Shortly after – and I’m talking moments after – the 2022 announcement came down, US National team striker Jozy Altidore tweeted, simply – I’m heated.

His teammate and cohort in spearheading the USMNT Twitter spokesman duties, Landon Donovan got a little more descriptive in disclosing his frustrations:

As a matter fact, Qatar does have a team. A bad one, of course – they’re ranked 113. However, before Landon or any other player’s vexations earns them a date with Qatar bid ambassador Zinedine Zidane, I advise that they tone it down – perhaps, stop worrying and start loving the wife of Qatar’s Emir, her highness Sheikha Mozah.

World Cup Bids: Russia 2018, Qatar 2022, USA 2034…maybe? (The Big Lead)

It’s been confirmed, by the next viable chance for the US to host the World Cup (2030 they’re saying), I’ll be damn near 50 years old.

Beckham here will be like 90 by the time the Brits get one, I imagine.

Going to write a post about the conversation spike around the World Cup today, possible search term include: oil, bribe, corruption.

Paul, the oracle octopus who made such mythical predictions as Serbia over Germany while correctly calling the result of every German game at the 2010 World Cup has died. He was 2 1/2 years old, had nine brains, three hearts and feared no Argentine chef.

According to Bloomberg, he will be cremated.

It’s been a little over week since World Cup 2010 came to a close, and there are precisely 1,418 days until the next World Cup. Here are just a few of the things I’m doing in the short term to keep the momentum going:

• For starters, I’m planning on watching the MLS All-Stars vs. Manchester United match next Wednesday. Hope to see something reminiscent of the fan activity that I saw during the World Cup at whatever bar I end up at (MLS vs. Manchester United, July 28th, 7:30 EST)

• I’m going to read Soccernomics. Been told that it’s perfect for fans of Moneyball

• Going to attend my first MLS game, and it should be a good one I’m told – LA Galaxy vs. NY Red Bulls, August 14th; Henry vs. Donovan

From there, hopefully I’ll find myself at a few choice NYC bars – Central Bar, you’re a fantastic soccer bar – for some EPL games, which I’m told mostly happen in the early morning EST. I’m not opposed to starting off my Saturday (or my Wednesday) in this manner.

It’s no exaggeration, thanks to the World Cup I became a newly co-opted soccer fan. Special thanks is deserved to the folks at Verizon who hooked me up with a Droid Incredible to go around and take pictures of World Cup as it was happening in New York City.

Check out the full digest of pictures on Flickr, and some of the real time updates I was making on Tumblr at: 8000MilesAway.com.

Here’s the best of the best of the 15 games, at 12 different locations, that I took in during the World Cup…

Enjoy, and as my buddy Dave, who’s taking me to that Red Bulls game, told me: If you save $3 a day, you could go to Brazil in 2014.

8000 Miles Away: Best of World Cup: Part One

8000 Miles Away: Best of World Cup: Part Two

The AP reported this morning that French striker Thierry Henry joined the New York Red Bulls today, and is scheduled to see his first action with the team on June 22 when the Red Bulls face the English Premiership squad from Tottenham Hottspur FC.

Naturally, the Red Bulls website is lousy with all things Henry at the moment. I’m going to act like a real fanboy and link you to some of the items, like this pretty stylish t-shirt.

I’d say Henry’s arrival is a pretty good opportunity for the newly co-opted soccer fans in the metro-NY area to keep the World Cup fervor going. I have tickets for the August 14th match between the Red Bulls and Landon Donovan and the LA Galaxy.

Check out this behind-the-scenes video from the team’s site of Henry’s recent Red Bulls photo shoot.

(Screenshot via NewYorkRedBulls.com)

Yes, I realize he just scored.

Purdue University senior Robby Donoho compiled an array of celebrations from all over the country, and beyond (Lyon, Durban), following Landon Donovan’s goal on Wednesday. This will get you maybe half as pumped up as that Spanish commentator from yesterday.

Well done, Robby. I’ve reached out to Donoho to see where he was when it all went down. Until he gets back to me, I’m assuming he’s that kid in the basement who fell down his stairs in merriment.

When Donovan buried that Jabulani in the back of the Algerian net yesterday morning, I was channeling this guy’s adulation in a bar in the East Village . Warning: England fans may find what they’re about to hear slightly cheeky.

Landon Donovan’s Game Winning Goal Is Even More Awesome In Spanish (Business Insider)

I’m still pondering what I witnessed this morning. I’ve been racking my brain to equate it to any other sporting event that I’ve ever seen. In the interest of not reacting too abruptly, I’m going to refrain from saying anything else about it right now, other than that is was just a remarkable thing to watch.

Oh, speaking of reacting abruptly, did you hear one of the Algerians slapped a reporter after the match?

Yahoo broke the story about Algerian forward Rafik Saifi’s postgame tirade, and Sporting News gets a link for including this photo:

Between his actions today, whenever this scene pictured above happened this photo (above) of Saifi celebrating Algeria’s victory over Egypt in a neutral ground victory in the Sudan earlier this year to make the World Cup (thanks, Dave), and (just for good measure) the guys on the team with haircuts from the mid-90s film Hackers, it’s like the douchiness just comes full circle.

Before you get too excited, let me just preface by saying that the Pre-Showdown brunch is $5,000 per, and the After-Match drinking with Nash and Claudio Reyna requires a minimum $250 donation. If you’re only a high roller in training like me and you’re in Lower Manhattan tomorrow, you should probably consider just going down to the free event. I’ll be the guy snapping pics with the HTC Incredible and scowling at Tony Parker. Here’s the full detail:

NBA stars.  Soccer’s best.  An urban field.  A sweet 8-a-side game of futbol in the middle of a city benefiting children’s programs on three continents.

Steve brings his passion to play in this innovative match that any sports fan will love.  Showcasing athletes from two sports, Showdown is the beautiful game at its most creative.  With international rosters that have included Steve Nash, Thierry Henry, Claudio Reyna, Tony Parker, Adrian Mutu, Grant Hill, Ivan Cordoba, Baron Davis, Javier Zanetti, Ryan Babel, Salomon Kalou, Simone Sandri, Martin Nash, Mathieu Flamini, Edgar Davids and Chris Bosh the Showdowns are events not to be missed!

The Showdown in Chinatown is a free to the public event located on Chrystie St. and Stanton St. on the lower east side.  Steve Nash, Claudio Reyna, Tony Parker, Simone Motto, Brandon Jennings, Giuseppe Rossi and more!

Chris Bosh is allegedly decent, but I bet I can capture a photo of him looking goofy. Check out this recap video from last year’s tournament featuring Bosh:

Go to stevenash.org/showdown to learn more about the Steve Nash Foundation and Claudio Reyna Foundation.