In a scenario that would have Fabio Capello and just about every player at this year’s World Cup preferring to tear their hair out with a garden hoe, an Australian man has been and will be living inside a massive version of the hated Adidas Jabulani World Cup ball for the entirety of the tournament. The horror!
Adam Santarossa was selected by Adidas to spend the month-long tournament inside of the gigantic (six meters in diameter) Jabulani watching the matches, tweeting, writing blogs and playing video games. Oh, and he’s getting paid a handsome sum to do it. Tough life. The AFP explains:
“Other people have work commitments and family commitments. My only problem is getting my blog done on time,” he told AFP. “It’s an easy life I’m living. I’m sure people will be quite jealous.”
Santarossa has a cleaner, free laundry, a PlayStation 3 and a laptop, and will get 3,000 dollars ($2,600 U.S.) for his trouble, along with the contents of the ball and three bags full of sports gear.
He is allowed to have friends round to the ball, on Melbourne’s dockside, for Australia’s games and even had a visit from a minor celebrity, singer Dannii Minogue’s partner Kris Smith.
So I guess Adam will be living in depression-driven isolation now that Australia has been knocked out of the tournament with 18 days to go. But no matter, he’s got clean underwear, a PS3 and a visit from the D-list boyfriend of a C-list celebrity to keep him pushing on!
“I had a bit of trouble at the start — it’s a bit difficult having people peer in through the windows 24/7,” he said.
I guess it’s not all fun and games when you are a human zoo animal.
“But it’s a pretty easy life. I’m going to be seeing if they can extend my lease.”
This just goes to show that many World Cup participants’ worst hallucinogen-induced nightmare can be your average Australian Joe’s fantasy life. Ah, the wonders of the World Cup …
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