You might think that Speed spends too much time on NASCAR pre-race and post-race shows. Well, it could be worse.

Tomorrow is the World Cup draw in South Africa. 32 teams have qualified to play for the World Cup. On the stage there are 4 pots, each holding 8 pills. Someone draws a pill from each pot to establish Group 1, then does it again from Group 2, etc. In any sane world, this would take 5 minutes.

The Fox Soccer Channel is broadcasting FOUR HOURS of this "event"!

Based on previous ones, there will be and hour or so before and after the show for the Pundits to explain it, but the show itself will be a couple of hours long. There will be speeches by famous people, there will be songs, there will be all kinds of crap. All to line up 8 qualifying groups (think "heats").

Dick,

Remember, they need to translate it into 200 different languages for all to understand.

Yes, but a couple of things to note. This happens only every 4 years. Not every week and 80% of the year like Speed and Nascar. Also this is a world event, not just a southern American event.

Yet again a prime example of why pill draws are bad. They should have used a passing points system to establish the group.

and none of them are english

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Actually, English, Spanish, French & German are the official languages, and English is the official written language. After all, the game was invented in England (or Scotland).

Languages are always interesting in Europe. The name of FIFA (the governing body) is The Fédération Internationale de Football Association. That's French. But, in spite of the above, its headquarters are in Zurich, which is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

Would it be a good idea for the FIA to be as powerful as FIFA and, as a result, the rules for racing were the same the world over? Since that allows soccer players to move from team to team without limit, the TV audience for all major countries is international, bringing lots of money into the sport.

Viewership should be up this year as everyone is anticipating
the switch from Hoosier futbol shoes to Goodyears.

we know and f-1 is watched by more people also ,it's just that niether one is as popular here that's why we joke about it

Makes as much sense to me as watching the NFL draft all day (or NBA draft for that matter).

It took me twice as long to get my sushi order at lunch today because all of the chefs were watching the pretty ladies on the FIFA coverage. I was trying to figure out what was going on - looked like a beauty pageant while I was watching. Good to know the background a little.

I landed in Paris the day that France won the World Cup in 1998. It was insane. I had no idea what was going on before I got there, but it was definitely the largest party I've ever been to.