Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review

First, let me begin by disclaiming that I was never a huge Star Wars fan. It wasn’t until fairly recently, in preparation for this movie, in fact, that I saw the original trilogy. I grew up in the time of the prequels, which I never minded, but also never loved. When I did get around to seeing the originals, I expected them to be outdated. I know that Empire Strikes Back is generally everyone’s favorite, but I found it a bit boring and my least favorite of the three. As every Star Wars fan seems to have an “order,” mine is as follows: A New Hope, Return of the Jedi, Empire Strikes Back. I know, I’m weird. A New Hope is a beautiful film. Luke’s “Hero’s Journey” is straightforward and well executed, Leia’s independence and strength is impressive for a female character today which means it must have been revolutionary in 1977, and Han Solo’s wit and charm had girls and guys swooning. All this being said, I went into the film excited and hopeful.

It did not disappoint.

I was lucky enough to be able to see the first showing with my parents. As we sat through an hour long wait (which is amazing considering what I’ve heard others had to do for good seats) my mom and I discussed her experience seeing Star Wars for the first time as a sophomore in high school. Everyone seems to have a story, an experience when it comes to these movies. That’s what’s so incredible about them. But more on that later. I spent our hour grilling my mom about what it was like hearing the booming music for the first time, see a ship flying in space, it was a first for a lot of things. Bizarrely, as I looked around the theater, I kept imagining what everyone would have looked like in their terrible clothes from the 70s. Something that distinguished it was a Star Wars movie that we were all there to see was the amount of families there were. Young and old, side by side waiting in anticipation. I had never seen so many teenagers hanging out with their parents.   

It was surprisingly rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence although it contained hardly any gore and much less violence than Revenge of the Smith. I had marathoned the original movies before I saw Episode VII but my father had never seen any of them and still understood the plot line (admittedly he did have a few questions about certain relationships and what exactly a “Jedi” was). JJ Abrams brilliantly combined the perfect mixture of heart, humor, action, suspense and surprise that could meet even the highest of expectations.

In addition to my thoughts about 70s fashion, I tried to imagine what it must have felt like for George

Lucas seeing the movie for the first time. He created a universe that has stood the test of time and remains today to shatter box office records and take families out to the movies. While he wasn’t involved in the making of this movie, the first shot on the screen is the Lucasfilm logo, which emitted a loud cheer from the audience. In a culture that is so fickle and quick to move on to another fad, it’s important to take a moment to acknowledge how truly spectacular it is that this story remains ever growing 38 years after it first began. Cynics will say they continue the movies for money, and that may be partially true, but these movies make an impact and that's the reason they've been revived. They’re classics for a reason. We’ve seen other franchises hold similar influence (Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Trek) and I can’t help but feel that Star Wars is still in it’s own category. Almost every one a Star Wars memory or story, not many other films can be attributed to creating such emotion. These stories make you feel. It doesn’t have to be anything deep or philosophical, but their ability to allow someone to sit for two hours and forget about the bombs threats or terror alerts, to feel happy, means that we all owe George Lucas a thank you.

Comment below your thoughts! While the review is spoiler-free, your comments don't have to be!

Strawberry Fields Forever

I've recently been hit by a freight train of admiration (to put it lightly) for The Beatles. Now, before you click away, I'm fully aware that I'm about 50 years too late. However, 1) I wasn't born then so I can't be faulted for that, and 2) being a Beatles fan isn't a given anymore in 2015. Take the release of Paul McCartney, Kanye West and Rihanna's single “FourFiveSeconds,” people (of the younger sort) genuinely believed that Kanye was helping an up-and-coming artist (Paul freaking McCartney) by featuring him on the song. Mind you these people also vote for our president, but that's a whole other story. My original point, was that being a Beatles fan isn't expected of teenagers like it was fifty, or even twenty, years ago.


