We Are the Champions

Congratulations, Germany!

Late Night with John Oliver and Seth Meyers

¡Felicitaciones, España!

Congratulations to Spain on their first World Cup title! Viva España!

EDIT (13 July 2010): Here's video of the triumphant team arriving home. (I especially ♥ Iker Casillas, David Villa, Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas and Joan Capdevila . ♡)

Paul The Psychic Octopus

This may not be theatre related but if you're like me and have been following the World Cup then you would be familiar with Paul The Psychic Octopus and his predictions. He has turned into the surprise superstar of these games gaining facebook pages, tweets and coverage from major news agencies such as the BBC and CNN.

Paul is a 2 year old Octopus born in Dorset, England but now lives in the Oberhausen Aquarium in Germany. His keepers had devised a dinner time game where he is given 2 glass boxes containing mussels.

During the Euro 2008 football championships, flags of the competing sides were placed on the containers and it was noted that on almost every occasion, the team that Paul’s tentacle touched first went on to win their match.

During this year's World Cup, he has predicted all of Germany's games correctly including their loses to Serbia and Spain. Showing a perfect record so far. He also has chosen Germany over Uruguay as the third place winner and again has been proven correct. For the finals, El Pulpo Paul, as the Spaniards affectionately calls him, has chosen Spain over the Netherlands (click the photo above for the video). In a few hours, we'll know if he's correct.

(photo from Telegraph.co.uk)

The Fellowship of the Vuvuzela

Horn of Helm Hammerhand vs. vuvuzelas? Enjoy this one from spoof artists PistolShrimps!

So long USA!

Here's college student Robby Donoho's tribute to Landon Donovan after Team USA's victory over Algeria. It's wonderful how sports can bring people together, and make us forget about the economy and the oil spill. Too bad the team ended its run today. See you in four years!

The World Reacts to Landon Donovan's Goal @ Yahoo! Video

This Cup's for You

Back in the good ol' MTV days, I watched The Real World and Road Rules before the sleaze factor crept in. Now, the only reality show I watch is The Amazing Race. Reality shows are all the rage, and not just on television, but even online. I saw a commercial for Bud House on ESPN this morning as we were watching the South Africa vs. Mexico game. It is a web reality show featuring 32 football fanatics from 32 countries living as one in South Africa for the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. As each team gets eliminated, that country's fan will get booted from the house. The last fan standing will get a ticket to the final game and present the Budweiser Man of the Match award to the Most Valuable Player. (disclaimer: I do not partake of alcoholic beverages and do not endorse Budweiser or drinking.)

SIDENOTE: Our condolences to anti-apartheid leader and former South African President Nelson Mandela and his family. His 13 year old great-granddaughter was killed in a car crash after a pre-tournament gala concert Thursday.