Why do we like sports? Why do we get our heart rates going, scream at televisions, and verbally abuse our rival teams? Why do sports matter? I guess the reason why I am asking is to figure out if being a fan actually matters at all. Why should I care about 22 guys on a field kicking a sphere between some poles? I would argue it is because sports are about everything else attached to the game, not the game itself.
Every fan has a reason why they love the game. Maybe you played, maybe your family did, or maybe you just grew up with it. Regardless of the reason, sports and games exist in every culture around the world. They are a release. Sports provide us with something more than the reality that is around us. For 90 minutes while the ball is kicked around the pitch, you can forget about your lack of a job, your trouble with your wife, or even the fact that your life is completely in the shitter. Staring into the screen and watching your team score a goal can make you feel ten feet tall and weightless, as you scream your favorite player’s name at the top of your lungs. We watch sports to get away. Sports are a change of pace. Even when we as a culture attach outside meanings to games, they still provide us with a way to look away from something we don’t want to see. Sometimes all we need is a place to scream about how we hate the world around us. Sometimes you need the Miracle on Ice or the Hand of God.
The game is not always the same from culture to culture. Football is by far the world’s most popular game, but not every person on the planet plays it. Even more important, not everyone shares a common fervor for the beautiful game. The game is not the important part though, what you feel when you watch it is. Being a fan is about the rush you feel on game day, even if you have never set foot in the country where the game is being played. People all over the world through their things into cramped vehicles and take pilgrimages to their castles the world over. For every man, woman, and child, those temples, those cathedrals, will stand forever in their memories. From Wembley to Yankee Stadium, the end result is the same. Our castles exist to protect us. Our castles exist to help us escape from the armies that wait on the outside. I call on you to build your castle, regardless of where it is. Embark on your journey and eventually you will find your home.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
F@#% Yeah!
Today we are going to talk about something very near and dear to me, cursing. This universal form of dramatic expression has been used for thousands of years. Almost every society has had words that have been labeled as taboo. Curse words are used to express a large slew of emotions and in all different forms of speech. Curse words are also used by most adults and often with those are even younger. They can be found in movies and even in everyday conversations. So the question is, if cursing is so frequent and ubiquitous, why do we get angry when we see and hear athletes curse?
What has brought this issue to the forefront in these current times is the current buzz surrounding Wayne Rooney’s conduct at West Ham last week. Following Rooney’s third goal he was caught at the end of his celebration shouting the “F-word” at the camera. The 25-year-old striker is now being investigated by the FA and is facing a two game suspension for “offensive, insulting and/or abusive language.” In my opinion this ruling is excessive and unfair.
Cursing occurs in a large amount of Premier League games. I personally have seen numerous occasions where the players can be seen cursing at the official for making calls they did not agree with. Why are these players not punished and Rooney is? Why does the cameraman deserve more respect than the official? To this, the argument can be made that he isn’t being disciplined for cursing at the cameraman; he is being disciplined for doing it at the camera and that way in turn at the fans watching at home. I don’t think this is the case. Watching the clip it seems that Rooney becomes annoyed with having the camera so close to him and chooses to let the cameraman know how he feels. The only difference between what Rooney did, and being able to read the lips of a player shouting “F#$% OFF!” at an official is audio. Everyone can tell what the player said. So why is Rooney being punished when this is a common occurrence?
Publicity and image are the reason. I personally have a few choice words for how I feel about that arrangement. Cursing is a regular occurrence in both sports and society. Who cares if a player curses on TV during a game? It doesn’t matter and it is people becoming concerned for the sake of keeping up appearances. In closing I will say this to the FA. If you want to sanction players for every time they are seen cursing on TV. Be my guest, but you will quickly run out of players. If you are not willing to enforce the rule without being selective, my suggestion is that that you shut the fuck up. Thanks, and goodnight.
What has brought this issue to the forefront in these current times is the current buzz surrounding Wayne Rooney’s conduct at West Ham last week. Following Rooney’s third goal he was caught at the end of his celebration shouting the “F-word” at the camera. The 25-year-old striker is now being investigated by the FA and is facing a two game suspension for “offensive, insulting and/or abusive language.” In my opinion this ruling is excessive and unfair.
