OPINION
Page 6 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
July 7, 2014
Volume 24 Number 13
July 7, 2014
ISSN: 1094-9453
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MY TURN
n Wayne Chan
Fútbol or football?
That is the question
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admit it — I’m an ignorant American. As hard hiney in front of a global audience as if to say, “Hi
mom! Look at me! This is my victory twerk!”
as it is to say, I’m afraid it’s true.
As I said, I totally understand the allure of rooting
Last month, for the first time in my life, I
watched an entire match — start to finish — of the for your own country in a fútbol game, but with the
World Cup. I watched the U.S. game against sports I’m accustomed to, that also means rooting
against the other team.
Portugal, which ended in
That’s half the fun!
a tie.
With football, basket-
Far be it for me to make
ball, and baseball, I can
fun of fútbol. I’m well
root against the Dodgers,
aware that it is the world’s
Raiders, or the Heat, and
most popular sport. Just
find a lot of reasons why
watching the passion of
I’m rooting against them.
the fans, it’s obvious
Maybe a Dodger player
people really do care about
said something dispar-
the game. This is a sport
aging against someone on
that demands respect,
my team, or maybe a
which I am doing by
player my team really
referring to the game South Korean soccer fans react after Belgium scored a goal
wanted to draft ended up
using the correct name of against South Korea during a Group H World Cup soccer
going to another team on
“fútbol”
instead
of match at a public viewing venue in Seoul, South Korea.
draft night. Either way,
“soccer,” which shows my (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
deep regard for the game since it took me five that’s a perfect reason for me to hate that other
team. Let me correct that, because “hate” is a harsh
minutes to figure out how to put the “ú” in fútbol.
While watching the U.S. vs. Portugal match, word, and I’ve tried to teach my kids never to say
there were aspects of the game I could definitely that word.
So, instead, I’ll say, I vehemently despise that
appreciate. I can see how strategy and effective
passing are integral parts of the game. I also team with every fiber of my body. See? Much better.
But with fútbol, it’s much harder. Yes, I can root
understand how you can immerse yourself into
rooting for your own country. That’s all well and for the U.S. team, but how do I root against
Portugal?
good.
Looking through Wikipedia, I tried my best to
But coming from a U.S. sports perspective, there
find something about Portugal to root against, just
are a few things I just don’t get.
First of all, when a team scores, the goalscorer the slightest bit of acrimony I could use to help
usually turns around, runs to his fellow teammates, bolster my fútbol-cheering credentials.
Let’s see … they were a founding member of the
and they … hug? A hug? Seriously? Having watched
American football, my expectations are for the United Nations … that’s a good thing, I guess. I once
player to turn around, face his teammates while one had a box of grapes go bad and I think they were
of them rushes up, and headbutt them as a way of imported from Portugal … probably not their fault.
saying, “Nice job, Bill!” As far as I’m concerned, a They have both a president and a prime minister —
celebration isn’t a celebration without moderately a little confusing, but not really offensive. Hmm …
Wait a minute! Port wine comes from Portugal! I
severe head trauma.
And before the well-placed headbutt, how can any like Cabernet! That’s it! Down with Portugal!
That wasn’t easy. If the U.S. ever plays
self-respecting fútbol player who just scored a goal
not at least run around the field showboating, doing Switzerland in the World Cup, I think I’ll be in real
a little mini-dance and maniacally gyrating his trouble.
I
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