I’m enjoying the World Cup. I am a soccer savage. But I love the excitement people from around the world bring to the cities and the games.

When I watch the games I get a memory flashback.

My brothers and I used to flip around tv long ago and see soccer games that we considered strange. Almost no scoring. And players who got tangled up moaning in pain rolling on the ground.

One time before we switched to baseball we watched a British announcer calling a soccer match. A player got tangled up and dove to the ground writhing in pain.

A trainer rubbed his leg. After a penalty wasn’t called he jumped up and was ready to go at 100 percent.

The droll announcer in a total British voice said “Well that must have been a magic sponge.”

As I watch the rolling around this time I always think about the taking a dive as a one of the least pleasant points of an otherwise very enjoyable match. I always think about the magic sponge that revives them.