On the Ball

I'm quite accustomed to feigning an interest in football.  Whether it's an attempt to bond with my brother, or to feel a part of the World Cup frenzy, I have tried.  The aesthetically pleasing footballers made it a little more bearable but still couldn't hold my interest for a full 90 minutes.  It just felt that whatever I did, I couldn't convince myself that this was anything more than a game.  An expensive popular game but a game nonetheless.  And I really couldn't be bothered playing along.

The first (and last) football match I ever went to was Manchester United vs. Tottenham.  I hoped the fact that Ronaldo was playing would keep me focused at least until half time.  But it seemed I was far too distracted by the beer-bellied old man behind me, yelling at the top of his lungs at the slightest movement of the ball.  I spent the majority of the match trying to ensure that in his excitement, he didn't drop one (of his many) beers all over me.  I'm sure you can imagine the type.  'COME ON MY SON!' is probably the only statement of his that I can write down, and still echoes in my ears now.  With his commentary, there really was no need to watch the match. I could have known everything that was going on by just closing my eyes, and absorbing his angry shouts.  In any other situation, I feel I would understand, even applaud, so much passion.  But I just can't understand why you need to get so angry over a ball game.  A friend once told me that he no longer watches football because he 'gets too angry'.  Oh please.  To me, this is the equivalent of having a tantrum in a PE lesson when the other team score a goal.  I didn't understand it then, and I still don't get it now.

The other thing that depresses me greatly is the amount of air time football seems to consume.  It's not enough to just watch the match anymore. No, it's necessary to listen to the commentary, watch the discussion at half time and catch up with the replays on Match of the Day.  Obsession much?  And if it's not the actual game, it's the footballers themselves, how much they're worth, who they're dating and what car they are driving.  It's these pretentious details that Heat, Closer, OK, Hello and so many more trashy magazines love to eat up and feed to the gossip-hungry public.  So in some ways, football seems to fuel the celebrity-driven society we live in today.  Hardly a reason to want to support my local team.

Although clearly not an avid fan, I can appreciate the advantages of living in this football-driven society.  It brings people together.  Sure enough, pushes them apart too. The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United is perhaps why these two northern cities have never got along.  But there's always going to be some people who want to take a bit of healthy competition too far.  Although, in social situations, football seems to provide the basis of a conversation, the perfect starting off point.  Many times I've been in awkward situations with new people, searching desperately for common ground in order to break the ice.  Football is the one topic that usually evokes a reaction and gets the ball rolling, if you excuse the pun.  Even if, like me, you have absolutely no interest, you can use the knowledge you have to start a little healthy banter.  So yes, I do appreciate the value of football, even if only for shallow, selfish reasons.

Regardless of my opinion however, I cannot ignore the fact that football is a huge part of many people's lives.  And for the unity it brings and support it gathers, particularly during the World Cup, I really do believe it is wonderful.  But I can't pretend to care who wins or loses.  And to me, it will always be just a game.