Friday, June 11, 2010

MADIBA'S CUP: A generation ago, apartheid was the brutal, crippling reality for millions of black South Africans. Last week, it was a historical term in the third round of the National Spelling Bee that a kid had never heard before, sandwiched in-between words like "apparatchik" and "perestroika".

As a teen, apartheid seemed like it would never end -- that it just was, and America was powerless to change the situation -- though increasingly artists were trying to make the plight of South Africans visible -- whether through Peter Gabriel's "Biko" and Artists United Against Apartheid's "Sun City," films like Cry Freedom (yeah, I know, another "white guy as the hero of a black man's story" movie like Glory and Mississippi Burning, but still) and of course Paul Simon's transcendent Graceland.

But political pressure worked, and on February 12, 1990, after more than 10,000 days in captivity, prisoner #46664 Nelson Mandela was freed from prison and the edifices of apartheid began to crumble in a remarkably peaceful transition to majority rule. Four years later, he was elected President of South Africa. And despite the poverty and AIDS and badges and incidents of past discrimination which remain apartheid's continuing legacy, today South Africa is free, and today we are here. All in a generation -- days of miracle and wonder, indeed.

Welcome to the 2010 World Cup.

11 comments:

  1. Joseph J. Finn10:41 AM

    ¡VA ESPAÑA!

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  2. Vanessa H.11:02 AM

    I came over to recommend NPR's World Cup blog, Show Me Your Cleats! It will contain live stats on all the games in addition to their postings. It looks to be pretty useful for those of us blocked from our favorite sports blogs at work.

    Also, I would like to say something witty or poignant about the change in South Africa, but as with anything truly important, I can't find the words.

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  3. Thrilled that SA started this all off with a goal.

    So annoyed that I can't watch during the day- but I'm listening.

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  4. Anonymous11:45 AM

    And so, so said that Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter Zenani was killed in a car crash leaving a World Cup concert.

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  5. The Guardian had an entertaining play by play for the first game:

    Another mail: "The match commentator on Univision keeps singing the refrain to Duran Duran's The Reflex every time Tshabalala shows up," informs Thereaa Wyner. Why, because every little thing he does leaves an answer with a question mark? And, in light of our earlier linguistic lessons, what might the repetition of Duran Duran mean? And anyone care to venture a translation for Djemba Djemba?


    46 min: The second half has started. Given how many of you were ignorant of the offside law, I should perhpas specify that South Africa took the kick-off, because Mexico had the honours in the first period. And for the benefit of any French strikers who may be tuning in, let me reiterate that the laws of football prohibit controlling and passing the ball with your great big cheating hand.


    50 min: Mexico are preparing to make a change, Guardado warming up. "Google's translation service tells me Duran is Turkish for standing or lingering," yells Paul Bourdin. "So I think Duran Duran means stalking."

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  6. Joseph J. Finn12:59 PM

    "<span> And for the benefit of any French strikers who may be tuning in, let me reiterate that the laws of football prohibit controlling and passing the ball with your great big cheating hand.  "</span>

    Classic!

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  7. Fred App1:31 PM

    The atmosphere here in Johannesburg today was unbelievable. The vuvuzelas started bleating at 6:30 a.m., and the grounds outside the stadium were packed eight hours before game time -- a yellow-and-green sea of South African fans, and a healthy contingent of Mexican fans, many decked out in full mariachi regalia. I can't think of anything in the American sports world to compare it to -- it was like the wildest college football tailgate scene times 20.  It is impossible to underestimate how much this tournament means to the people here.

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  8. Marsha2:12 PM

    A story on NPR today included the comment: "The vuvuzela, which anyone can play, and no one can play well..." Heh.

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  9. Benner3:34 PM

    The ESPN Fifa 2010 app for iphone has live audio of all matches for $8.

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  10. Jenn.5:00 PM

    I'm very excited to get your updates, Fred.

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