Sorry, Japan (not really).
The quietest moment I’ve experienced in the past 7 or so months came yesterday immediately after Japan scored a goal against Brazil in the World Cup to take the lead in the first 30 or so minutes of the game. Complete silence in my neighbor’s apartment, as well as on the announcer’s mic, until he remembered who he was and then let out (quite unenthusiastically) the requisite long shout of “Goooooaaal …. !”
For those of you who don’t follow this kind of thing, which up until about a month ago included me, Brazil then came back to win 4-1. The first goal was scored by Ronaldo with a head shot, which was fed to him by another player from the right who bounced it off *his* head (!). Granted, there’s a lot of juggling back and forth in football (soccer) where things are frustrating and maybe a little bit boring, but seeing a shot like that live was something I’ve never experienced from a watching sports point of view. I’ve never been a sports fan by any measure, as I’ve said before, but yesterday afternoon I was riveted.
Ronaldo’s second goal tied the all-time world record of number of goals scored in the World Cup by a single player (i.e., in his life) and passed Pele’s record of number of goals scored in the World Cup by a Brazilian. The big news is that “Ronaldo is back!” Where did he go? you might ask. He, along with the rest of the team played quite crappily in the first two games, and there were complaints that he was overweight and sluggish, partly because there had been such high expectations of him and the team. But he was in near-top form yesterday and I would say that people here were very nearly completely pleased with his performance yesterday. Let’s hope he keeps it up.
Oh, and the US lost to Ghana yesterday which ended their chance for making the semifinals for 2006. At least 5 or so people who thought they might be the first to break it to me yesterday said so in a subdued voice which made me think they were expecting me to break down and cry, which to them would be understandable. I never fail to surprise – I was like, “Yeah, whatever. Are you gonna eat that?” Which of course was met with somewhat bewildered stares and blank faces. I’ve told people millions of times what little attention is paid to the World Cup in the States, but it’s so contrary to their world view that they don’t seem to be getting it. As an example, the sports section of the New York Times web page had as its lead story yesterday a feature article on an all-out-fighting league that’s like boxing where you can kick, scratch, etc., and the article on World Cup was about 5th down the list. Not heavy coverage when you consider it was the US’s last chance for a shot at winning the whole thing.
And if you’re getting the strange feeling that the universe might be unraveling at the seams, I’m just as freaked out as you are. Me discussing sports with anybody in real life or blogged is a first for everyone. Don’t expect it to last, and if I suck (and I’m quite sure I do) don’t hesitate to say so.
Go Brasil.
For those of you who don’t follow this kind of thing, which up until about a month ago included me, Brazil then came back to win 4-1. The first goal was scored by Ronaldo with a head shot, which was fed to him by another player from the right who bounced it off *his* head (!). Granted, there’s a lot of juggling back and forth in football (soccer) where things are frustrating and maybe a little bit boring, but seeing a shot like that live was something I’ve never experienced from a watching sports point of view. I’ve never been a sports fan by any measure, as I’ve said before, but yesterday afternoon I was riveted.
Ronaldo’s second goal tied the all-time world record of number of goals scored in the World Cup by a single player (i.e., in his life) and passed Pele’s record of number of goals scored in the World Cup by a Brazilian. The big news is that “Ronaldo is back!” Where did he go? you might ask. He, along with the rest of the team played quite crappily in the first two games, and there were complaints that he was overweight and sluggish, partly because there had been such high expectations of him and the team. But he was in near-top form yesterday and I would say that people here were very nearly completely pleased with his performance yesterday. Let’s hope he keeps it up.
Oh, and the US lost to Ghana yesterday which ended their chance for making the semifinals for 2006. At least 5 or so people who thought they might be the first to break it to me yesterday said so in a subdued voice which made me think they were expecting me to break down and cry, which to them would be understandable. I never fail to surprise – I was like, “Yeah, whatever. Are you gonna eat that?” Which of course was met with somewhat bewildered stares and blank faces. I’ve told people millions of times what little attention is paid to the World Cup in the States, but it’s so contrary to their world view that they don’t seem to be getting it. As an example, the sports section of the New York Times web page had as its lead story yesterday a feature article on an all-out-fighting league that’s like boxing where you can kick, scratch, etc., and the article on World Cup was about 5th down the list. Not heavy coverage when you consider it was the US’s last chance for a shot at winning the whole thing.
And if you’re getting the strange feeling that the universe might be unraveling at the seams, I’m just as freaked out as you are. Me discussing sports with anybody in real life or blogged is a first for everyone. Don’t expect it to last, and if I suck (and I’m quite sure I do) don’t hesitate to say so.
Go Brasil.
posted by n10471 at 10:31 AM
1 Comments:
Eph,
Your comments don't seem snide at all, and I'm sure it required a significant amount of willpower to keep your remarks on my "sports commentary" as tame as you did.
It's strange to say, but I sort of had you in mind when I wrote this - don't ask me why. It's been so long that anyone has commented (i.e., and/or read) on anything I wrote here that I was wondering if the commenting system was broken.
So let me just say that I really appreciate your comment, but I have to ask: What is going on in your life that you have nothing better to do than read this garbage? For Christ's sake, get out there and do something.
We are so there in South Africa 2010.
-Matt
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