Wanted: World Cup Mania
In this May 22, 2012 photo, Nazarrudin Saidin, who was recently released after being kidnapped in the Philippines about a year ago, talks during an interview at his home near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Malaysian gecko trader held captive by suspected Abu Sayyaf militants for a year says he saw teenagers as young as 15 skilled in using M16 rifles that seemed readily available in impoverished villages in the southern Philippines. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) / Mark Baker
This column was written by CBS News Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.
World Cup fever. Do you have it? Well, almost.
My kids and I want to go to Germany in the worst — sorry — yes, worst way. But even if you found some cheap fares and traded in some miles, ticket scalpers are getting thousands of dollars for a single seat, even at games you wouldn't think many people would have much interest in. Ticket lotteries have popped up around the globe; some are totally phony, and a few fans have been ripped off.
The United States has a decent team, maybe even better than that, but our draw is brutal: Italy, the Czech Republic, which beat the Americans 3-0 on Monday, and Ghana. Ouch, dude.
Around my office, when it comes to sports, it's baseball that gets all the attention, then the NBA. Out in the real world, Cup mania reigns. The fact that England's top player has been hurt and is slowly returning has been front page news there for weeks.
Maybe if the United States does OK, some of the fever will spread here. It's nice to be part of the world.
Harry's daily commentary can be heard on many CBS Radio News affiliates across the country.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. World Cup fever. Do you have it? Well, almost.
My kids and I want to go to Germany in the worst — sorry — yes, worst way. But even if you found some cheap fares and traded in some miles, ticket scalpers are getting thousands of dollars for a single seat, even at games you wouldn't think many people would have much interest in. Ticket lotteries have popped up around the globe; some are totally phony, and a few fans have been ripped off.
The United States has a decent team, maybe even better than that, but our draw is brutal: Italy, the Czech Republic, which beat the Americans 3-0 on Monday, and Ghana. Ouch, dude.
Around my office, when it comes to sports, it's baseball that gets all the attention, then the NBA. Out in the real world, Cup mania reigns. The fact that England's top player has been hurt and is slowly returning has been front page news there for weeks.
Maybe if the United States does OK, some of the fever will spread here. It's nice to be part of the world.
Harry's daily commentary can be heard on many CBS Radio News affiliates across the country.
