Ah the website topics of the off season... look for who would you put on the UF Mount Rushmore next :)

I do like that list.

isn't a sports posts.  I used to think this site attracted sports fans, mostly of the Gator persuasion.  Perhaps I was wrong.  There really don't appear to be that many sports fans here. They seem to like one or two sports best and the rest they treat almost as an annoyance, something that bothers them merely for existing. A fair number of people can't simply say something's not for them and then move on from what they don't like; they have to try and beat everyone else into not liking what they don't like, too. 

I like sports for a variety of reasons: teamwork, competition, school or team spirit, seeing athletic excellence, to name a few.  While I have my favorites I can watch and enjoy any sport, at least any that I've seen so far.  I am not a boring or sedentary guy.  I like and seek out an adrenalin rush whenever I can from skydiving to surfing to whitewater rafting to zip-lining to every thrill ride around to actually playing sports, even those I'm not good at.  That said, I have watched bowling, golf, cricket, badminton, NASCAR, hockey, lacrosse, lumberjack games, marbles, and dozens of other events - even soccer - played by participants I love, hate or have no rooting interest in at all and I have found enjoyment in all of them. 

What I read here that blows up every four years saddens me.  I was once of the opinion that many here were sharp witted, cynical, fresh and thoughtful.  Now I believe I was somewhat misguided in attributing those traits and seeing them in a positive light, for now the terms petty, repetative and spiteful seem more apt.  It's as if they are looking to suck the joy from those that love something they themselves have no feeling for in some perverted effort to bring down these sports fans and diminish their enjoyment  It's a mentality of if I don't like it you can't like it either; as if they are jealous of the fun others are having by following the World Cup and rather than join in they try to destroy and stain the fun of their fellow posters. You don't like it. Fine, it's been noted, now let those that do like soccer discuss it with each other without feeling the need to defend that which needs no defense.

Or not.  After today and for the next couple of weeks I no longer give a #badword#.  I'm off with three of my best friends to do a European World Cup focused tour.  I have saved up my nickels and dimes for the past three years; I and my friends have planned meticulously to set our itinerary to travel to England, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands so that we are in each of those countries when their national team will be playing a WC game in Brazil all so we can watch the games and drink with the rabid locals as we cheer their teams with them and try to get them to give a little USA love in the process.  I expect to have an unreal amount of fun on this trip and I am damn sure I won't have to listen to dozens of people tell me how bored I should be while doing it.