January 21, 2007
SINGAPORE
Both Forms of Football
For any readers out there who think sports are only for the overly-aggressive apes of society I apologize, but this has been a huge weekend in sports.
First, I will focus on what the world calls “football.” For those of us who are lovers of the metric system, this sport is also known as soccer. The United States pulled off a solid 3-1 win over Denmark with Landon Donovan getting on the score sheet and the new manager showing he can re-establish respect for the relative new-comers to the “world sport.”
In other news, David Beckham’s record signing with the LA Galaxy (highest pay in the history of sports) should do wonders for the MLS. Personally, I would drive several states to watch a match just to be a part of the excitement. Beckham is arguably not the most talented player in the MLS, but he is certainly going to be the most watched. My hope is that a) other European players will follow suit, b) young footballers will have a “real” icon to identify with, and c) an MLS side will make it into European competitions. Realistically, European football is to American soccer what the NBA is to the WNBA . Those who love the game will watch both the MLS and the WNBA, but unless there is more talent/excitement, they will never challenge for top honors. I believe Beckham can change all that.
I stayed up late last night to watch a worthwhile match as Arsenal came from a goal behind to pull out a stunning 2-1 win in the final minute. It was dramatic football at its best, and it felt great to pull one over on Sir Alex Ferguson. It makes the title race a hell of a lot more interesting as Liverpool dismantled Chelsea the night before.
Enough soccer talk, it’s on to American football (the pigskin type). I have been refreshing my browser through morning lectures to see how the Colts-Patriots drama unfolds. While the Patriots certainly have a mountain to climb (the Colts have a much stronger outfit), they seem to be doing well so far in the game. Nevertheless, it always comes down to the wire when the two rivals play one another. If my life was on the line, I would rather it is in the hands of Brady/Belichick than Manning. I know a Pats win would add several years to the men in my family, and there would be eruptions of “Take that Peyton, you [think of something vulgar]!” I smile just thinking about it.
**Update**
The "weekend in sports" ended on a real downer: the Patriots lost to the Colts. Almost as if their roles were reversed, the Colts pulled off an amazing come from behind victory. I will sit through the coming days praying no family members are in the hospital after punching through the television. More likely, they are still comatose on the couch staring into space with disbelief.