The Greatest Day in Sport

It isn’t the Superbowl or the College Football Championship game. It isn’t Day 1 or the final of the NCAA basketball tournament. It isn’t the opening of the Olympics.

I say this unapologetically. Today is the greatest day in sport. Across the globe, millions of people will be tuning in today.

Today starts the World Cup. This is the largest, most watched, most important sporting event across the globe. And it starts today.

Thousands, possibly millions, of Americans will deny this outright. They don’t like soccer. Fine. I don’t care. Soccer is the World’s game. It is the global game. As much as people love American football, it is generally irrelevant once you leave this country.

I’ve played Football (soccer) my entire life. I’ve played it around the world; on dirt, on pavement, on grass, on turf. I’ve played in stadiums and facilities of all sizes, including inside the Olympic Stadium in Baghdad. I’ve played with and against people from more countries than I can count, often neither of us having a language in common.

This is the event that the entire world watches. FOR A MONTH. It starts today. This is the day, and the day of the final, are the days the world truly stops and pays attention. For the world, this is the greatest day in sport.

For Americans, this is another event to add to the list of other sporting events. But, this year and this team are the best we’ve ever had. I say that unapologetically as well. Will we win the tournament? No. Will we go farther than we ever have before? Maybe. Will we play the best football this country has ever played? I believe we will.

But, this is the greatest day because it all starts today. If you can’t find me for the next month or so, I’ll be in front of my computer or the television watching as many games as I possibly can. If you’re not a football fan, I encourage you to give it a try. Go to a pub. Go to a watch party. Watch with people who know the game. Open your mind. It is called “the beautiful game” for a reason.

But, it all starts today. The Greatest Day in Sport. I love this day.

P.S. - Penalty kicks shouldn’t count toward the Golden Boot. I said it and I’m not taking it back.