Last night I risked failing my pharmacology exam just to watch the replay telecast of Italy vs France on RPN 9. (Don't get me started on why I don't have cable --- that's another story not meant for today). My Dad popped down in front of the TV to join me, and after fifteen minutes of watching the ball go from France to Italy to France then back to Italy again, he asked, "Where's the excitement?". I had been watching the same passing sequence for nearly an hour, and had been yelling at the Italians to score a goal even though I already knew the results when he came, and his question seemed to have suddenly dampened my enthusiasm. I thought -- maybe hoped -- the football would finally be the common sport Dad and I would love.
My dad was the typical NBA-loving Filipino, who called home during the finals to ask me who had won. Unfortuunately, I am probably one of the few Filipinos who simply cannot understand the magic of Basketball. I just can't understand it. In fact, I have grown to abhor the NBA finals, which stole most of the primetime time when I could have been watching LOST rather than Shaq do a lay-up (whatever that is).
I preferred other sports. While most people could name basketball players or boxers (the newest IT sport here), I did my research on figure skating stars, olympic gymnasts and swimmers, F1 drivers, WRC drivers, and of course Football players. I'm rather new at football, though. The first World Cup I watched the one held in Japan/South Korea. I remember sneaking back to the dorm at 10 in the morning (when everyone was in their class) to catch a telecast on PTV 4. I was a big Germany fan then, though most because they had the most cute guys. I'd like to think that four years has matured my football IQ, even though I don't keep up with the commercial teams. At least, cute faces and familiar names weren't my only basis for picking my world cup favorites (who happens to be the Italian team).
Back to the final match. Dad leaves in the middle of the extra time, before all the exciting stuff begins to unravel (i.e, Zidane's red card). I suppose there's just no way one can try to make him love this sport, just as I can never abide NBA. I don't even know why I -- the self-confessed sports hater -- could love it. (Though I have to admit, watching the likes of Oliver Kahn, Cannavaro, Buffon, Zidane and Henry play are reasons enough). Football is a hard sport to love that it's unbelievable to think that something as mundane as a ball in a net could hold the world in a standstill. Fans can't really deny the magic that soars when someone scores that elusive goal. It makes you want to cry out, just like the Mexicans: GOALLLL!!!!!!!
