are usually used as gifts, are about 6 inches tall and worth $256.

... police were looking into the theft and suspected the people responsible were "very familiar with the environment in the FIFA offices."

Great security setup, what?

And this has nothing to do with the fact that the freaking United States of America can't get together a side that can defeat a nation less than a tenth its size.

UPDATES — And, of course, the fact that every team is populated by babies, and FIFA's sanctioning of hideous officiating in what should be the sport's premier event are more reasons to ignore it.