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| A local dose of pre-World Cup action on June 3 |
This
year, of course, the action is in Brazil. Anybody from Chicago is going to have
to spend some big bucks to make the trip to the southern hemisphere if they
want to be able to say they saw world-class soccer.
TRUST
ME, I made the mistake of going to see Major League Soccer matches during the
last World Cup tourney in 2010. The level of play of the Chicago Fire and the
teams they compete against just isn’t the same!
But
it’s not like we in Chicago are totally cut out of the festivities.
I
found it interesting that the Mexican national team that will compete is
including a few last-minute exhibitions (“friendlies,” in soccer-speak) to warm
up – with one of them scheduled for Soldier Field.
It
will be right on the shores of Lake Michigan that Mexico’s Tri-colors will take
on the national team from Bosnia-Herzegovina come June 3.There’s the potential
for 50,000 or more people to pack their way into the bowl to see the two teams
make whatever final adjustments they feel are necessary to avoid embarrassing
themselves in Brazil.
NOT
THAT I’LL be among those on hand.
For
one thing, I have some work these days that will keep me busy that night.
Although I also was appalled at the $240-plus price for a single ticket for the
match.
Maybe
I could scout around and find something a bit cheaper. But I just can’t
envision paying that much for a friendly between two teams that have little
chance of winning the whole thing. And I wonder about the sensibilities of
anyone who has no problem paying such money.
The
World Cup itself is being played this year between June 12 and July 13. The
U.S. national team plays its first round matches on June 16 (against Ghana),
June 22 (against Portugal) and June 26 (against Germany).
LOCALLY,
PEOPLE WILL be able to gather at Grant Park, where Crain’s Chicago Business
reports that the U.S. Soccer Federation plans to erect giant video screens so
people can gather in large crowds and cheer endlessly (or so they hope) for
U.S. goals.
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| Envisioning a video screen supplying soccer, instead of a band |
Perhaps
some people would find such a crowd to be an ample substitute for being in the
stands at the real match. Personally, if I’m going to do nothing more than
watch television, I suspect I’ll do it in the comfort of home.
Which
is how I suspect I’m going to follow the World Cup. Don’t be surprised if –
come next month – I have the television tuned in the background to the matches
while I write about whatever issues of concern take place in Chicago.
I
recall the same sentiment some 20 years ago – which was the one time the World
Cup tourney was held in the United States, with the opening ceremonies and
first few matches played right here at pre-renovation Soldier Field.
OF
COURSE, THAT was during my stint working and living in Springfield. So even
then, I was watching televisions at the Statehouse, trying to catch a few
minutes of action here and there while everybody else went about the business of
trying to govern the state.
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| RAUNER: Four more months to talk |
As
for this year, it all makes me wonder if for the upcoming month, I will be
among those who find the plight of the United States and Mexico national teams (both
of which could find themselves eliminated following the first round) more
intriguing than anything that comes from the mouths of Rahm Emanuel or Bruce
Rauner.
They’ll
both have several months after the World Cup to spew their rhetoric that will
anger so many people in so many ways.
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