Did you allow yourself the full experience?  Away on vacation with family, I convinced a bunch of people who weren't normally sports fans to go out to watch the U.S. World Cup soccer match versus Belgium in the knockout round.  It was met with lukewarm interest, but they all came out with us.

We were able to find a place to fit all of us at a table, a lucky feat as almost every restaurant was filling up.  Folks in the group soon realized that this wouldn't just be any sporting event as the energy level in the room was unusually high, with some even standing and singing the American national anthem (another blog issue might be the appropriateness of standing at attention during the anthem when watching a sporting event on TV).

As the game developed, we were outplayed clearly.  U.S. goalie Tim Howard clearly established himself as a new American sports hero, eventually breaking the record for saves in a World Cup game by a goaltender.  The crowd's angst grew with each passing minute.  My crew, none of whom would have cared a lick about soccer any other time grew in excitement and volume.

We lost the game, but the experience was one that we will always remember.  Did you allow yourself to enjoy a "World Cup experience?"