And why not? On the telly was a match between England and Algeria. It was the first half and the score was...
0-0, of course. The crowd (in the pub) was not pleased. One young lad had his head down on the table for a good ten minutes during half-time while his girlfriend consoled him by rubbing his back. Maybe he had a headache from that sound of hornets swirling around the stadium.
Well, anyway, I finished my lunch and left with the score 0-0. Pity I missed the climactic finish.
0-0.
(You thought I was gonna post the picture of that naked soccer hooligan, didn't you?)
I'm sure that their "football" is exciting to them. The Europeans are often excited by such mundane activities as invading France and that sort of thing. But even though I diligently tried to "get into" the game during my 17 years overseas, I found that soccer was as effective a sleep-aide as a stomach full of turkey and a televised small-college football game on Thanksgiving afternoon. I guess it lacked the color commentary that we grew used to when I was growing up. I mean, who can forget watching the Yankees with Peewee Reese and Dizzy Dean doing the commentary? (I'll never forget Dean's renditions of "The Wabash Cannonball" between innings...I think he only knew that one verse.) That must be it...commentary by announcers with British accents and British humor. A deadly combination.
ReplyDeleteHoward Coselle, who was unfortunately unavailable for comment, would have some tips and pointers that would help I'm sure. But as long as they stick with the British accents for the play-by-play and allow those awful horns (zuzuwhattas?) I have to admit, I'll be searching for a baseball game to watch. (And this afternoon I'll be watching the Nationals and the White Sox at the ball park.)
Bill,
ReplyDeleteI agree. Watching soccer is like waiting for the next earthquake to hit California.
Does Papa Bill know France is in Europe? This is one of the silliest comments I've read, and though I am not a soccer fan, both your comments are ignorant and arrogant. I guess only Americans have a right to enjoy ball games.
ReplyDeleteC,mon, Ingrid. We're just having some fun.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the true story of an American communist of African descent who wandered into an Irish bar on St. Patrick's Day. He had been to the bar before with an Irish friend, a fellow construction worker. This day though, a lot of drunk men who didn't know him surrounded him and insisted he "have a drink to St. Paddy" and "sing us a song." Thinking to himself "Thank God the Young Communist League made us learn all those songs from around the world" he replied "If you'll join me," and launched into "Kevin Barry." He knew more verses than they did.
ReplyDeleteYou probably know that Kevin Barry was an Irish terrorist, excuse me, freedom fighter, who prevented decent peaceful civilians from shopping at a Dublin bakery on a Sunday morning in 1916 and was duly hanged for it by the Great Satan, I mean, the blessings of liberty established by the British Army.
However, I am a life long fan of Oxford United, not that I ever watched them play, but at age seven I did watch out the second floor window of a flat where my family was living for a year, as the crowds flowed out the back gate after a game.
I have two afflictions I wish I could be cured from: The Steelers ince 1955 and the Cubs since 1963.
ReplyDeleteI can't complain about the Steelers but as for the Cubs,
does anybody know a good hynotist?
I have five cousins who grew up on the south side of Chicago. The eldest of them says that being a Cubs fan is good preparation for life.
ReplyDelete