JDub Records

As one of few admitting United States Soccer fans, this past Sunday’s Confederations Cup Final 3-2 loss to Brazil was a very difficult pill to swallow. The United States, where most citizens understand “fútbol” as “football”, has never been synonymous with being an international soccer power. Although the sport has been on the rise following respectable showings at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, the team’s performance in this past international tournament, which included an improbable advance out of pool play following a 3-0 defeat of Egypt and then a miraculous defeat of then #1 ranked Spain by 2-0 in the semi-finals, has many American soccer enthusiasts encouraged.

What’s great about international soccer, and international sports for that matter, is how they bridge various cultures together around the common interest of the competition at hand, in this case soccer (or to everyone else in the world, “fútbol”). This year’s Confederations Cup was hosted in South Africa, and one of the biggest “buzzes” around the tournament, outside of the actual play, was the host country’s fans’ use of vuvuzelas, a plastic, horn-shaped noise maker that is native to the country. The use of the horn has certainly struck up much controversy, as some say it should be banned because of the “excruciating” annoyance they produce, and others say, “you only hate them if you don’t have one.”

Fans waving objects in the air, or making annoying sounds should be of no surprise to those in the sports world. Thunder Sticks are a prerequisite for most baseball games in Asia, and fans of the defending Super Bowl Champions, Pittsburgh Steelers, are notoriously known for always waving their “Terrible Towels.”

Sporting events would be nothing without their accompanying soundtracks, and I guess that means that soccer fans should get used to the droning buzz of the vuvuzela, especially considering that South Africa is host to next summer’s World Cup. Even the virtual soccer world has become a platform for different cultures and music to be displayed. Look at FIFA 09’s soundtrack list and see where it has come from since the game’s earlier release in 1998. I say, let them buzz on, because the sport’s display of culture is as necessary as the game itself and taking that away would certainly be a shame.

I leave you with Blur’s “Song 2,” a song that I will forever associate as the opening track for Nintendo 64’s FIFA Road to the World Cup ‘98, enjoy.