Why should we watch? Here are nine good reasons

Soccer is the world's sport. There is no close second. But a disconnect always has existed throughout the United States between those who respect and cherish the mastery of elite skill and those who would opt for a root canal over watching Spain against Brazil.

The World Cup tends to change all that.

With matches under way in South Africa, here are nine reasons -- in honor of the No. 9 jersey that Herculez Gomez of Las Vegas wears for the U.S. team -- why you should watch in the next month:

1. To see if Robert Green survives with his life.

The goalkeeper from England can awaken today with one positive thought: At least he isn't from Colombia.

Has a softer goal ever been allowed than the one Green surrendered to Clint Dempsey in a 1-1 draw against the United States on Saturday?

American Youth Soccer Organization keepers don't allow that goal. They'd be denied orange slices for life.

But you have to figure the worst it could get for Green back home is being locked in the Tower of London for a year while forced to continuously listen to "Danny Boy."

Andres Escobar, the Colombian player who was shot to death in July 1994, should have been so fortunate.

2. To see if U.S. keeper Tim Howard survives without murdering his defensemen.

I'm not sure who gave U.S. coach Bob Bradley the bright idea of preparing for a World Cup by having his defenders watch tape of UNLV football the past several years, but it wasn't smart.

Howard saved the Americans on Saturday more than once.

Memo to U.S. defenders: The rules don't prohibit you from marking opposing players. Stop watching the ball so much. It's not that pretty.

3. To see if the new adidas ball at some point explodes like those nuclear bombs in "The Day the Earth Caught Fire" and causes all 32 teams to slowly drift into the sun.

I'm guessing, uh, no.

But you can't have a World Cup without some level of controversy over the round object the world's best players kick around.

This is big stuff. Physics experts have said the new ball will play harder and faster than previous ones. Goalkeepers are prepared to riot over the ball, which apparently drops faster at the end of its trajectory. It supposedly bends more.

Sorry. Not buying it. Unless that Jess Bhamra kid from "Bend it Like Beckham" finds herself on a side, the whole ball fiasco will be forgotten quickly.

Green perhaps could blame the ball on allowing that goal to Dempsey -- had it not first bounced three times and directly into his hands.

4. Leo Messi and Angel Di Maria.

The former is the world's top player and Argentina's best bet to win the Cup. The latter is an up-and-coming star for Argentina. Both played well in an opening win against Nigeria on Saturday.

Let's hope it doesn't continue, saving those poor people in Buenos Aires the sight of coach Diego Maradona running naked through the center of town, which he promised to do if his team wins the Cup. Ouch.

5. To see if England underachieves.

One match in and it already has. Say this for the Brits: For a country that features one of the world's strongest leagues, the lads are mediocre in international events.

6. To see how many people go deaf from vuvuzelas.

The next time you curse about noise being piped into a sporting event or a band playing during a game, remember the plastic horns that have become a cultural phenomenon around South African soccer. Thousands of fans begin blowing in them the minute a game begins. Used to be, you could enjoy a soccer match with just a nice cool beverage. Now, you need to pack earplugs and a bottle of Tylenol.

7. To see the WAGs.

Baseball wives. Basketball wives. NFL wives. Hockey wives. NASCAR wives.

Groupies and girlfriends from all those sports.

Forget all of them.

Nothing compares to the sight of females who faithfully follow soccer players from nations such as Italy and Brazil.

Google it. We are talking a completely different league.

8. To see the hometown kid.

He was preparing to enter the match against England on Saturday when time ran out, but you have to think Herculez Gomez, a Las Vegas High School graduate, might see time off the bench against Slovenia on Friday or Algeria on June 23.

9. To see Spain win the World Cup.

The Spaniards have no weakness. They can score from anywhere. They have the world's best keeper, and his name is not Robert Green. They own the confidence from winning Euro 2008. Sometimes, the best team proves to be, well, the best team.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618.