Cursing occurs in a large amount of Premier League games. I personally have seen numerous occasions where the players can be seen cursing at the official for making calls they did not agree with. Why are these players not punished and Rooney is? Why does the cameraman deserve more respect than the official? To this, the argument can be made that he isn’t being disciplined for cursing at the cameraman; he is being disciplined for doing it at the camera and that way in turn at the fans watching at home. I don’t think this is the case. Watching the clip it seems that Rooney becomes annoyed with having the camera so close to him and chooses to let the cameraman know how he feels. The only difference between what Rooney did, and being able to read the lips of a player shouting “F#$% OFF!” at an official is audio. Everyone can tell what the player said. So why is Rooney being punished when this is a common occurrence?
Publicity and image are the reason. I personally have a few choice words for how I feel about that arrangement. Cursing is a regular occurrence in both sports and society. Who cares if a player curses on TV during a game? It doesn’t matter and it is people becoming concerned for the sake of keeping up appearances. In closing I will say this to the FA. If you want to sanction players for every time they are seen cursing on TV. Be my guest, but you will quickly run out of players. If you are not willing to enforce the rule without being selective, my suggestion is that that you shut the fuck up. Thanks, and goodnight.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Sleeping Through Games
Around the world most sporting events do not start until at least noon. The reason for this can be found in when will a sports team be able to get the largest number of supports to turn out and watch a match. If sport organizers want to get the highest number of television viewers, those games are usually shown at night when the highest volume of viewers will be able to watch. These “primetime” games are usually the biggest and most highly anticipated. But what happens when you want to follow a sport and the games are at six in the morning?
The Barclay’s Premier league plays most of its games on Saturdays and Sundays. On these days the first games are at around noon and second games take place later in the afternoon. The problem for a fan following the United States comes with the time difference. Most fans of sports have regular jobs that they have to work. With working everyday during the week, weekends are seen as a chance to rest and for most, sleep in. How well does sleeping in mix with having to wake up at 7am to cheer for your club. Coming from someone who has had to do it after a long week, it is never easy.
The trill of watching Manchester United play the derby match against Manchester City and seeing Wayne Rooney’s beautiful bicycle kick sadly was overshadowed by how tired I was. Waking up so early to follow a team makes being a fan a little harder. American Football fans don’t have to worry about waking up at the earliest hours to actually watch the game. Waking up early to party or to tailgate is one thing, but waking up so early to watch a sporting event is not something that would help a sport’s popularity.
I think that in order for Soccer to succeed in America, Major League Soccer has to achieve a large amount of popularity. When trying to bring fans over to a new sport, making the fans have to wake up at very early hours in the morning to watch the best levels of competition. Only well established fans are going to wake up to watch those games. Until that occurs in the United States, it will be hard to bring new fans to the sport due to the MLS’s low level of competition. But Rome wasn’t built in a day and until it is complete we will continue waking up at 7am to place another brick on the foundation.
The Barclay’s Premier league plays most of its games on Saturdays and Sundays. On these days the first games are at around noon and second games take place later in the afternoon. The problem for a fan following the United States comes with the time difference. Most fans of sports have regular jobs that they have to work. With working everyday during the week, weekends are seen as a chance to rest and for most, sleep in. How well does sleeping in mix with having to wake up at 7am to cheer for your club. Coming from someone who has had to do it after a long week, it is never easy.
The trill of watching Manchester United play the derby match against Manchester City and seeing Wayne Rooney’s beautiful bicycle kick sadly was overshadowed by how tired I was. Waking up so early to follow a team makes being a fan a little harder. American Football fans don’t have to worry about waking up at the earliest hours to actually watch the game. Waking up early to party or to tailgate is one thing, but waking up so early to watch a sporting event is not something that would help a sport’s popularity.
I think that in order for Soccer to succeed in America, Major League Soccer has to achieve a large amount of popularity. When trying to bring fans over to a new sport, making the fans have to wake up at very early hours in the morning to watch the best levels of competition. Only well established fans are going to wake up to watch those games. Until that occurs in the United States, it will be hard to bring new fans to the sport due to the MLS’s low level of competition. But Rome wasn’t built in a day and until it is complete we will continue waking up at 7am to place another brick on the foundation.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Can the MLS Ever Compete?
A couple weeks ago, the first kick off of the 2011 season of Major League Soccer took place. It marked at new start to a league that is growing with every year in both size and popularity. Can the MLS ever really compete with the other leagues in the world, or even gain mass popularity in the United States?