I grew up with Beatles fans in my family but their music wasn't really pressed upon me like other artists or composers. When I got into middle school and began to expand my own musical taste independent of familial influence, I realized that I have to get into the Beatles. Which I believe was the beginning of my problem. There are some bands that have grown in such infamy that while their music lasts, their fame is continued because of people's yearning to claim they are fans not because they actually listen to the music. You can always tell which bands these are because they're probably on 16 year old girls' t-shirts that were bought at Forever 21 like Nirvana, The Rolling Stones, the Beatles, etc. I wanted to be a Beatles fan just to say I was a Beatles fan, so I could wear the t-shirt, and quote a song for an Instagram photo. But when I listened to them, I didn't like them so I swept them under the rug and moved on to another pseudo-hipster topic. It obviously wasn't the music that was the problem, although I fully believe that musical taste changes with age, I just didn't get it. I suppose it was a cynical response to something I believed at the time was over hyped.

That all changed after I visited Liverpool, the home of all four Beatles in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, I'm not a Rolling Stones journalist so I won't be able to accurately articulate the impact of the Beatles in the UK and around the world, the revolution (no pun intended) of their music and what it did for Rock n' Roll, or the cultural context from which they emerged from. But listening to a tour guide talk about how John Lennon's parents met in the park across the street from where his childhood home was on Penny Lane and how John asked Paul to join the group on a bike path created a picture that make me fall in love with them as people and then, their music. As I came back home and listened to their albums with a new perspective, it brought up a question that I believed I had answered. Can you separate the art from the artist? And it's follow up: Should you? A few months ago, my answer would have been “of course,” to both those questions. To some extent, I still think that it's necessary at times because if a person where to go into a museum and judge a piece of art based upon whether or not the artist cut off their ear rather than how it makes them feel and how it looks, than the art is reduced to a mere mirror of its creator. In this case however, what makes the Beatles so special, so relatable to all generations, is the whole package. The Beatles are more than the music they made. The songs they created are heard with new ears after learning more about them, I was able to pick out lines from songs that I could understand because I was now acquainted with the conditions in which they were born. Of course some people don't need the package to love the Beatles, and some know the whole package and still dislike them – but no artist can please everyone. I suppose this was all a long winded way of saying I love the Beatles, but my hope is that this will encourage others to think on a larger scale the next time they see, hear, or feel art. Comment below your thoughts and feelings, I'm always ready for a rousing discussion on whether or not Yoko broke up the Beatles (yes) and her bizarre relationship with John (but if you say they were soul mates I'll block you).

Farewell

My dear fellow students, we made it! We stand here today at the cusp of something great. The last four years were an adventure that began, and are now ending, here in Thalassa Stadium. Our freshman year started off with a bang, or rather an almost bang. As small freshman we scurried onto this very field both slightly scared but also excited at the prospect of missing class after our first, yes first, bomb threat. Things calmed down from there, or so we thought.

Although as upperclassmen we tend to tease freshmen, we can't forget the quiet victory we ourselves felt when successfully making it up the freshman hill before class started – that was truly a feat, and the closest thing to hazing that is legal. While the freshman hill may have been the bane of our existence at the time, our journeys were just beginning. The journey continued in sophomore year where we experienced lower campus in full force and dealt, for the first but certainly not the last time, drum-line following us in the halls as we awkwardly moved out of the way.

Last year, we partook in another lockdown and the creation of the much dreaded tardy sweeps. For the guests that don't know, tardy sweeps are the perfect excuse to laugh at fellow peers from the safety of the classroom as they run to their next period in fear of being late and receiving Friday school as cheesy music plays over the intercom.

When I was reflecting on this past year, six words came to mind, “Mom, will you call me out?” All joking aside, this is the year that defined us as the Class of 2015. As seniors, we experienced some of the best and worst moments high school had to offer riddled with terrible loss but also wonderful successes. This past April, we suffered the loss of one of our fellow students, Saylor Voris. And in the following month, we suffered the loss of our beloved English teacher, Ms. Robin Satterlee. There is another member of San Clemente High School whose absence is notably felt. Michael Halt, our principle for the past two years, is not here to witness this momentous day. His abrupt departure has turned San Clemente High School into the UC Berkley of high schools as we've made it clear that “We like Mike.” The situation has been difficult and confusing, but has yielded important discussions both inside and outside of the classroom. Through all these events, our senior class has subtly transitioned from students to members of the community. With the help of parents, teachers, administrators, and staff over the past four years we can confidently leave this field today with the assurance that we will go out into the world as informed, conscious citizens.

