The World Cup is helping America see itself again

With the first wave of nations now headed back home, who's your favorite World Cup character so far? The Norse rowers who "paddled" their way up Boston escalators? The Scottish Tartan Army who drank planes and bars dry and even made Mets and Marlins games tolerable? The German tourist astounded by college football stadiums and Buc-ees? The Japanese visitors delighted by free chips and salsa? The awestruck visitors running afoul of TSA for trying to bring home bottles of ranch dressing? 

Me, I'm going with a write-in vote: The Americans who are surprised, delighted and grateful to see their own country through the world's eyes. Yes, plenty of grifters are trying their best to stain the World Cup, but this game is too big to be contained by greed and corruption.