To answer the first question, we need to look at other leagues around the world. As we have discussed before, there are obviously elite football leagues, with the Barclay’s Premier League at the top. Not every league can be an elite league; there just aren’t that many elite players. Even thought this is true, the lower leagues are still worth watching. The reason for that, I feel, is that these leagues are local. Many people believe that in order to be a true fan of a team, you have to be from the place where they are located. Even though this is something that I don’t personally believe, the argument does add something. Being a fan of DC United would be much easier than being a Manchester United fan, but I don’t feel a connection to DC. Even though they are the closest MLS team to me, I don’t feel a drive to actually go to a game. My main reason is that I don’t find the MLS extremely entertaining.
Due to this fact, I don’t feel that with its current structure that the MLS can be competitive on the world stage. Even though Real Salt Lake is currently playing in the semi-finals of the CONACAF Champion’s League, they still don’t draw as many elite players as other leagues. One thing that can be said about the MLS though is that their fans are diehard. There has been a large amount of talk recently about how crazy fans of the A-League in Australia are, but I feel they don’t have anything on some MLS clubs. The Seattle Sounders are an excellent example of this and seem to be leading the charge along with LA Galaxy to popularize the sport.
The MLS is growing, but it still can’t touch the Premier League in audience size or quality. One day perhaps it will become a mainstream sport, but at the moment in America it seems that “soccer” is still stuck on the outskirts.
To answer the first question, we need to look at other leagues around the world. As we have discussed before, there are obviously elite football leagues, with the Barclay’s Premier League at the top. Not every league can be an elite league; there just aren’t that many elite players. Even thought this is true, the lower leagues are still worth watching. The reason for that, I feel, is that these leagues are local. Many people believe that in order to be a true fan of a team, you have to be from the place where they are located. Even though this is something that I don’t personally believe, the argument does add something. Being a fan of DC United would be much easier than being a Manchester United fan, but I don’t feel a connection to DC. Even though they are the closest MLS team to me, I don’t feel a drive to actually go to a game. My main reason is that I don’t find the MLS extremely entertaining.
Due to this fact, I don’t feel that with its current structure that the MLS can be competitive on the world stage. Even though Real Salt Lake is currently playing in the semi-finals of the CONACAF Champion’s League, they still don’t draw as many elite players as other leagues. One thing that can be said about the MLS though is that their fans are diehard. There has been a large amount of talk recently about how crazy fans of the A-League in Australia are, but I feel they don’t have anything on some MLS clubs. The Seattle Sounders are an excellent example of this and seem to be leading the charge along with LA Galaxy to popularize the sport.
The MLS is growing, but it still can’t touch the Premier League in audience size or quality. One day perhaps it will become a mainstream sport, but at the moment in America it seems that “soccer” is still stuck on the outskirts.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
How Much is Too Much?
Does a man deserve to get paid $405,000 a week to kick a ball into a large metal rectangle? The median income in 2009 for the United States one of, if not the, most wealthy countries on earth was $49,777 a year (Info from US Census). How could a group justify paying someone so much for professionally taking part in a recreational activity like soccer?
The argument can, will, and does go on and on as people on both sides wrestle over player salaries. The discussion itself doesn’t really get to the true issue of the matter and doesn’t really achieve anything. The problem that is beginning to present itself in the world of football is the financial collapse. Much like AIG and many of the other companies that found themselves ready to collapse due to poor financial management, football seems to be taking a turn for the worse.
At the center of the problem is the football club’s greatest asset and expenindature, the footballer himself. The salary noted above belongs to no other than the great Wayne Rooney. Rooney penned the new deal after talks of perhaps looking to leave Old Trafford. The salaries and transfer fees for players continue to climb higher and higher, and with rapid speed. Our current Premier League season has seen the move by Chelsea for Fernando Torres for 50 million pounds. Later that same month Andy Carroll broke the transfer record for an Englishman when he was purchased by Liverpool for 35 million pounds. Is this kind of spending sustainable?
The answer is no. Football clubs are spending too much money and without thought of the long term effects of their decisions. The fact of poor financial management has even been seen by UFEA who passed new rules over who can compete in the International Club competition based on the financial standing of their clubs. Running up massive debts to pay more and more money for and to these superstars does not make sense. At a certain point the spending needs to slow down. The amount of money being spent of players is too much and it is causing the game harm. The reason why the Premier League is the best is because it is the most competitive. If the current trend continues the best team will simply be the team with the largest amount of money (aka Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool). One day the question has to be answered, how much is too much?
