V-U-V-U-Z-E-L-A...they didn't qualify for the 2010 World Cup

Before the game begins, you can hear them buzzing. They are not insects, although many part-time soccer viewers consider the plastic bugles to be annoying pests. They are the latest craze in South Africa, adopted by its countrymen, and scorned by the world audience. It is called a "vuvuzela".

I have no trouble listening to them, keep in mind players have no choice but to listen to the monotone reverberation echo throughout the stadium for at least two hours on game day. I can adjust the volume setting on my television, and I can solve the 'problem'. On the other hand, the longest anyone will hear the vuvuzela is one month, and then never again.

There are other camps in the 2010 FIFA World Cup who do not have a problem with the musical instrument (as of June 16th, 2010): Germany, Brazil, South Korea, Argentina, Holland and Ghana to name a few. As for those countries in the World, who are not so fond of the vuvuzela, their tale is ridden with excuses and moments a Monday morning Quarterback would love to have back. It wasn't because of stifling defense, team execution, displicine, well-researched gameplan, or the spin of the ball...it was the vuvuzela.