Mobile Journalists

For 30 straight days I looked like a tourist in my own city, packing around my Nikon D60 camera. Together we went in and out of packed venues, homes and local soccer events.

The event is over, but the memories live on.

I've heard it takes 30 days to develop a habit.  Well today I went to the TV, just like I've been doing everyday since the World Cup started on June 8th and turned on channel 3. With no soccer showing up on my screen, I realize that along with my new TV soccer habit, I might be experiencing some denial and it's clearly time to move on.

As I hang up my South African neck scarf and think about month that was I realize that it's not over, rather it's just the beginning. 

I've cut a fashionable 'V' out of the neck of my $10 men's Spain t-shirt and I'm at Cafe Barcelona on Granville Street in Vancouver. I'm all ready for the final game between Spain and the Netherlands for the 2010 World Cup title.

"This is the only real Spanish restaurant in Vancouver," says Spain-born Teresa as she fans herself to keep cool in a room that is packed with Spanish fans.

Within moments of arriving and staking out a spot near the front TV, I am offered pintxos, which Cafe Barcelona owner Roger Creixams tells me pintxos are the small portions of food they serve in Spain.

A fantastic month of soccer ended today,  Congratulations to Spain, the 2010 FIFA World Cup champions.

I enjoyed the final right where I started on Day 1, the Duke of Duckworth in St. John's.  They cemented their reputation as the place to watch big time soccer over the last month.

As soon as Spain's Iniesta scored the winning goal in extra time, I knew it was only a matter of time before College St. in Toronto was transformed into Las Ramblas.

"In order to build our nation, we must all exceed our own expectations."

- quote from Morgan Freeman, Invictus

Today is the perfect day to tell the story of a young man who was inspired by World Cup to make a difference in the lives of others.

Brendan, a South African born grade 11 student living in Port Coquitlam BC overcame many challenges in his quest to bring the sport of soccer to those less privileged in his home country of South Africa.

 On the fashion side, being a Dutch fan is a challenge! Try mixing the red, white and blue from the flag with the Netherlands orange and make it all look good. Sounds like a fourth of July party in Home Depot.

Here's how to avoid looking like walking garage sale and how to look like a World Cup diva.

It was a scorcher in St. John's for CBC's Soccer Day in Canada.  I have the sunburn to prove it.

The crew and I had a blast working the half-time show.  19-year-old Vince Hearn, in my opinion, stole the show with some of the most impressive soccer ball tricks I've ever seen.  

My competitive sport is Baton Twirling.  Yes, it's a sport.  Instead of kicking a ball, I throw a piece of metal into the air and turn six-times before I catch it inside my leg while going into a no-hand cartwheel. 

The reason I'm bringing this up? When I went to BC Soccer World, a soccer extravaganza event put on by the BC Soccer Association at Canada Place I had flashbacks of when I was a young athlete.

For 30 days we've watched, loved, lost and celebrated. Now, it's less than 12 hours before the last match is played in the 2010 World Cup. The highly anticipated ending to the month long saga is about to play out right before our very eyes. 

This is a recap of where you can watch the game in Vancouver if you want a one-sided or a more neutral experience.

It's just like the World Cup," says 6-year old Justin who is wearing his Pitt Meadows soccer uniform.  Justin is watching the Vancouver Whitecaps play AC St. Louis at Swanguard Stadium in Burnaby, B.C.

Justin and his teammate Adam walked out hand in hand with the St.Louis players and played a mini-soccer game on the field at half-time.   His Dad explains that it's just like what Justin sees on TV, when the kids walk out with the players at the start of each World Cup game. 

Well, the end of the World Cup is nearing... but we're going out with a bang.

CBC's Soccer Day in Canada is coming to St. John's today (Saturday, July 10) at King George V Park, on Quidi Vidi Lake.

The Duke was overwhelmed with German fans again yesterday. But for the first time, they had nothing to cheer about.

The offensive machine that had been Germany throughout the World Cup was stifled by a superior Spanish side. They were never really in the game.

With standing room only, the Alpen Club feels like the east coast heat wave.  It is so hot.  I'm wishing I had my water gun and the German bikini I see a woman named Barb wearing.

This is German territory.

The Netherlands guaranteed themselves a spot in the 2010 World Cup finals with a 3-2 over Uruguay today. 

The match will be remembered for some beautiful goals. It was another impressive performance from a Dutch side that hasn't lost in 26 games now.

Want to sit VIP during the World Cup game on the Drive?

Check out CBC's Soccer Mania Contest:
http://www.cbc.ca/bc/features/soccermania/contest.html

Most of us have lucky charms -- some just happen to be more lethal than others.

The Samba Kings are stopped, but the samba music plays on.

After the mighty Brazilians were eliminated 2-1 by the Dutch in the World Cup quarter finals, the party still continued at the Libra Room, the Brazilian World Cup headquarters on Commercial Drive in Vancouver.

Rudy Penkarski and his son Ryan are on a journey around the world -- without ever leaving the Greater Toronto area.

Boy oh boy, the Germans looked good this morning, didn't they?

Fans in St, John's thought so. Since eliminating England, Germany has taken over as fan favorite in this neck of the woods.

Wondering what the Paraguayans are drinking out of that decorated container when watching the soccer or cheering for their team ?

When I ran into the 'friendly five', Rudy, Robbie, Keith, Bert and Stephanie' - a group of enthusiastic Paraguay fans parading down on Commercial Drive with their flags and flask, I was curious.

Congratulations Asamoah Gyan.  You're (in)famous.

The stars were aligned. There was no time left on the clock.  A handball in the box resulted in a red card and a penalty kick for Ghana. At that point, it was simple.  Score, you're a national hero. Miss, and be remembered forever, around the world, as the guy who missed that shot.

After two days off, the quarter finals finally start tomorrow. For the remaining teams, the magic number is three.  Win your next three games and you win the World Cup.  

Seeing sides like Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Spain and The Netherlands in the mix shouldn't surprise anyone. But other three, Uruguay, Paraguay and Ghana, have exceeded all expectations.

Ghana in particular is a great story.

It's the first day since June 11^th that there have been no World Cup soccer games.

It feels strange.