The argument can, will, and does go on and on as people on both sides wrestle over player salaries. The discussion itself doesn’t really get to the true issue of the matter and doesn’t really achieve anything. The problem that is beginning to present itself in the world of football is the financial collapse. Much like AIG and many of the other companies that found themselves ready to collapse due to poor financial management, football seems to be taking a turn for the worse.
At the center of the problem is the football club’s greatest asset and expenindature, the footballer himself. The salary noted above belongs to no other than the great Wayne Rooney. Rooney penned the new deal after talks of perhaps looking to leave Old Trafford. The salaries and transfer fees for players continue to climb higher and higher, and with rapid speed. Our current Premier League season has seen the move by Chelsea for Fernando Torres for 50 million pounds. Later that same month Andy Carroll broke the transfer record for an Englishman when he was purchased by Liverpool for 35 million pounds. Is this kind of spending sustainable?
The answer is no. Football clubs are spending too much money and without thought of the long term effects of their decisions. The fact of poor financial management has even been seen by UFEA who passed new rules over who can compete in the International Club competition based on the financial standing of their clubs. Running up massive debts to pay more and more money for and to these superstars does not make sense. At a certain point the spending needs to slow down. The amount of money being spent of players is too much and it is causing the game harm. The reason why the Premier League is the best is because it is the most competitive. If the current trend continues the best team will simply be the team with the largest amount of money (aka Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool). One day the question has to be answered, how much is too much?
Sunday, March 13, 2011
You're Just a Bandwagon Fan
A very common conversation that I have heard go on more times than I can count goes something like this, (The teams used are examples):
“Who is your favorite baseball team?”
“The Yankees”
“Are you from New York?”
“No, I’m from Virginia.”
“You’re just a bandwagon fan! Why don’t you cheer for a team that is around you?”
“Because I don’t like them.”
Once again, this brings us back to the conversation of what makes someone a fan. I find that it is continually brought back to being from a location. I was out with some friends the other night wearing my Man United shirt, proudly supporting the FA Cup win over Arsenal, and was told I was just and bandwagon fan.
Why is it that when a team wins, or when you cheer for a really good team, you are automatically called a bandwagon fan? I have a theory; we equate being a fan with being miserable. Who are the fans that we love the most? The fans that are there for every game, win or lose, rain or shine. These fans are often found crying in their beers when their team blows a lead in a big game or is celebrating like he won the game himself when they achieve a come from behind victory. So why does it matter when you happen to cheer for a team that wins?
Another theory I have is that people assume you are picking a team because they win.
I think that idea is simply unfair. With a sport like football it gets even more touchy. Where is the best league? England, without a doubt the most competitive league in the world. Who should you cheer for when you aren’t from England? The team who you like to see play the most, or the team with the players you like. Maybe the team you get to watch the most. For me, it was Wayne Rooney. The bullish striker drew me to Manchester United and that is where my love affair began.
I cheer for United when they win or when they lose. I cheer through the awful games and shout at the TV during botched plays. I am a true fan. I know that in my heart why are you a better fan than me just because you cheer for a team that sucks. It is not my fault that your team cant put together wins, but don’t judge me for cheering for a squad that happens to be one of the most prestigious in the world.
Winning draws people in. Great teams have always had a mystique in sports and they always will. Love them, or hate them, great teams make the game better. So in closing Glory Glory Man United, and keep hating on the Red Devils, we will wave when we hoist the cup.
“Who is your favorite baseball team?”
“The Yankees”
“Are you from New York?”
“No, I’m from Virginia.”
“You’re just a bandwagon fan! Why don’t you cheer for a team that is around you?”
“Because I don’t like them.”
Once again, this brings us back to the conversation of what makes someone a fan. I find that it is continually brought back to being from a location. I was out with some friends the other night wearing my Man United shirt, proudly supporting the FA Cup win over Arsenal, and was told I was just and bandwagon fan.
Why is it that when a team wins, or when you cheer for a really good team, you are automatically called a bandwagon fan? I have a theory; we equate being a fan with being miserable. Who are the fans that we love the most? The fans that are there for every game, win or lose, rain or shine. These fans are often found crying in their beers when their team blows a lead in a big game or is celebrating like he won the game himself when they achieve a come from behind victory. So why does it matter when you happen to cheer for a team that wins?
Another theory I have is that people assume you are picking a team because they win.