A lot of people are eager to say that the four years we spend in high school don't mean much, that it's “just high school.” High school is where we begin to shape the rest of our lives and more specifically where we begin to shape who we are as people. This is where we learn teamwork from sports, this is where we learn loyalty from built and burned friendships, this is where we learn ethics from turnitin.com. That is what we take with us when we leave here today. That is what makes us the Class of 2015. That is what makes us San Clemente High School. I'm honored to be apart of more than “just a high school” and the wonderful community that stands behind it. And so, it is with great pleasure that I say to you on the field where it all began, my fellow graduates, congratulations.  

Ekpe's Book Club

Athletes are dumb?
Let's talk about that.


Yesterday, I had the immense pleasure of participating my first Ekpe's Book Club Twitter chat. I know, I'll explain. I grew up in a family of die-hard Laker fans. After a series of (unfortunate) events, my brother, the leader of our sports enthusiasm, decided he was going to dedicate his fan power to another team. I can't remember if the Clippers were the worst ranked team or if they were the second worst, I can hardly remember when my family followed the Lakers. But no matter what the ranking was, or who was injured, or how badly they were loosing, my brother faithfully spent his nights cheering and supporting them.

For much of my life, I hated sports, probably because of how much my brother loved them. Basketball was always first and he and I got into more than one argument about the remote (which he let me win). I thought basketball was boring, I didn't understand the rules and there were too many pauses. On the other hand, my brother was an expert. He knew every rule, memorized every stat, and can identify almost every player in the league.


It was when I was watching a Clippers vs. Lakers game on evening with my brother that I began to care. I used to watch my brother yell and get frustrated at something he couldn't control. But as I watched the fourth quarter, with the Clippers trailing as the game came to a close, I started feeling the same way – just a little less loudly. The Clippers ended up winning that game only by two points, but as I've learned in the past years, a win is a win.


Now back to Ekpe's book club. One night after a Clipper game, my brother told me that one of the players new to the team this year started a book club. Having a love for books and basketball, it seemed too good to be true. The book club's set up is fairly simple. Ekpe releases a book title (generally one per month) on his Twitter account (@EkpeUdoh) that everyone will read together. Then, you must sign up on his website (http://ekpesbookclub.com) to an email list that will notify you of how much to read by a certain date and at what time the discussions on Twitter will take place under the hashtag #EkpesBookClub. When I first discovered the book club, it was already in the middle of reading something so I simply followed the conversations. I made sure that when the next book was announced, I would be ready to sign up. If someone is one of the first 25 people to sign up, Ekpe sends them the book for free! I was one of those lucky people last time and received my book within two days of signing up. When it came time for the discussion, I was ready and caught up. It was an hour of interesting conversation and fun interaction with people that love reading too. When Ekpe replied to one of my tweets, I had a mini freak out that a player from the best NBA team on Earth spoke to me.

The book club is a brilliant idea the breaks the stereotype of “dumb athletes.” It's a great way to get people reading and talking.

Don't forget to sign up! (And follow me on Twitter @Caity_Says)

What My College Essay Should Have Been

Dear Admission Board,


You have asked that I provide you with some insight into my world within a 250-650 word limit. Below is my struggle, my endurance, and my story.


I always knew that I was different from other kids at a very young age. It was a small difference, but a difference nonetheless that shaped me into the person I am today. It was not until my freshman history class that I was able to put a label on who I was. I had always feared labels, scared that they would define me, terrified that it would be the only thing people saw. While I sat in my seat watching a video about such a small minority, a sense of relief washed over me because after years of confusion, I finally understood – I was a super-sniffer.


