WC2006: It Wasn't Supposed To End Like This

JOHANNISNACHT - LUDWIGSTRASSE, MAINZ (1:52pm local time) -- On a personal level, I had rationalized not playing at the US-Italy match with there being at least one more match to go. I rationalized missing the pre-game parade in Nuremberg with still having the match itself. When that was taken away from me along with my drum (and don't worry, I got it back after the match), I had the hope that we might live to play another day.

That hope, which had glimmered brightly for all USA fans after the Italy match, and even when we drew level before halftime of this match, was taken away from me, too.

Leaving the match, I was unable to muster any happiness for Italy, the country of my ancestors, who had held up their end of the bargain. And there's nothing quite like African fans celebrating a World Cup victory, but I couldn't share in their joy. This one hurt.

I met up with some Yanks back at O'Shea's who inadvertantly rub it in, telling me how great the parade that left without me, which left 10 or 15 minutes before we got back, was Highlight of their trip. Well, I've still got Kaiserslautern, I guess. That seems like a million years ago.

Thus ends the U.S. run into this World Cup, along with my soccer drumming career, such as it is. The whimper to end all whimpers. Of course, the hurt is still fresh, and I will likely both get over it prior to getting on a plane on Wednesday and come out of drumming "retirement" at some point.