I think that idea is simply unfair. With a sport like football it gets even more touchy. Where is the best league? England, without a doubt the most competitive league in the world. Who should you cheer for when you aren’t from England? The team who you like to see play the most, or the team with the players you like. Maybe the team you get to watch the most. For me, it was Wayne Rooney. The bullish striker drew me to Manchester United and that is where my love affair began.
I cheer for United when they win or when they lose. I cheer through the awful games and shout at the TV during botched plays. I am a true fan. I know that in my heart why are you a better fan than me just because you cheer for a team that sucks. It is not my fault that your team cant put together wins, but don’t judge me for cheering for a squad that happens to be one of the most prestigious in the world.
Winning draws people in. Great teams have always had a mystique in sports and they always will. Love them, or hate them, great teams make the game better. So in closing Glory Glory Man United, and keep hating on the Red Devils, we will wave when we hoist the cup.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
My Town Is Better Than Your Town: On the Construction of Rivalries
The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, The Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins, and Duke versus North Carolina are just some of the biggest rivalries that exist in the American sports world. While these rivalries are well known and often the reasons why they developed over time, how does truly understand a rivalry, when they were separated by 4000 miles of ocean?
Manchester United FC's generally accepted rivals are Liverpool FC, Leeds United AFC, and Manchester City FC. All of these rivalries have multiple reasons for their development. The most bitter of these rivalries is Liverpool FC. Both of Liverpool and Manchester United have enjoyed large amounts of success both domestically and in Europe. Their rivalry seems to have developed out of this competition to be the best team but it could also b said that the two cities have been in a competition culturally. Many of the chants that could be heard from the Manchester United stands portray the Liverpool supporters as stupid, poor, and criminals. How is a fan from across the pond supposed to build the true hatred of a rival when they don't really understand the geographical or cultural differences for themselves?
I was born and raised in Virginia, and since I have been watching football I have been a fan of the Red Devils. I hate Liverpool with every bone in my body. Watching the severe beating handed to Man United today was not a task that I took much enjoyment in. Even though this is true, I think this is the fundamental reason why rivalries are necessary in order to provide a bigger meaning to sports. great enemies build solidarity among fans. Through uniting against a common enemy it helps to provide more meaning to the sport and to help build a bigger community. So it makes sense why the general public seems to have a love affair with rivalries, because they help to make this team and the game that has become part of their life mean something even more.
One of the most famous lines in football is "More Than A Club," which is the slogan of Barcelona FC (Another one of the teams I cant stand). Aside from my displeasure for the team, they do have a point with their slogan. For many others, and me as well, the team you root for is not just a club to support, but also a gateway into a new sport and a new part of life. Sports give meaning to parts of peoples' lives and provide them with something bigger than themselves. These rivalries that exist inside these sports help to represent the obstacles and challenges that face us in our everyday lives.
With every loss to Liverpool, I will continue to have a strong distaste in my mouth. With every verse of "You'll Never Walk Alone" that I am forced to listen too I will continue in my struggle to not punch the TV. With no one to defend against, there is no reason for our castle, so bring on the Scousers and let us fight on. Until we meet again let it be known, I'd rather walk alone.
Manchester United FC's generally accepted rivals are Liverpool FC, Leeds United AFC, and Manchester City FC. All of these rivalries have multiple reasons for their development. The most bitter of these rivalries is Liverpool FC. Both of Liverpool and Manchester United have enjoyed large amounts of success both domestically and in Europe. Their rivalry seems to have developed out of this competition to be the best team but it could also b said that the two cities have been in a competition culturally. Many of the chants that could be heard from the Manchester United stands portray the Liverpool supporters as stupid, poor, and criminals. How is a fan from across the pond supposed to build the true hatred of a rival when they don't really understand the geographical or cultural differences for themselves?
I was born and raised in Virginia, and since I have been watching football I have been a fan of the Red Devils. I hate Liverpool with every bone in my body. Watching the severe beating handed to Man United today was not a task that I took much enjoyment in. Even though this is true, I think this is the fundamental reason why rivalries are necessary in order to provide a bigger meaning to sports. great enemies build solidarity among fans. Through uniting against a common enemy it helps to provide more meaning to the sport and to help build a bigger community. So it makes sense why the general public seems to have a love affair with rivalries, because they help to make this team and the game that has become part of their life mean something even more.
