We Are the World Cup
I decided to celebrate America’s 250th a little early; specifically, at the 45-minute mark of the US Men’s World Cup knockout win against Bosnia and Herzegovina, when Folarin Balogun scored a go-ahead goal. Balogun was born in the US to Nigerian parents who were visiting Brooklyn. They “were living in London, but visited New York when his mother was seven months pregnant. However, on their intended return flight, airline staff refused his mother permission to fly due to safety concerns over the advanced state of her pregnancy at that time.” They made their way back to London when their new baby was two months old. 24 years, 11 months, and 28 days later, Folarin Balogun scored for the US. A Nigerian birthright American who grew up in England puts the USA up by a goal? With all due respect to baseball, hot dogs (which were German and Austrian immigrants), and apple pie, it doesn’t get much more American than that. As a bonus, Folarin even has the word gun in his name! Stories like this one are exactly what make America great—along with the messy and often brutal fight to maintain that greatness. It’s not just about who’s winning games or who’s scoring goals. It’s about what makes a World Cup in America something wholly unique, and yes, uniquely great. It’s about this headline from the NYT (Gift Article): In the United States, Every World Cup Team Is a Home Team. As you’re enjoying your 4th of July hot dogs, be sure to remember how America’s sausage was made.
+ “Melting pot, tapestry, mosaic, kaleidoscope, salad bowl. Every cliché is true.” How a Nation of Immigrants Traces Its Roots.
+ “President Trump has spent years telling the world that America is closed and other countries don’t matter. The American people spent this summer proving him wrong.” The World Cup Shows What’s Great About America.
+ This World Cup isn’t all about America’s traditional values. It’s about some new ones, too. USMNT proves it’s built different with first World Cup knockout win in 24 years. “They have won three matches in a single World Cup. While that is common for the powerhouses of soccer, sometimes in the group stage alone, the U.S. had never before accomplished that. Heck, before this summer, it had won nine World Cup matches in its history. In other words, this is not a normal World Cup for the U.S. Then again, this is not a normal U.S. team.”
+ If I don’t see you at the Travis/Taylor wedding, have a great holiday weekend. NextDraft, like the US Men’s team, will be back at it Monday!
