First, I’d like to extends my thoughts and prayers to the victims, and their family and friends, of the shooting at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland.
I was floored when I heard the news. I hope the newspaper will quickly recover.
And, for the paper to report on its own incident online as it’s happening, I can’t fathom how difficult that must have been.
Now, on to something more lighthearted.
I was just as shocked as anyone else following the FIFA World Cup when defending champion Germany was eliminated in the group stage following its stunning 2-0 defeat to South Korea on Wednesday.
And with that result, Mexico advanced to the knockout round despite suffering a 3-0 loss to Sweden.
Though Mexico — after starting well with a 1-0 win over Germany in its opener — fell backwards into the Round of 16, Mexico’s fans are thrilled their team advanced. And, they should be.
They’re filled with so much joy, in fact, they have treated South Korean fans to a bit of hero worshipping.
Videos have gone viral of Mexicans celebrating South Korea’s victory with the Koreans. The most hilarious examples are those of Mexicans fans lifting Korean on their shoulders and parading them down the streets.
Other examples of Mexican fans showing their gratitude include:
– a video of a Mexican fan wearing a Cowboy hat and boots dancing to Gangnam Style
– a video of Mexican fans watching the Germany-South Korea match and cheering the Koreans’ game-winning goal as if Mexico scored
– Tweets from Mexican fans saying they’re celebrating by eating Korean barbecue
– a Tweet from a Mexican fan vowing to listen to K-pop and watch Korean dramas
The joy of these people are real, I’m sure. And I can’t help but laugh at how comical some of these are. It’s worth your time to search for them online.
I wish something like this happened with American fans back in the 2014 World Cup when the United States advanced after Cristiano Ronaldo scored late against Ghana during the last games of the group stage.
If something like this happened with American fans and Portugese fans, that would undoubtedly be just as funny. Oh, well.
But I believe underneath all the hilarity, a deeper nuance can be found — people of different cultures coming together.
How many stories have you heard of countries waging war? Or of some scandal between countries’ governments? Or of someone hating someone else just because?
Too many to count if you ask me.
Albeit celebrating together because of soccer matches may be small in the grand scheme of things, it is such an example of how uniting despite cultural differences and language barriers.
Aside from competition and rivalries, shouldn’t this really be why events like the World Cup is so great?
This is one sample that people from opposite ends of the earth can be joyful together. I hope for more of it.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