One of the most famous lines in football is "More Than A Club," which is the slogan of Barcelona FC (Another one of the teams I cant stand). Aside from my displeasure for the team, they do have a point with their slogan. For many others, and me as well, the team you root for is not just a club to support, but also a gateway into a new sport and a new part of life. Sports give meaning to parts of peoples' lives and provide them with something bigger than themselves. These rivalries that exist inside these sports help to represent the obstacles and challenges that face us in our everyday lives.
With every loss to Liverpool, I will continue to have a strong distaste in my mouth. With every verse of "You'll Never Walk Alone" that I am forced to listen too I will continue in my struggle to not punch the TV. With no one to defend against, there is no reason for our castle, so bring on the Scousers and let us fight on. Until we meet again let it be known, I'd rather walk alone.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Why Should I Care About the Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is the second most important competition in the world of professional soccer, overshadowed only by the World Cup. The reason the Champions League is so important is because it proves which Football Club is the best in all of Europe. The problem from an American fan’s standpoint is, how do you get other Americans to care?
To begin UEFA stands for, the Union of European Football Associates. UEFA is the largest of all of the groups that divide the world’s soccer teams. The reasoning for the Champions League’s importance comes from the fact that the group is the largest. It also includes the world’s most important and prestigious football leagues. These most important leagues include, England’s Barclay’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, and Germany’s Bundesliga. These leagues include the most powerful teams, with the best players, thus giving the competition it’s significance and appeal.
The way the tournament works is that each of the major leagues is given a number of teams that qualify to compete in the Champions League. For instance, in England’s Premier League, the teams that finish in the top four positions of the table are allowed to progress to the Champion’s League. This means that the best teams, from the best leagues in the world, with the best players, are all competing for this competition. Think of it like a World Cup where what country players are from doesn’t matter anymore. If you can afford them, and can convince them to join your team, you can have any player you want.
The problem comes with interesting an American audience in such an event. It can be easy to understand that unless you have a connection to a club that is involved in the competition, there is really no reason why it should be on your radar. The argument that can be posed to such a line of thinking is, if you don’t care about what teams are playing the Super Bowl, why do you still watch? Or even just with soccer, I know people who don’t really like the sport but still watch the World Cup Final.
The answer proves that sports are more than just games. We add meaning to them. The Super Bowl, the World Cup, the Olympics, the World Series, they all provide a common something that all people can identify with. These most summative games provide a way to bring people and ideas that would not have been brought together before together. For these moments, these games, it becomes more than just “a game.” It becomes a crucial part of our cultures.
So I challenge those who fail to find the importance in such an event as the Champions League, or someone who doesn’t see soccer as a sport worth watching to give it a try with the Champions League. It may open a new door for you and give you a new view of the world and what sports really mean.
To begin UEFA stands for, the Union of European Football Associates. UEFA is the largest of all of the groups that divide the world’s soccer teams. The reasoning for the Champions League’s importance comes from the fact that the group is the largest. It also includes the world’s most important and prestigious football leagues. These most important leagues include, England’s Barclay’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, and Germany’s Bundesliga. These leagues include the most powerful teams, with the best players, thus giving the competition it’s significance and appeal.
The way the tournament works is that each of the major leagues is given a number of teams that qualify to compete in the Champions League. For instance, in England’s Premier League, the teams that finish in the top four positions of the table are allowed to progress to the Champion’s League. This means that the best teams, from the best leagues in the world, with the best players, are all competing for this competition. Think of it like a World Cup where what country players are from doesn’t matter anymore. If you can afford them, and can convince them to join your team, you can have any player you want.
The problem comes with interesting an American audience in such an event. It can be easy to understand that unless you have a connection to a club that is involved in the competition, there is really no reason why it should be on your radar. The argument that can be posed to such a line of thinking is, if you don’t care about what teams are playing the Super Bowl, why do you still watch? Or even just with soccer, I know people who don’t really like the sport but still watch the World Cup Final.
The answer proves that sports are more than just games. We add meaning to them. The Super Bowl, the World Cup, the Olympics, the World Series, they all provide a common something that all people can identify with. These most summative games provide a way to bring people and ideas that would not have been brought together before together. For these moments, these games, it becomes more than just “a game.” It becomes a crucial part of our cultures.
