C-soul,

Competition, survival and disapointment are all part of life. Art is also about creating, and in sports the creating takes the form of reaching your potential and meeting your goals and as you say, celebrating your accomplishments.

If you can be moved to tears by music it is because it has reached you on a deep level. A sports fan is touched in the same manner. The beauty of words and the beauty of athletic achievement are both artistic achievements.

Competition is healthy in that it can push people to put forth their best effort. Competition for the World Cup began three years ago when teams around the world began playing each other to become one of the 32 teams to make the final tournament.

You have to realize that in many countries soccer is a means to escape. Sometimes it is the reality of poverty. For some countries it is an achievement of recognition - as South Korea witnessed today when they defeated Italy.

It is very difficult to describe, but the meaning runs deep.

Again, in this country (USA) the meanings are different. We celebrate as an excuse to party, not just to escape.

Ron