The Rush of Competition
As I tune in with millions of other football/soccer fans for today's semi-final between Germany and Italy, I am amazed at the spirit of patriotism eminating from the Fans. As much apathy as Americans have for football compared to the American sports, such as Baseball and American football, there is a certian spirit created by the national battles of 90 minutes length. The German team traveled perhaps 900 miles to the tournament, the Italian squad perhaps 1,100. The New York Yankees will travel three times as far when they come to play Oakland later this summer. So what makes Euro so special? The language wars, the clash of culture!
Over that 1100 miles, the italians would need on their roadtrip: - Five or six Languages
- Three or Four currencies
- FIVE passport stamps
The Yankees would need for their 3000 mile trip
- A lot of Slim-Jims
The point is there are NO substitutes for nations. These tournaments are the chance to prove a countries dominence of another, that Suomi on parempi kuin Norge; That España es superior a Italia; That England is better than Polska. That Deutschland ist besser als Sverige! And the populations of the nations agree! The World series has never seen a street party a mile long. Obama barely got this for his inaguaration
Sorry New York, you might be the biggest snobs this side of France, but thou art not of the same quality of a NATIONAL football team. There is no bigger Honor than playing for your country.
This is what it's all about, and as an American, I am incapable of understanding it, except, of course for when we get knocked out in the round of 16 at FIFA Worldcup.
Oh, and I am sure I'll make a lot of German friends with this one...
Vinci Italia!
Beat that Red Sox.
Dude!!! I was sooooo freaking sad when the Germans lost. Lost to italy 2-0....sigh...
ReplyDeleteH. Liu, the score was 2-1, so it was not sooo bad, and if it makes you feel better, the Italians sorta choked in the final.
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