Living as a super-sniffer is not easy. Anytime my friends ask me to go into Macy’s or Norstorms, I have a decline because the perfume section of the store makes my nose clog. Anytime someone peels a tangerine or opens a pack of peanut butter in class, no matter how far away they are, I know. My nose is highly sensitive to poor hygiene, sometimes, I become light headed. It may seem like a curse, but through a positive outlook and a determination to not let my abilities get me down, I have prevailed. It took me awhile to accept that my super-sniffing abilities were a positive, a talent. However once I was able to come to a place of acceptance, I have been able to use my nose to aide others. Whether it be helping the elderly know if their food smells good or finding a friend the best perfume, I have dedicated myself to helping others and hope to continue doing so on your campus.


Often times I am forced to struggle with the cruelty of others, from students to adults. Many are in disbelief that such a select group of people exist, and furthermore, that I am one of them. Mockery is often the response I receive, even my own family has ostracized me at times. When I told my siblings, they laughed and made fun of me. I had to prove myself time and time again, often having to blindfold myself to show that I could identify any object with only my nose. I take comfort in the support teachers and close friends have given me as I continue to come to terms with how to live among a society that will never understand what I go through daily.


I know that my college life will be harder than most because of who I am, but I was born this way and nothing will take away what makes me an individual. You need me on your campus, both for diversity and so that when I write a book about my struggles, your name will be on my back cover. Accept me and you'll have one of the most unique students in the nation on your campus. Accept me and I will still pay the school after I graduate.



Thank you for your consideration.

Coriolanus Review

Does theater have to be live?

Let's talk about that.

I had the unique experience of watching a recording of the Donmar Warehouse production of Coriolanus, directed by Josie Rourke. The original run of the show took place at the Donmar Warehouse in west London, a venue that holds only 251 seats (not including the 20 standing room seats) and is a not-for-profit theater that opened in 1977. Due to the small size of the venue, the stage was also very small, fitting only about seven actors on stage at one time. Bordering the rectangular stage was a drain pipe and at the back of the stage stood a cement wall with handles prodding out for climbing. The drain pipe was used to quickly dispose of the water that showered from above and the dirt and blood that was splayed out on the stage. Throughout the play, the only props used were paint (for outlining the borders of a house on the floor for example), eight chairs, brooms, swords, and a ladder. The minimalistic set was very industrial and modern, bringing a twist to the Shakespearean classic set in Rome. There were not any major set changes because the wall remained stationary and the paint conveyed a location change, if needed, allowing the stage lights to remain on throughout the acts until intermission. The music relied heavily on drums and violins which accented dramatic monologues or scenes of battle. Rourke utilized the lighting impeccably, especially in a particularly gruesome scene after a battle. It emphasized the body makeup and created vibrant colors in contrast to the gray wall which was visually stunning. In addition to the makeup, set, and music, the costumes did a wonderful job of bringing a modern twist to such a classic play. The women were dressed beautifully in tunics, with flats that looked like they were bought at a department store which added to the look instead of distracted it. The men were mostly dressed in leather for their military uniform while the politicians were dressed in tunics as well.

Since I didn't have a couple hundred dollars to fly to London and see the show, I watched it on screen at a local theater. I still got the plushy theater seats and the snobby Shakespeare readers who brought their copies of Coriolanus to the show, I just didn't get the actors physically in the same room. I thought it would change the experience and makes the play less authentic, but it was just as impactful through the screen as I imagine it would've been in the Warehouse. Being one of the snobby Shakespeare readers that I am, I went into the play already knowing its story, its history and its message. The production heavily relied on an informed audience because it didn't explicitly give the play a setting or time period. Of course, being Shakespeare, the dialogue was difficult to grasp at first, but became easier to digest as the play went on. The play starred Tom Hiddleston (Coriolanus) and Mark Gatiss (Menenius) in addition to lesser known theater actors, all of whom were spectacular. Their performances absorbed the audience and made the play both gripping and tragic. Hiddleston's portrayal of Coriolanus was the perfect balance of arrogance yet humility. His character embodies ancient classical literature protagonists and strays from Shakespeare's more reflective heroes such as Macbeth and Hamlet. While the play is a tragedy, it contains quite a bit of humorous moments throughout to break up the dramatic and heavy scenes. As I mentioned earlier, there were some graphic moments in the play that were shocking but appropriate. I'm sad to say I was the youngest person in attendance since the main demographic seemed to be between 35-60, but then again, Shakespeare is an acquired taste.

