{"id":6789,"date":"2014-06-19T07:21:41","date_gmt":"2014-06-19T11:21:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=6789"},"modified":"2014-06-19T07:21:41","modified_gmt":"2014-06-19T11:21:41","slug":"world-cup-diary-watching-the-us-beat-ghana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=6789","title":{"rendered":"World Cup Diary: Watching the US Beat Ghana"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"vanderhooov\"<\/a>Andrew Vanderhoeven is in Brazil with the American Outlaws<\/a> cheering on the United States Men’s National Team. He graciously agreed to share a few words and pictures with us about the experience. Here is the first installment of his World Cup Diary. Give him a follow on twitter at @Vanderhooooov<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

A few general Brazil thoughts to begin with.<\/div>\n
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I’ve been staying in Natal which is called the City of Sun because it’s sunny roughly 360 days a year. The first two days I showed up there were record rains which caused mudslides, and a state of emergency. It was unlike any rain I’ve seen.<\/div>\n
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Brazil’s WiFi is shaky at best, a disaster at worst. Not that it’s really necessary since it’s not why I’m here, but definitely makes it difficult to contact friends\/family at times.<\/div>\n
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Neymar is a demi-god here. Seems like every kid has a Neymar jersey or some variant of it. If they win the Cup I can’t imagine the status he’d reach.<\/div>\n
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Brazil on game days is insane. I was bussing back from a side trip last night and literally every little market, house, or shack had the game playing with a group of people gathered around. Soccer is truly a way of life here and it was really something spectacular to see.<\/div>\n
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\"soccer<\/a>As for the US game I’m not even sure how to describe the experience it was. All the time and money I poured into this trip was worth it just walking to the stadium. Beating a team that has been our kryptonite for years was just an added bonus. To be honest I was so caught in the moment of attending a cup and everything I was barely able to see the Dempsey goal. That was truly a rush as I hugged every man, woman, and child in proximity whether American or Brazilian. Fast forward through 80 odd minutes of parking the bus, one blown hamstring (of my favorite player), one broken nose of the team captain, and one blow lead and we were at a moment I’d always imagined. Watching the 2010 World Cup and the “Goal Heard Round the World” I’d imagined what it would have been like to see it live. The John Anthony Brooks goal is as close I’ll ever get I imagine. It was the most insane feeling in the world. From the depths of despair to the highest of highs, it’s the type of moment you never forget and everything that makes sports good. I truly don’t know if I’ve ever been happier, I’m still smiling.<\/div>\n