What is it about men and football! This obsession amongst our men folk has baffled me! I used to subscibe to the traditional women's contention- "What fun is it watching 11 grown up men run after 1 ball!!"
That was till last sunday.
My husband is a complete football fanatic!- that is a gross understatement actually.. in fact i think he is possessed slave of the gods of football! His loyalties are to Arsenal- for me, a nicely named team of red-shirted players with a coach whose name has an umbilical cord like connection to the team name!(Arsene W).
Anyway, there was this FA cup semifinal on TV this sunday between Arsenal and Chelsea. We have an unspoken and unwritten agreement when it comes to football matches- he gets to watch all his Arsenal matches at whatever times without a fight for the remote as long as I get to watch whatever I want at othertimes. But this sunday i wasn't exactly happy about surrendering my powers on the remote. Still a promise made, is a promise kept. So i sat there, rather gruppily, slouched on the sofa.. forced into watching the match, for i had nothing else to do.
Now i have never actually watched a football match from start to finish.. But this time, i was hooked!.. the match was actually captivating especially if have a side to support. It was a duel betwen the strengths of opponents- a test of power and mindplay. The emotions were palpable.One moment, you would cheer for your player when he nears the goal to shoot and the next moment, raise your hands up over a missed oppurtunity. What more, you never have comercials interuppting the play session! like in cricket! Also the commentary is fast-paced, not the usual small talk they make like in cricket.
My husband quickly filled me in on the rules of the game as it rolled on- and come to think of it, when you actually understand the sport, it makes great entertainment!.I guess, i was always in the dark about football, since women don't exactly "play" football in school/college..its regarded as a male sport for the most part. Unlike tennis/hockey/badminton.. women really haven't percolated into football in a big way- part of the reason that women turn their noses up at their partners wanting to catch the match!
Anyway, Arsenal lost the match 1-2, despite my husband swearing by his lucky Arsenal jersey and dribbling an imaginery ball with his feet, like his gods on TV! But the larger point- it was a great fight to watch.. although Arsenal seemed sloppy at some point.
And for my final message- for all women folk- watch football!..its definitely more entertaining than those ridiculous soap operas or staged reality shows!..In fact Football Rocks!
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