Football
Posted May 14, 2008 by james in Sports Journal | 0 Comments
I want to add another topic to my blog today, and that topic is “Football.” Some call it soccer, but around the world it is know simply as football.When I started to write RENALDO, I could have chosen the main character to play any sport. Heaven knows, I am an avid fan of almost every sport that exists. But in all my years of fandom, nothing has aroused the passion in me like World Cup soccer.
I have attended several World Cups personally, and I must admit that when I am asked “who are you cheering for?” the answer is not always straight forward.
I was born in Canada, and our international Canadian ice hockey players have given me many, many occasions to be justifiably proud. But our national soccer program, at the highest level, is an absolute shambles.
Canada has played in one World Cup, in 1986, scoring zero goals while losing all three of their matches. I would love them to participate in another World Cup tournament in my lifetime, but they seem unable to beat the likes of Honduras and Cuba, let alone the U.S. and Mexico, to qualify.
My heritage is Scottish and Italian. The Scots always try so very, very hard to make things work, but they inevitably fall just a wee bit short.
The Italians, on the other hand, are a source of great pride and passion for me. When Italy won the World Cup in 1982, every city around the globe that had an Italian community went absolutely nuts. I know for a fact that Toronto had never seen a celebration the likes of what went on that Sunday night in June 1982.
As I write this, the Italians are the reigning world champions, and will remain so for the next two years. Viva Italia!
I am also extremely interested in the European Champions League, a tournament that pits the best club teams from each and every country in Europe against one another.
The final is to be played in Moscow later this month, with two legendary English teams facing off, Manchester United versus Chelsea of London.
Then in June, the FIFA European Championship tournament for the best national sides on the continent takes place in Switzerland and Austria.
So, my new friends, if you have a passion for football, let’s start a dialogue.