After the final moment of the play, the room was silent. The entire audience paused for a moment to swallow the conclusion and then applause erupted even though there were no actors there to congratulate. Now, my love for Tom Hiddleston (and Shakespeare) has perhaps made me bias, but I really can't say anything bad about this production. It was absolutely amazing, and I from the moment I left, I've been trying to find a way to watch it all over again. While this is one of Shakespeare's less favored plays, it quickly became one of my favorites after seeing this play. The most amazing part about this story is it's relevance to and commentary on today's politics, but I suppose that is the genius of Shakespeare. Watching it was a sensory overload because there was so much going on all at once in addition to focusing on understanding the dialogue. If the impact of the play was that sensational through a screen, what must it have been like to have seen it live? Although to be honest, it's probably safer for both Tom Hiddleston and I not to be in the same room, I don't think I would enjoy prison.

Gotham Pilot Review

Was Gotham as good as everyone wanted it to be?

Let's talk about that.

After months of anticipation, Fox's Gotham finally premiered last Monday night - and it did not disappoint. **Spoilers ahead!** It was any Batman fan's dream show packed with the introductions of Penguin [Oswald Cobblepot], Catwoman [Selina Kyle], Fish Mooney [invented just for the show], Poison Ivy [Ivy Pepper] and The Riddler [Edward Nygma]. While the protagonist Detective Gordon is the center of the show, it's the villains that will keep people watching. Robin Lord Taylor's chilling performance of Penguin was riveting to watch. I cannot wait to see where his journey will take him. We may know the "end result," (feel free to picture Danny DeVito eating raw fish) but the brilliance of this show is it's ability to explore the in-between. As well as add a few twists of its own like a young Selina, or as I refer to her as "a better Anne Hathaway," witnessing Bruce Wayne's parents being murdered or Mafia boss Carmine Falcone being friends with Gordon's father. It has almost a Once Upon A Time-esq feel to it that allows life-long Batman fans to be surprised as well. 

The young Bruce Wayne storyline is a little less enticing. I could do without him entirely (and while we're at it, kick Detective Gordon off as well - kidding. Sort of). I can't imagine much happening to Bruce between his parent's murders and him becoming the Dark Knight  - but then again, I'm not the writer of the show because if I was, there would be a Penguin shirtless scene pronto. As for Detective Gordon, he's fine. A bit cliché but hopefully his character will be more fleshed out once the show gets rolling. I hope to see the toxic nature of Gotham city begin to disease his good nature and force his morals to be put to the test (disclaimer: I am not a sadist).

As I said before, the premiere spoon fed fans with references and foreshadows. Selina stealing the milk, Ivy carrying her plant, Penguin killing a man for food which established his relationship with food (once again, cue the Danny DeVito image), and The Riddler can only give the police information in, well, riddles. 

But underneath all the good-looking actors and impressive graphics, the show brings up a thought provoking point. The most memorable quote of the episode is said by Falcone himself: "You can't have organized crime without law and order." It can be assumed the Falcone is the big bad boss of the city and has most of the police department in his pocket (since he helped the PD frame Pamela's father for the Wayne murders). We also know thanks to Oswald's pathetic attempts to not get shot that Falcone is loosing his power and a new "war" is coming. Gotham is portrayed as a place where the scum of the Earth collects and the baddest man in town is also the most powerful man in town. A city that is overrun with an inadequate police department and pointless crime ruling the lives of its citizens. It's an extreme projection of what is totally possible in today's world. Could there ever be a Gotham in America? Comment below thoughts, questions, ideas and criticism and remember, if you want to make a good movie, don't cast Anne Hathaway (Hollywood, I'm looking at you.)

