I Hated The World Cup Of Soccer, Until This!

In 1994 I watched World Cup matches in the United States only because I had to. I covered the World Cup at the Pontiac Silverdome and the Finals at the Rose Bowl for the Detroit News.

I hated soccer and wanted nothing to do with the sport.

Today, I am a different man. Although the United States was eliminated by Belgium on Monday July 6 I will continue watching the remaining matches, not because I have to, but because I want to.

This tournament is entertaining, even for an old curmudgeon like me. I have a better understanding of the skills and challenges of the sport.

Even though I was not a huge fan of soccer I covered the 1994 tournament the best I could. I even broke an international story.

Romanian soccer star Gheorghe Hagi is the country’s greatest soccer star. He also played without toenails because he cut out the bottom of his socks and soccer wore down his toenails.

No one knew this.

That was my big scoop.

One angry Romanian sportswriter accused me of making the story up. He confronted me during a media session.

I screamed back “learn to be a reporter.”

He later apologized when he discovered for himself that the story was true. I did not apologize for telling him to be a better reporter.

I also meet a cutie from Brazil who said she’d do anything if I could get her into mixed zone media sessions with Brazil. I did. And so did she.

I do not speak or understand Portuguese. She did and became my translator.

Oh, what fun times we had.

About The Author

Terry Foster covered sports for 32 years with the Detroit News and five years with the Free Press. He also co-hosted the Valenti and Foster Show on the Flagship. He is married to Abs who watches his every move as she tries to keep him out of trouble.

So far, no success.