Yesterday, I was introduced to the culture of football...not American football, mind you, but football as it is played in Europe (soccer). I love it! My future brother, Andy, is a die hard American football fan, which I have respect for, but I have always had a hard time paying attention to American football, because it's so slow moving, stops and starts so much, and I don't know the rules. Plus, I have never found American football players to be attractive...But footballers here...whoo! These guys are serious athletes. They sprint for the entire 90 minute game. And they are, for the most part, really cute!
Yes, yes...some people argue that soccer isn't really very interesting because they hardly ever score. But the ALMOST score lots of times, which is when it gets exciting in the pub. Last night we were in this smoke filled place. I was one of about three women there and was surrounded by chain smoking, beer filled, Chelsea fans. We were also cheering for Chelsea, but it took us while to figure out which team actually was Chelsea, because we have not been Chelsea fans for very long at all, so we don't know the diversity of their uniforms. Last night they were in black. Anyway, it was good fun and I think I could actually get into this sport...at least for half of the game.
On Saturday I believe we are going to a rugby game. Another sport who's rules I don't quite get. I have noticed that when I guy gets the ball, the rest of them don't pile on top of him, like they do in American Football, but they make this huddle, called a scrum, around him. A friend who used to play rugby said that lots of young people in rugby leagues break their necks during this huddling, due to the immense pressure.
Rugby players are burlier than soccer players...not so much my type as footballers. Plus they don't wear helmets or anything and they tackle each other, so they are often missing a lot of teeth.
