THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Why all this sudden excitement about soccer in the U.S.

It was the question for Wednesday morning.

"Is everyone hooked on soccer? Why was every man, woman and turtle sweating over the match between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina." 

There were different versions of the question (we'll get to that) depending on who happened to be asking, but let's say the questioner could just as easily be a 15 year-old, or his dad.

A high school athlete or the host of a morning TV show.

What did this wide variety of folks around the breakfast table on Wednesday have to ask: "Is the whole country hooked on soccer?"

It was logical to ask — this month, in particular — as the sport's FIFA World Cup has lured billions of routine viewers (or roughly the same number of newcomers) to screens around the world.

In a couple of weeks, those same viewers will take a deep breath and explain that the game is called soccer — not football — and it lights up 80 percent of households around the globe.

AS FOR the question about getting hooked, the fast and simple answer would be something like this: "Soccer combines the very best of American football — speed, athleticism, cleverness and more — with, believe it or not, various types of kicking."

There are a few bonus areas.

You don't have to weigh 340 pounds and heave people through the air to have an impact in soccer.

In fact, it's a liability.

I didn't really know a thing about soccer when I went to my first game — in London.

A partner and I were visiting a conference about sports venues, and some of the attendees had extra tickets. I really didn't really want to go, but the tix were for a game between Arsenal and Juventus (an Italian powerhouse). 

As it turned out, the game was spectacular. There were some plays that seemed like magic to a couple of Americans who weren't prepared for such awesome stuff.

What a night!

Yes, I was hooked.

Immediately.

By the time we got back to the States, I needed to know every result, and gather up every feature.

I was a "Gooner" for life.

That's a nickname for Arsenal, and I now have our logo on pretty much every piece of clothing.

IF YOU'RE new to these thrills, and just now taking in soccer at its highest level, the World Cup is a different animal.

Soccer has endless levels.

Almost every town and village outside North America — and maybe Australia — has a team or two, and competes in a local league.

The class of play rises, just as you'd expect, and because most of the money that's spread around is in Europe (or Saudi Arabia, a newcomer to the game's elite), that's where you find the highest-rated leagues.

I fell into game's top bucket by accident.

Arsenal won the English Premier League that season, and I puffed up like we'd dominate the game every year.

Hah!

Not quite.

Big clubs (or nations) with boatloads of money changed the entire face of soccer.

Ah, but that's another story.

The point today is that club soccer (no matter the size) competes for its own league or conference.

The massive fuss this month is different — it's about 48 nations, not private clubs, playing for the FIFA World Cup. 

Both men and women want those golden trophies.

Oh, the reward that cash can't buy!

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Steve Cameron writes the "Cheap Seats" columns for The Press three times each week.

He suggests that you take in the lyrics to a Jimmy Buffett song: "Breathe in. Breathe Out. Move On."