Title: World Cup
Author: CptnSuz
Rating: K
Summary: Short ficlet. The recordings of the World Cup games have arrived in Atlantis and John Sheppard does not understand the rest of the expedition's passion for a sport he knows as soccer, which they call football.

"I don't get it." John Sheppard leaned again the wall and looked on in befuddlement at the crowd gathered around the rec room TV. "They already know who wins."

"It's a cultural phenomenon. They can't miss watching the World Cup, John," Elizabeth Weir tried to explain. Of course, he thought, she looks completely comfortable amid the enthused hysterics. Probably has something to do with playing diplomat overseas and watching everyone around her go crazy every four years.

Dr. Zelenka had strolled up while they were chatting. He beamed an almost smirk-ish smile, and gave them both a couple of consolatory pats on the shoulder. "Is okay. Good game." And proceeded back to the lab.

"Yeah, that was a great game. We just lost 0-3 to the Czechs. Our team..."

"John," Elizabeth cut him off warningly, "Be nice."

Now the Colonel was feeling whiny, "Why can't they like baseball? Or football? Now that is a great sport. You can tell because of how much padding the players have to wear -no wimps there."

Elizabeth motioned to the screen. "Most of the world calls this football."

"No, this is soccer. I mean American football. I'm right...come on, Lorne, back me up here?" John called out to the major.

Evan Lorne turned with his can of beer and gave him a sheepish grin. "Sorry, Sir." But a contingent of German personnel had just started chanting merrily, so he raised his voice and shouted. "Sorry, Sir! I have to side with them on this one. I've played since kindergarten, and this is definitely my favorite sport."

"Figures," John muttered. He sighed and Elizabeth wandered off to find a seat and enjoy the "cultural phenomenon." Maybe he could go pester Rodney. Surely the scientist wouldn't be interested in sports or even spectating, he didn't even like being out in the sun... This was precisely when Rodney McKay entered the room.

"Rodney," John uttered with no small amount of surprise. "What are you doing here? You don't even have a Canadian team."

"I know that." Rodney rolled his eyes, and jerked his thumb in the direction of the table. "They have lots of food."

As he bee-lined for the snacks, John walked out, shaking his head. "I don't get it."

AN2: I based this off of my experience being around international students who were in the US during the latest (2006) World Cup. Pretty convenient that Zelenka is Czech, and they were in the same group as the US :-) I personally like the sport. And my apologies to anyone waiting for a follow-up to my other SGA stories, I'm currently trying to pound out 1666 words a day for Nat'l Novel Writing Month, which will eventually appear on so it might be a while.