Last year I wrote about how FIFA and Brazil's Ministry of Sport introduced the caxirola, a toy made from recycled plastic that rattles and can be banged together.
I wondered at the time, how is this better than the annoying "hummmmm" of the plastic vuvuzelas that we had to put up with at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa?
Now I'm a die-hard soccer fan, so the noise didn't stop me from watching the games in 2010. And it won't stop me from enjoying the World Cup this year.
But I much prefer the sound of fans chanting and singing, celebrating their favorite players, and roaring approval for great plays. Adding plastic noisemakers to the cacophony is not an improvement.
So I was happy to see the Wall Street Journal report today that federal officials in Brazil have decided to ban the caxirola from all 12 of the soccer stadiums that will host World Cup matches.
The problem isn't the noise. Officials are worried that angry fans will launch the $14 toys on the pitch.
So "tchau" to the caxirola, and hello to a few rounds of "Yanks go marching." Go team USA.
