All of the heavy hitters, minus Vladimir Putin apparently, are in Zurich ahead of Thursday's World Cup bid vote. This is the final push, the last minute glad-handing that is supposed to put a bid over the top; for Qatar, football great Zinedine Zidane is the marquee name.  For England, it's David Beckham, Prime Minister David Cameron, and Prince William.  For the United States, it's Landon Donovan, Attorney General Eric Holder (See? Our government is behind the bid!), former President Bill Clinton and legendary actor Morgan Freeman.


It's Freeman that fascinates me most.  Not because I think he gives the US any distinct advantage over the other 2022 bidders (I'm not even sure who will be there from Down Under), but because he's Morgan Freaking Freeman.


The man has a voice like butter and the gravity of an Oxford Don.  He's played the President, God, the iconic "Red" Redding, Frederick Douglas, Nelson Mandela, and a host of other roles.  The man oozes class, and it's quite frankly a stroke of genius to have him in Zurich for the US bid presentation.  In the same way that famous musicians are awed by actors (or something like that), we can only hope the FIFA Executive Committee is jaded by years of exposure to soccer royalty.  Zizzou?  Pssh, he's nothing compared to the star of Driving Miss Daisy.


And while Freeman is no saint, and it's only fair to point out he might not be quite the guy he plays in the movies, who wouldn't want him narrating - LIVE - the presentation for the US bid?  A few strategically placed lines from some of his more notable films might be the thing that sways a starstruck voter.

"Circumstances have taught me that a man's ethics are the only possessions he will take beyond the grave."

as Hibble in Moll Flanders

"I once heard a wise man say there are no perfect men. Only perfect intentions."

as Azeem in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

"Let me tell you what justice is. Justice is the law. And the law is man's feeble attempt to lay down the principles of decency."

- as Judge Leonard White in Bonfire of the Vanities



On second thought, some of these might be a little preachy for FIFA's grubby-handed crowd.  Nevertheless, I can't imagine anyone not being impressed by Morgan Freeman.  It hardly matters if he has ever kicked a soccer ball in his life.  Qatar has hired guns with no connection their country, at least we have one that's American.


For what it's worth, Grant Wahl handicaps the US as a slight favorite for 2022.  Surely it's Morgan Freeman that has him mildly confident.


And if having Freeman there doesn't work, I hear Clinton can charm like nobody's business.


-JD