I saw divinity in baseball. Baseball is a three-hour meditation, punctuated by the occasional pitch. Soccer faithful have more fun. When a home run is hit in baseball, fans shake hands or exchange high fives. But when a soccer goal is scored, we embrace, toss confetti, stomp our feet and scream with patriotic abandon.
Soccer players have more fun, too.
When Sammy Sosa hits a home run, other Cubs give him a fraternal slap on the butt. When Frank Klopas scores a goal, however, he strips to his shorts, dances with the corner flag and winds up on the receiving end of a massive dogpile. Drama and urgency are the principle differences between these churches of sport. It doesn't mean much if the home team loses in the 162-game odyssey of baseball. If they don't win, it's a shame.