Observations from two weeks into World Cup 2010

- Sweet Lord, am I finally getting used to those crazy vuvuzelas? There are pockets of time where the insane horn-blowing almost blends in like white noise. Yet, there are moments when they sure don't. Beer helps.

- If they decide to make a movie about the sportscasters from this World Cup, Peter Krause must play Alexi Lalas.

- Does the playing up fouls get worse as the stakes get higher? Like the way the guy who was somewhat elbowed in the chest convinced the refs that he got poked in the eye by grabbing his face? I swear some of these guys are thisclose to dragging out fainting chairs.

- When outfitting yourself to support your team, you may want to think how the get-up looks if your team should lose and you look dejected. I'm talking to you, Mr. English fan with a body unapologetically built by a solid years of beer drinking in the gleaming tight white bodysuit and the red and white fun fur wig. It might have looked festive and playful when you were laughing and jumping about before the game started. But by the time England lost 4-1 by Germany, your slumpy look in that ensemble personified Losing.

- I know I'm a newbie to world football, but man, these ref-blown goal calls are heartbreakers. It's got to play with your head if a goal was erroneously given to the other team or a goal disallowed from yours. It adds a capricious obstacle beyond the constants of the skills and strategy of the opposing team you're playing and your own. Egregious goal calls could easily add a sense of unfair arbitrariness that subconsciously screws with your head. After all, if the game isn't fair, what does my skills and effort matter? Of course, this makes the USA's winning goal over Algeria all the more amazing. Shaking off that incorrect disallowed goal, and scoring a goal in the 91st minute? That goal should have had people screaming "Do you believe in miracles?!"

Now, I kind of understand the FIFA argument against technology--start with goal-verification technology and where does it end--will each little foul be questioned? But I'd point to the NFL's judicious use of instant replay. And even American baseball, famous for its own controversial live calls, is considering expanding their use instant replay. I'm pretty sure FIFA would have one strong supporter in the use to instant replay in Armando Galarraga.

- And aha! I learned there is truth to the ESPN commercial about the #10 jersey. It's apparently given to the playmaker on the team, which apparently is usually the attacking midfielder and often assists on goals.