Kam sah Ham nee da! Dae han min guk!
Thank you, Korea Republic. Any comprehension of the Korean language, for me, is based on how you hear it. As certainly, you can't see it. It's an intricate throng of circles, lines and what have you.
But I've learned to say "thank you" (kam sah Ham nee dah), and the entire youth of Korea have forced me to learn "Dae han min guk" (Korea Republic), as that is what you hear chanted on every street in Seoul over and over when the Korean team has a match that day.
And today, I put them together, and say, Thank you, Korea Republic. For without your 1-0 win over Portugal, the USA would be out. So while the Americans were playing your mighty Red Devils, your catchy mantra grew quite tiresome, really. But now I say sing your hearts out. You deserve it, and you alone did the impossible, beating Portugal so that we could join you in the second round. Thank you, Korea Republic!
I must keep this short. We have just interviewed Landon Donovan and Tony Sanneh at the team hotel after the match (and watched Jeff Agoos, above, hobble in with a slight calf strain.). It was 1:45 a.m. for the fellows, and keeping in theme, I say thank you.
But now it's 4 a.m., and I will sleep. At least 'til 9.
Till then,
--Joe
World Sport supervising producer Joe McCurdy is providing a behind-the-scenes look at covering the World Cup.
