The Sharks have been eliminated from the playoffs on a gut-punch ending: A missed call by the refs led to a tying goal with thirteen seconds left in regulation time, then in the second overtime the puck took a bizarre bounce and landed on the stick of the only guy on the ice who knew where it was.
For the final, I think I have to root for Boston. I’d lean Canadian, but Vancouver has the Sedin twins, who think their little douchebag goatees constitute playoff beards. They are wrong. Boston, on the other hand, ran Joe Thornton out of town, much to the benefit of San Jose. I was really hoping for a Sharks-Bruins final.
Next year.
So I’m sitting a Goosetown, a local bar with a ‘dive’ leaning, not afraid to let the juke box get loud (Jane’s Addiction right now), which inexplicably has an excellent WiFi signal. On the big screen is San Jose’s other professional team, one I once saw in person. The San Jose Earthquake is playing the Chicago Fire, kicking a ball listlessly around a field.
That both teams are named after disasters that caused suffering and death is probably indicative of something. For a while this game was just goalkeepers kicking the ball back and forth. At the half, there had been exactly one shot on goal. The other four shots were off-target, but one of them hit both posts. Credit where due, that was a pretty damn exciting moment, and one that provides a payoff for the fan(s).
Overall, however, the level of play is pretty low. I’ve not seen anyone lying on the grass with a feigned injury, but that’s largely because defenders seem afraid of the ball. Set plays send the ball into empty space and passes are not crisp. Overall, there is a lack of hustle, and that’s what I can’t forgive. You can suck at a sport, but if you give it your all I’m with you. The game would seem a lot less tedious if the guys on the field showed more urgency.
So: Soccer without people lying on the ground crying like little girls (not little girls who play soccer – in this country those kids are tough) is not the only problem with the game. It may remain forever a mystery what soccer would be like if the best players in the world actually played like men, let alone like middle-school American girls.
For a soccer watching experience you might enjoy, go find the adult league in the area. There is usually hustle, folks on the ground, real injuries (not necessarily inflected by someone else), passes to someone, folks giving all they got, and beer. WiFi, maybe not.
That is an excellent suggestion, that I will probably not act on, as it requires planning and research and all of that stuff.
Let me establish my cred by saying I’m one of the choir. We’ve always agreed on what’s wrong with the most boring sport in the world. I just want to say that, after taking Cody thru two seasons of mini soccer I can finally understand why it is the most popular sport in the world: You need something to kick. That’s it. It doesn’t even have to be a ball. So if you are in the middle of poorest Africa and have some empty space and a bunch of rags tied together you can have a blast. You don’t even need other players – you can just practice juggling without hands. That being said, solitaire is pretty darn fun but I don’t wanna watch it! Big points to basketball for being nearly as simple as soccer, but ten times as fun to watch.
Yes all it takes is a ball. A ball and team cooperation. That’s soshilizm friendo. Hockey is just a load of expensive equipment and a few no-touch rules away from it as well.
Having watched soccer on and off the field for years I am in awe of the pro players. That is not a sport for those weak of heart or slow. It’s huge in Florida and the Bru’s room (not the dive location but wifi with a dozen screens) is where the fans go. I can hear when the game starts two streets over from the cheers and jeers.
Not only do they have beer selections Jer but also wings that have a kick to them.
Congratulations, Lydia! You are commenter 10,000 on this blog! I’ll make a bigger deal of it once I get my head together. There must be some sort of prize.
The prize is you’ll write more!! I miss seeing your stories.