Odd English game gets its 43 days in the sun

Most Americans probably are unaware that a major world sporting event is under way right now, but it’s true: The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup began Feb. 19 and will continue through April 2, with the games being played in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

Fourteen teams are competing, including from the three host countries, as well as Hawaii’s Pacific Rim neighbors Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Also in the match are cricket powerhouses such as South Africa, West Indies and Kenya, as well as, of course, England, which is where the game originated in the early 16th century.

Nicknamed "the gentleman’s game," cricket is a bat-and-ball team sport reminiscent of baseball, but much different actually, with rules that make it hard for newbies to easily understand. Hence the lack of enthusiasm in the U.S. for the fact that this World Cup is going on. Which isn’t very cricket, but at least Americans are finally catching on to soccer.

Coincidence? Hmmm …

Doug Mataconis, who writes for the Outside The Beltway blog, echoed what a lot of Hawaii folks are saying about Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s civil unions signing coinciding with President Barack Obama opting not to defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

He noted that DOMA resulted in part from legal battles that arose from Hawaii’s high court legalizing same-sex marriage 15 years ago.

"The gay marriage debate has come full circle," he wrote.

A circle of life?