Thursday, August 09, 2012
Soccer
To my surprise I am actually enthralled with soccer. I am writing this at halftime of the gold
medal match in women’s soccer, America vs. Japan. I am sitting here yelling at the tv, holding
my breath when Japan gets close and cheering loudly when America scores.
I have never liked soccer.
Even when I was a kid I never even liked playing soccer. To me the field is too big and controlling
the ball too difficult. Scoring
opportunities are rare. At the end of
the game the shots on goal for each time can usually be counted on one
hand. All in all, I think the game lack
the kind of compelling action to keep my attention.
Well, usually it does.
To see teams run around for an hour and
half to score a single goal strikes me a excellent exercise for the
players, but not enough drama for the spectators. However, two days ago I tuned into the
America v. Canada semifinal and was completely taken in. Unlike most soccer games, this one was replete
with drama. Canada led 1-0 when I turned
it on, and through the course of the next hour America kept forging ties and
Canada continued to take leads. At the
end of regulation the score was tied 3-3.
Nearing the end of the extra period the score was still tied, and it
looked like a penalty kick shootout would decide the match. But America scored and I found myself jumping
up and down.
Now, I am glued to the tv.
This blog will be short because I will end it as soon as they kick off
the second half.
I realize soccer is the most popular sport in the world. And while it will never replace baseball in
my affections (or American football or hockey), I am beginning to understand
its appeal. The rarity of goal-scoring
opportunities allows for drama every time the ball gets in the vicinity of the
goal. The slow way offense unfolds
allows for a gradual increase in tension, very much unlike hockey, where
defense can change to offense in a second and a shot on goal will take place
moments later. Generally, soccer offense
proceeds at the place of soccer players, the ball taking time to traverse the
length of the huge pitch. (I am even
getting into soccer lingo.)
I doubt I will continue this soccer fascination after the end
of the Olympics, any more than I will try to tune in any beach volleyball. But for now, I am a red, white and blue
fanatic. OK, the game is back on, gotta
go.
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