The 98-minute film follows members of seven [of the 48] soccer teams that went to South Africa for the fifth annual Homeless World Cup.   Yep, you read it right- a soccer world cup involving teams from around the world made up of strictly homeless people (a wild guess would be that it was overshadowed by the 2006 FIFA World Cup taking place around the same time). 

I was stunned that I had never heard of this world cup, nevermind the South African one being the fifth iteration.  Viewers experience the trials and tribulations of numerous individuals: the 29-year old Kenyan hoping for a professional scout to show up; the 19-year-old American proving the homelessness and abuse exist in even the most modern of societies; the young Afghani goalkeeper experiencing ‘Western culture’ for the first time; the tough Irishman trying to ‘kick’ his drug habit; the 62-year old Spaniard who killed off a burgeoning Real Madrid career via missteps in life; and the teamwork-oriented Russians determined that the only way to highlight their plight in their homeland is via a top three finish.

All of these people are bound together by one simple event: a medium-sized ball being kicked through a goal.  The realization that such a simple concept can change the lives of millions is mind-boggling.  The uplifting documentary left me with more than just a feel-good moment or two; it will constantly serve as a reminder of those who are not as fortunate as us, and of the influence of sport in all walks of life.

 ”Kicking It” is a tear-jerker, but it is a must-see for anyone, let alone a sports nut.  It proves that sport provides many opportunities for kids and adults alike: instilling discipline, enhancing teamwork, achieving trust amongst peers, and- for those incredibly blessed ones- a lucrative career.  It has also offered a way out for those in dire straits.  My comments may be cheesy and cliche, however, I felt it was important to note that we are lucky individuals who get to write about- and often witness- events which make us the ardent sports fans that we are.  “Kicking It” is a testament that there are issues around the world that go beyond the glitz and glamor of the FIFA World Cup, the NBA Playoffs, the World Series, and the Super Bowl; sports can be a powerful catalyst for change in unimaginable and diverse ways.  ESPN bought the rights to the documentary prior to its screening- don’t miss it.

Although those may be the famous words from the Indy 500, Formula 1 is considered to be the crème de la crème of open-wheel motor-racing.  Don’t get me wrong, Indycar has some clout, and has been the training ground for a few F1 drivers.  Indy 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve is the most prominent migrant, where he won a championship for Williams Renault in 1997.  However, the domesticated Indy can’t beat the worldwide appeal of Formula 1- featuring races in Bahrain, Kuala Lumpur, and Shanghai, amongst other locations.

Last season featured the debut of 19 year-old British rookie Lewis Hamilton. The kid is the real deal, the LeBron James of F1, if you will. He totaled numerous accolades as a debutante during the season, and was minutes away from winning the 2007 driver’s championship- a feat never accomplished by a rookie- if it weren’t for, well, a ‘rookie mistake’.  He slipped into the sand trap during a pit-stop in the Shanghai Grand Prix. Its worth mentioning that Hamilton - of West Indian descent - is the first black driver in F1, a sport which is not known for its diversity quotient (since when do Indian kids drive fast, anyway?).  His arrival is sure to garner even greater support for F1 in the years to come, as well as its share of controversies (during a recent practice session in Spain, a few spectators were dressed up in less-than-flattering outfits causing FIA, the world motorsports governing body, to threaten to yank this year’s Spanish grand prix). 

The eventual winner of 2007 was a come-from-behind victory by the steely Finn Kimi Raikkonen, himself a first-year Ferrari driver after he hopped from, ironically, Hamilton’s current team, McLaren Mercedes. Every season in F1 brings its surprises, challenges, celebrity-watching, and girls.  Yes, the pit girls are on a different level altogether, Gents, and I strongly recommend watching the glitzy Monaco GP to get a taste of it- at least TiVo it, it will be worth your while. Without further ado, here are upcoming notables in your 2008 Formula 1 Grand Prix season, beginning with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16th:

• Lewis Hamilton must live up to the pressure. After nearly winning it last year, all eyes will be on the Brit to take home his first world championship. If he does, he will be the youngest driver to win it; he’ll also probably then become the next Prime Minister of England.
• McLaren Mercedes have a lot to prove. They were embroiled in a controversy where one of their engineers swapped notes with a Ferrari’s, leading to espionage allegations and hefty fines. I’m surprised nobody has gone to jail regarding this, though the case is ongoing.  Long story short: McLaren and Ferrari themselves may not be guilty, but, they failed to curb security procedures in overlooking their personnel.  Not only does McLaren provide for Hamilton’s paychecks, but, they also hired a fellow second-year Finn, Heikki Kovalainen (you thought NHL names were complicated), to man the helm after Hamilton’s much-publicized fall-out with (ex) teammate Fernando Alonso, which brings us to…
• Spaniard Fernando Alonso returning to his Renault team after spending one much-maligned season with McLaren. The youngest ever champion in F1, there is no doubting Fernando’s talent. However, it remains to be seen whether his Renault F1 team can break the Ferrari-McLaren duopoly, which likely will result in a Kimi vs. Hamilton battle for championship points this season. It also doesn’t help Fernando’s PR team in that he stayed unusually quiet during the aforementioned Lewis Hamilton/Feb ’08-Barcelona-practice racial allegations.
• Exotic locales are the fashion in F1, and this season will have no shortage of them. Following in the footsteps of Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, and Bahrain, this year will highlight Turkey and F1’s first-ever night race in Singapore. Singapore’s track will feature race-ready installations, as well as a partial street-circuit zooming through downtown Singapore. Did I mention its a night race? So the cars won’t exactly have headlights stuck on them, but, the appeal of drivers doing 200mph under track-side lighting is sure to stir the senses of any speed freak. As always, the usual circuits, such as the babe-magnet Monaco, Germany’s wooded Hockenheim, and Japan’s technically savvy Suzuka will provide the usual theatrics. Rumors abound of Moscow and New Delhi grand prix in the near future. Speaking of New Delhi….
• Force India will be the first South Asian F1 team to grace the sport. Owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, it is essentially the revamped (Dutch) Spyker team (a spectacular flop in and of itself). Force India won’t make an impact this year (even though they don’t have Indian kids as drivers); nonetheless, its a testament to the sport’s growing popularity in one of the biggest middle classes in the world.

For the average US viewer, check out your Speed Channel to see some of the races, though a big chunk of them are Sunday mornings due to the international nature of the sport. The Tifosi- Ferrari supporter- in me says Kimi Raikkonen will repeat as champ, but Lewis Hamilton may have some more tricks up his sleeve come the last race of the season on Nov. 2^nd in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Its off to the races!