Four Days Without...Wifi

Is life without wifi really that bad?
Let's talk about that.


I had the especially unfortunate predicament of spending four days without wifi or cellular data, including texts, iMessage, etc. I was aware before I entered said predicament that this would be the case and yet I still wanted to slam my head against a wall when the time came. Every time I opened my bag to check my phone, I was met with the harsh reality that there was no point because I couldn't use it.

Ever since the smartphone craze there has been a raging obsession with being attached to a cell phone. From 105-year-olds on Facebook to eleven-year-olds being spoiled with the latest Apple gadget, everyone is glued to their phones. And now studies, lectures, and even warnings on the extreme amount of time spent online are bombarding people in equal measure.  People have become so conscious of their attachments they spend weekends away from electronics on purpose. Most say they feel more "connected to the world around" them. Well, I don't believe it. From my experience, it was absolutely horrible. I was lost nonstop, I didn't know there was an Old Spaghetti Factory up the street so I ate at Subway, and I couldn't check my email. Sometimes, internet access isn't just a pleasure, it's a necessity. As my mother always says, "Everything in moderation." Don't check Instagram every four seconds, but it's a little extreme to boycott access to the world for long periods of time by choice. I'll be the first to admit that it's true, without my phone, I spent more time looking at some trees. But I know people that need their phones, yes, need. They get emails every moment from their work that are important. It's not so much using the phone, it's knowing you can't that drives the impulses of checking.


I pity families that had to communicate through the post. Not being able to harass my sister with pointless texts throughout the day was unexplainably frustrating.
[Side note - also frustrating, having to physically count the words in this post to know how long it is because I'm writing in my journal.]
[Side side note - I actually prefer handwriting things over typing... a foreshadow for my next post perhaps?] 

To venture into the subject of phones in school, particularly high school, and considering what I've said thus far, I am indeed an advocate. And no, this does not mean I must be one of those students that sends snapchats when their teacher turns around. (But for the record, yes, I would use my phone if I needed to.) The debate about phones or no phones in school is ever present and I would love to hear your thoughts. Comment below your opinions, jokes, problems or other objections and as always, thanks for reading. 

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Could Avengers 2 be a disappointment?
Let's talk about that.

With the Entertainment Weekly Comic-Con preview coming out about the new Avengers movie, I couldn't resist soaking up every detail that was revealed about the sure to be Blockbuster. When the first movie came out two years ago, the over saturation of how "awesome" the movie was made my expectations skyrocket leaving me slightly disappointed after I finally saw the movie. I still loved it, just not as much as I expected to. In turn, I vowed to not read or see anything about the second movie to prevent from the same mistake. But I'm a sucker. I have no will power, I probably should see someone about that.

I certainly don't pretend to be an expert about the Marvel universe, in fact, most of my information comes from Caleb (http://www.kayleberty.com). Before reading about Ultron, all I knew was that he was a big, bad robot. After I read about Ultron, all I know is that he's a big, bad robot. **Mild spoilers ahead if you're staying away from this type of stuff.** Basically, Tony Stark (Iron Man) built Ultron to give the Avengers a break from saving the day all the time (we'll get to how ridiculous this is in a minute, but bare with me). Ulton's job is to asses and use Tony's droids to destroy possible attacks. Ultron then concludes that human beings are the issue therefore they should be destroyed wherein the problem lies.

My first thoughts after reading this were "Why." Why is another robot bad-guy a good idea? I think Joss Whedon is brilliant and I trust him to make it work and yes I completely understand that Ultron is already an established villain. BUT, really? A robot that decides to destroy human beings? It just reminds me a little too much of that Shia Labeouf movie Eagle Eye. I love that Whedon is playing with the concept of humanity being the fundamental problem, which seems like a "Duh" revelation (because without us, what problems could occur?) but not everyone sees human nature as evil. The only question I have though, is if the Avengers plan to save us from robots, will they address the need to save us from ourselves? Will the conclusion be "Oh no, humans really are great, we are courageous, wonderful beings?" Because that would be a cop-out. Obviously I don't condone mass genocide but that needs to be addressed. I suppose we'll see where that leads.

