NEW YORK--It seems that soccer fever is now sweeping the nation. According to a recent poll, nearly 60 percent of Americans now say they check the scores of the World Cup occasionally, up a staggering 40 percent from last year. On top of that, many now know the names of one or two players on the U.S. team. “I never thought I’d be into soccer, but lo and behold, here I am glancing at the score occasionally if I walk by a TV with the game on,” said 35 year-old Tim Kelly, who has never watched an entire soccer game in his life. “Just today, somebody had it on in the break room at the office, and I was like ‘Hey, what’s the score?’ and they said, ‘1-0’ and I was like ‘cool.’ Also, I’m kind of getting into the American team. Landon Donovan, right? He’s my favorite player, right behind David Becker. Man, I feel so European. Gooooooaal!”