I admit it. I used to despise soccer.

In fact, I got in a bit of trouble in my previous job with a short-sighted column that disparaged the sport.

Trust me, there are no angrier fans than “fútbol” fans.

I have covered a bit of soccer in my time elsewhere and especially here.

The sport has grown on me.

Of course soccer is in the limelight now with the World Cup underway in Brazil.

The vuvuzelas are out. The fans are screaming. The energy is palpable. The announcers are breaking into their cries of “Goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!” when one is scored.

It’s soccer at its best.

And it is the rare time of the year when Americans actually care about the sport.

For some reason it has never really caught on in the United States.

Around the world, it’s the most popular sport. It’s played by millions and adored by billions.

Here, the other kind of football rules. Baseball, basketball, hockey and a smattering of other sports can arguably be ranked ahead of soccer.

Except for the next month.

In the next month, soccer gets its due.

Other than cheering for the United States, which never seems to do well on the world stage in the sport, most don’t have a fan interest.

Most aren’t even familiar with the players.

I know one off the top of my head: Renaldo, the Brazilian star.

I used to know another, David Beckham, and only because of the movie “Bend it Like Beckham.”

That doesn’t matter, though.

It’s interesting to watch the skill of every player on the pitch.

There is some amazing soccer talent among the high schools in Butler County, but the skill and grace these world-class players display is remarkable.

I took a quick poll among people I know who are only ardent soccer fans when the World Cup rolls around and asked them why they watch.

Some said they enjoyed the enthusiasm and excitement displayed by the fans and that even on television, the energy comes through.

Some said they just enjoyed watching the best players in the world.

Others pointed out countries as different as Cameroon and Mexico, Chile and Australia and Ivory Coast and Japan come together on the same field.

What I like about it is it breaks the norm, the monotony of sports in this country. It’s something new to be exposed to, something we in the United States don’t see much of on a day-to-day basis.

We can watch baseball any time we want. We can get our NFL fix in the fall. The NHL and NBA playoffs are (finally) wrapping up.

Soccer is king in the country, at least for a little while.

So get out those vuvezelas.

Goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.