Thanks to Euro 2008 I am now officially hooked on soccer. 

I love the emotion from the players and fans.  I love the lingo, the fancy footwork, the hundreds of headers.  I even love the lively announcers, some with accents so heavy I have to hit the rewind  on the DVR to figure out what was said. 

The beautiful game is the athletic equivalent of jazz music -- highs, lows, tempos fast and tempos slow.  And though it can be frustrating to see so many kicks miss the net, I laugh every time.  (The only thing more funny is when a Major League Baseball outfielder misjudges a fly ball and is plunked square on the head.)  So raise a hefty pint of your favorite beverage for the beautiful game today! 

Goooooooaaal!