Well, its been a while since I wrote here, over a month. I've been sorting out the mum stuff and its been hard. We're all in it and I'm glad of the family. Its a strong and close group of siblings and it makes a difference. I also seem to have run out of blogsteam. Aside from jumping in at JB's blog and his BT blogs I've basically become a lurker. Ain't that fucking creepy? Now that I'm actually bashing these keys here I'll be popping in and leaving a pile of doos at some other places.
While I'm here I'd like to have a small rant about the whole World Cup brouhaha. Hi everyone, I'm Therbs and I played soccer as a young 'un. I also gave Rugby League and, surprise surprise, Aussie Rules a go. My fave to play was League. It incorporated most of the skills and more anticipation than soccer and had the added bonus of affording me the opportunity of going in hard. Aussie Rules seemed softer, they really hated full on tackling. Soccer was soccer, basically a kicking and running game with a ball which would generally travel in a predictable way. That's my opinion and you won't change it, but feel free to flame.
The World Cup is basically politics writ large. It was expanded to 32 teams as a tip of the cap to "3rd World" soccer nations (e.g. Asia, the U.S., Africa and Oz) and a realisation that politicking for the right to host the World Cup was reaching an Olympic standard. More countries who feel involved, the better chance of being able to manipulate the votes. Politics is what counts in world soccer with the money a recognised constant.
So back to the games. I watched the U.S. - England and Oz-Germany matches and will probably watch the Kiwis tonight unless I really want to see what Gibbs is up to in NCIS. After that I'll be sticking to watching the Oz matches, maybe the semi-finals and final and occasionally a match starting at 9.00 p.m. But I'm not really into it this time around, didn't go into a tipping comp nor did I buy the SBS guide. Its partly due to an aging cynical outlook but also a realisation that the best quality soccer matches are generally found in the EUFA competitions. National teams rarely provide the concentration of talent seen in Man Utd, Milan, Barcelona, Chelsea etc. So basically I'll be keeping an eye on Straya and cherry picking a few other games. Hell, I may not even bother with the final if Brazil don't make it. When's the cricket start again?
Yeah, it's crap - but it's the World Cup. Champions League of Champions or the Prem just don't have that sense of occasion. In the end, the quality of matches may be better - though that Champions League final was pretty dour - but they're just mercenaries when they turn out for their clubs, they're not so when they're playing for their countries. There's still a purity to the WC that isn't seen in other football.
ReplyDeleteThat said they need to fuck that ball off sharpish. And the vulvazumbas can go with.
Hey, troop! Glad the family stuff's getting sorted amicably. Often it doesn't work out that way.
ReplyDeleteWell, I watched US v. England play to the tie. I'm not a huge soccer guy, though, like most Americans.
Sometimes major championships just don't live up to the hype. Some Super Bowls and World Series with teams from smaller cities don't get good TV ratings here. Go figure.
I'll pay some attention to the Cup, but it won't get in the way of my baseball viewing.
We've missed you Therbs. Sorry about Mum. x
ReplyDeleteDr Y - that's the thing which gets me - the national pride bit. And its why I do get sucked into watching more than I care to admit.
ReplyDeleteThe ball is a fucked up bastard of a thing as are the bees arse trumpets. They are the most annoying thing. Evah.
The Kiwis at work were unplayable today. Smug sheepfuckers give me the shits. We need to invade the place and wipe that sheepish grin off their glacier-sabotaging faces.
YD - its way amicable and won't be a drama at all, its just sorting through all the material possessions from the cupboards which takes time and gives some surprising emotional hits Amazing how something like a towel you remember from your childhood brings back memories and maybe the odd tear. Its a case of going with it and gittin' it done.
Nat - cheers my faaave secret agent!
Mate they're all like giddy school kids here, it's just like we were when we went on that fairytale run in 06 - luck to em I reckon. 1.30am saw the loudest silent scream in this house for a long time. Well, actually, since... let's not go there
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