A Quick Turn of Emotion

So a little more than 24 hours ago I was going to write a very scathing and angry entry about how the Big 4 of the English Premiere League (EPL) were destroying soccer.  I was so incensed with how their game plan for the Champions League matches has for years been to score a goal then put 10 hulking brutes behind the ball and win 1-0.  With some exceptions these teams rely on players to use bullying tactics to win matches.  And it seemed like UEFA (the governing body of soccer in Europe) was supporting it after the poor officiating in the Barcelona-Chelsea first leg (and the phantom red card on Barca left back Eric Abidal).  I was going to rant about how UEFA only wanted the cash cows like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea to succeed because of the revenue it would bring in (although this would have been a completely unfounded claim since I have no idea which clubs sell the most tickets, but I do think the English clubs are more appealing to U.S. viewers).

Then at about 4:45 p.m. EST Andres Iniesta put Barcelona's first shot on goal in 93 minutes in the back of the net  (I refuse to refer to any type of vegetable or sack here).  I was listening to the game on FC Barcelona's website because I was doing work.  The sheer elation, joy, whatever it was, was maniacal.  The announcer, Nick Simons, was simply screaming utter nonsense.  As a Barcelona fan I wanted to rip my shirt off and run around the office screaming at the top of my lungs; I literally had to hold myself in my seat with one hand and my mouth shut with the other.  And it made me realize: why have more Americans not embraced this sport?  People say its because there is no scoring. That makes it more exciting!  Every time a play looks as though it may threaten goal you can feel the stadium, and yourself holding your breath in anticipation.  Sure, watching Barcelona or the Spanish, Argentine, or Brazilian national teams is exciting for everyone since they are regularly threats to put 3 or 4 in, in beautifully quick and precise movements.  But I think when teams are grinding out 1-0 wins it is just as tense, as yesterday showed.  Every time there was a cross or a corner or a nifty one-two the tension briefly ratcheted up.  I find that when watching soccer there are just as many if not more plays that raise the heart rate than a football game.  Another great thing is, soccer is more or less a year round sport in Europe. Barca opened their season on August 13th, their last game will be May 31st.  With major clubs in 3 to 4 competitions, group stages, point systems, knock-out rounds, two-legged affairs, every thing matters, even that boring 0-0 tie.  Pardon the mixing of sports metaphors, but the season is a heavy weight fight that's going all 12 rounds. I think if Americans took a little more time to really look at the European soccer model they would be impressed.  In the meantime Go Barca!