World Cup Viewing with My Sons in Alhambra and Altadena, California

As the World Cup draws to a close, I've enjoyed watching the matches with my sons at our oldest one's apartment in Alhambra and with the other occasionally while working out at the 24 Hour Fitness in Altadena.

Our Soccer Experiences

We watched the Netherlands defeat Uruguay 3 to 1 today while using our own soccer "expertise" as a way to provide annoying commentary to each other: my oldest son as a struggling recreational player, my other son as a competitive high school and men's league player, and me as a referee. It usually is the referee's fault, correct? And that's why instant replay in FIFA and the World Cup matches is "obviously" needed. Click here to read "Why FIFA should use instant replay."

While we could have watched it a popular spot like Barney's in Old Town, Pasadena we decided to make a lunch of it with the three of us. The most important question was "what to eat?"

World Cup and Food

I picked up subs from Quiznos on the way down. I knew Subway has its $5 value and when I passed a Quiznos on Hill Avenue below the 210 freeway I decided to stop in and get the baquettes for $4.00. After eating them, I decided Subway's $5 foot long was a better value with far more toppings placed on them. Two of us had beer: I drank a half can of Pabst Blue Ribbon while our oldest had a dark ale "Arrogant Bastard" that cost $7 a bottle and tasted like oil to me; my other son took a sip and said it tasted like soy sauce. I agreed that was an even more accurate description.

One of the reasons we watched it there was because mom and dad (my wife and I) have a crappy TV compared to the large screen in my son's apartment. Even I enjoy the difference and perhaps one day I, too, will own a large screen like my kids. It's not a life goal, however.

The goals were especially fun to watch during the match and we thrived on each other's commentary debating what calls were fouls and what calls were not fouls. I felt the referee in this match who was from Central Asia did an excellent job calling the match and keeping control of the game while the others felt he was calling too tightly on some of the fouls.

World Cup and Friendship

The World Cup is all about soccer - and about the chance to renew and build friendships even with your own kids whom you've known for a lifetime. After July 11, I'll hate having to wait another four years for the next tournament. We'll know by that time if FIFA will allow the use of instant replay. But in the meantime, there will be plenty of other sports to watch with my boys that do use instant replay. I just hope one of them continues having a large screen TV.

Other matches we watched and talked about: U.S. vs Algeria and U.S. vs Slovenia.

For those who hate referees, enjoy reading this article "When referees make bad calls."