Even if you are not a sports fan, I bet you are aware of the World Cup, which is currently being held in the continental Americas.  A prime example is my wife Joanne who has caught World Cup fever.  How could one help it?  It is everywhere and all consuming, around the clock, eg, on FOX television.

The United States has a competitive team and we can only hope/dream that we make it through our bracket and earn a medal.  So far so good, as we won a "Knockout" game (lose and you go home) Wednesday night 2-0 (despite playing the last 36 minutes a man down) making the round of 16 and playing Belgium on Monday night in another "Knockout Game".

The unparalleled star of the tourney, so far, has been Argentina's 39 year old "Alien", Lionel Messi (pictured),
who is described as an alien,due to his preternatural combination of superior mental and physical prowess.

As a fearless, meager skilled, indefatigable high school and college soccer defender, I stand in awe of Messi, but those bygone days bring me closer to him and the true international game. 

Call me a dreamer, but what better 250th Birthday gift for our politically divided country than USA's first World Cup!