Soccerbration

I'm a little late this month for good reason. It's World Cup. Today is Tuesday June 23, 2026 and I'm in soccer heaven.

What can we learn from the World Cup? I've given it a lot of thought and the answer is -- nothing. Not one single thing. It's supposed to be fun. That's all. So let the fun begin, er, uh, continue.

There was a time I (emotionally) lived and died vicariously through the national teams. Not anymore. Now, I'm a grown up. Mature. But, every time I watch a game it takes me back to seven, eight years old, the smell of grass and mud, rainy, drizzly days and the great time of being a kid.

My USA is doing spectacularly. Yes, MY USA. Sure, I haven't kicked a ball in forever and am neither employed by or connected to the actual team, but it's my USA. I think this might be the one and only time it's okay to say "we" in the context of a sporting event of which one has never partaken. It's national pride. Us against the world, literally (perhaps for the first time). One game at a time. One goal at a time. One save at a time. There is nothing like nationalism through sport. Just ask the Tartan Army. Which, by the way, is my ancestral home and an incredibly beautiful country if you've never been. (https://www.scotland.org).

On the pitch (yes, I said pitch!) it's all business. Those guys are pro's and really, really good. But, in the stands, around television sets, in bars and pubs, it's fun. Pure, unadulterated fun. Just like when we were kids (except the bars part). Okay, I admit it. It's more fun to win. But after years and years of not winning I still glommed on to the national team because it was my team. My country. There's something special about that.

I used to take off work to watch the national teams. I still do. Friday is the final group game. I'll be watching. I won't be working. Not for two or three glorious hours of reminiscent regression to childhood.

Then, I'll get back to work. Which, in my fickle profession, is an excercise in unreasonable hope and steely eyed dedication. This week I had five auditions all due around the same time. Well, within a day of each other. Coordinating readers and memorizing lines has been thick, but good thick. When a chunk like this is behind me I feel like I really accomplished something. Now, if God blesses me with a couple more bookings I wouldn't complain.

I hope your days are great. I hope you watch the USA in the World Cup. I hope you live your best life and find rewards along the way. Resist when you must (fifty.fitty.one) and keep in touch with your neighbors. We're all in this together. Blessings.