So I challenge those who fail to find the importance in such an event as the Champions League, or someone who doesn’t see soccer as a sport worth watching to give it a try with the Champions League. It may open a new door for you and give you a new view of the world and what sports really mean.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
There Ain't Room for the Two of Us
Saturday, one of the most significant games of the Barclay’s Premier League season took place. It was the second Manchester derby of the year. The game was the second meeting of Manchester United and hated rivals Manchester City. After the first meeting, at Eastlands, ended in a nil – nil draw both teams were hungry for a win. After battling back and forth for the entire game and at its climax was the amazing score by Wayne Rooney. The goal was quickly touted as one of if not the best goal of the season so far.
The goal came as the Portuguese winger, Nani came driving up field and sent a cross into the waiting Rooney. Seeing that he was not in the right position to head the ball in, Rooney instead jumped in the air, throwing his legs over his head and executing an absolutely beautiful bicycle kick that found its way almost in the upper 90 of the goal. Rooney seemed as if he was a trapeze artist flipping through the air with ease, seemingly suspended over the field and making the amazing finish look effortless.
So the true reason why this is important comes from my experience later last night. While enjoying a beer and listening to some music, my friend and I happened to notice that the ESPN program SportsCenter was on and it was the best part of the program, Top Plays. Before the first play could come on the screen I looked to my friend and said, “Rooney is number one!” We watched with general disinterest as dunk after dunk consumed numbers ten through two. With joy I started into a Wayne Rooney chant as I saw the amazing goal gracing the number one spot. Just as my friend and I had begun to cheer our “glory glory Man United,” my friend comes up and says, “What the fuck is soccer doing on my top plays?” The mood was crushed.
This is a common scene for many soccer fans and especially myself on my campus. A large number of people just don’t see the value in soccer. To put it in perspective it is kind of like how my friends and I view curling during the winter Olympics. Its funny to watch but I don’t exactly enjoy it. So the question must be asked, is there a place for soccer in the United States?
Thursday, February 10, 2011
True Fans and a Sport Misunderstood
Being a soccer fan in America isn’t the easiest thing in the world. It is a feeling that is hard to relate to people who are outside the game. From what most of my friends have said growing up in Richmond, Virginia, and around my campus is that soccer is a sport for “whiney pretty boys who like to roll around on the ground when no one touched them.” In America, most people look at soccer as a sport that is severely lacking. Often when jumping up and down or getting excited around the lunch table I often get the response of “this is America, shut up about your stupid soccer shit.” It’s like seeing the awesome view from the top of a mountain. You are admiring the view, the beautiful idiosyncrasies as the land gently touches water, and then having some asshole come and push you off the ledge. When you hit the ground, you realize not that many people in your country care about the view.
Being a soccer fan in America isn’t easy. I have about four friends out of a large group that I feel I can chat soccer with. The recent events at the close of the January transfer window are something that many have been talking about. Fernando Torres moving from his long time home in Liverpool to reigning Premier League champions Chelsea, for 50 MILLION POUNDS! Such a huge event and who to talk to about it? That’s right. The wall, because trying to explain the significance of such an event to someone who doesn’t follow the sport is just as effective. Message boards exist online, but I love talking in person and arguing over a couple beers about whichstriker is the best in the world. I love having one or two too many and screaming GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED at the top of my lungs, and then quickly shutting up as I realize no one understands what the hell my close friend and I are doing. You know how in high school there were those kids who were a little off and kind of went to the beat of their own drum. They really didn’t give a shit what you thought because they were happy, but they still knew how much it sucked to be an outcast? They know what its like to be a soccer fan in a land the sees football and baseball as religion.
Fans come in all shapes and sizes and from all over the world. Who is your club? One of the most essential questions a fan will be asked, and we ask it in such a possessive manner. Who is your club? MY club is the Red Devils, Manchester United. “Have you ever even been to England?” No. But why does that matter? In a sport where international players are a norm, and even Man U includes only three players out of almost 50 considered “first team” players who are actually from Manchester. Why does it matter that I haven’t been to Manchester? I feel in love with the tradition, the players, the flash, the stout defense, with the bullish Wayne Rooney. I fell in love with a kingdom I have never seen. I long to stand in a castle and gaze at the knights in their armor, but am I inferior because I’m not English? Do I deserve to be pushed away from the “world’s sport” because I’m not from Manchester? Because I’ve never been to a match? Because I haven’t stood in the shadow of the king and felt the power that is Old Trafford? I think not.
Being a fan isn’t about being from somewhere. It’s about a connection to the sport a feeling you get while watching it. So get on your feet and cheer on your club no matter where you are. My fellow fans know you are not alone, with every cheer we build the castle here, one stone at a time.
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