Now on to the purpose of Ultron's existence. The Avengers need a break? Is that a bad joke? They sound like actors. I understand they make sacrifices and put themselves in danger for our safety, but that's their job. To protect us from threats, and since the destruction of SHEILD, it seems that the job falls solely on them. I get it, Tony destroyed his suits, Thor gave up the throne and Cap is out looking for Bucky, but that doesn't give them an excuse to just stop doing what they were put together to do in the first place. Clearly their relaxation time doesn't last long but that concept that the Avengers have turned into whiny babies that need nap time bothers me. (Ok, maybe I'm being a little harsh)

I guess I'll just have to wait until 2015 and vent some more about the movie. While I'm at it: Marvel, we want a crossover. I know you're worried about money but a couple Avengers show up in Spidey 3, Spidey shows up at the end of the Avengers and chaos that will make you even richer will ensue. Promise.

Last thing before I go, if you're still reading, hi and thank you. Go read Christine's blog http://glassonionblog.blogspot.com because it's awesome, it's got any category you would want to read about and she actually uses her labels. Comment below with any opinions, disagreements, or criticisms and whether or not you're looking forward to Age of Ultron.

2014 FIFA World Cup

Is soccer becoming an American sport?
Let's talk about that.

It's that time of year again, or as most Americans like to refer to it as "The one time we watch soccer." I will be the first to openly admit that I don't watch soccer unless it's during the World Cup. And even then, I generally won't watch the entire match. I know about Ronaldo and Messi but that's where my knowledge ends. Not to generalize, but I'm pretty sure that most Americans feel the same way no matter how big of a sports fan they are. Soccer has never been the most popular sport in America but this year's World Cup seems to have had an impressive impact on sports fans.

In 2006, I visited Italy, which also happened to be the year that Italy beat out Germany, the host team for the Cup, to win the title. The atmosphere during the games was something I had never experienced before. It was impossible to walk down the street without seeing the games on some TV, whether it was in a bar or restaurant or a young boy trying to find a signal with some spare wire.  It was contagious, even I wanted to stay glued to the TV. But as quickly as I was exposed to the soccer fever, it went away the moment I stepped onto American soil. This year, it seems to be a different story. The World Cup fever has spread like an epidemic, but whether it'll extend past the World Cup only time will tell.

The American team was brought to public attention before the Cup began when their coach, Jürgen Klinsmann (who managed the Germany team from 2004-06), did not put Landon Donovan on the nation roster. Donovan is easily the best American player but was kept off the team causing quite the heated controversy. Some speculate that it is because the two don't get along but Klinsmann claims Donovan just wasn't up to par this year. Regardless of Donovan's lack of involvement, the U.S. national team has received more attention this year in soccer than they have since the sport was first introduced. Now it's not in Europe do you see people huddled around the television watching matches. Below is a picture of people watching the Germany/U.S. match this past week which the U.S. team unfortunately lost. 

Americans have never been so invested. People have been taking days off from work to watch matches, something that would've been unheard of before. Whether it's the team's early success in the Cup or the soccer fever has finally moved to America, I don't know. I'm just glad it wasn't David Beckham that made us like soccer, it was actual Americans playing soccer that made us like soccer. 

So, to answer the first question, maybe. As I said before, only time will tell if the soccer fever continues but so far the outlook is bright. I'll certainly be keeping closer tabs on local teams. There's something very special about a total stranger moving out of the way so you can see the TV better, or a different stranger that can see the TV passing the score down to someone who just walked up. A unique unity emerges that only sports can forge. It's part patriotism and part entertainment. That moment when you start to care what happens, that moment when your heart skips a beat as the ball just misses the goal, that's when you know you're a sport fan.