Sachin
15 Apr 2004, 11:09 PM
I posted these thoughts many years ago pre-crash, and I started thinking about it again recently.
I love soccer. Call it football, futbol, calcio, voetbol, soccer, balonpie, whatever, I love this game.
Why?
A 90 minute soccer game is as close to truth as one can get on this earth.
The game unfolds slowly, as we learn what we are up against. But the action can take place in a breathless rush where art, science, physics and magic all collide in a wonderous spectacle. The game is maddeningly simple, kick the ball back and forth. But like the best music or the richest art, the simplicity combines into infinite complexity. No two games are ever exactly alike.
Every player has a role, but the role merely serves as a starting point. Forwards clear balls of their goal line, defenders, even keepers, score goals, wing players move into the middle, central players move outside. And it all unfolds on the fly. Teams may make plans, but they quickly need adjustment to meet changing circumstances. The players are all equal in responsibility and bring different strengths and weaknesses to the game, without limitations on their role.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna that is his obligation is to fight, heedless of the potential reward. "You have a right to the labor," Krisha says, "but not to the outcome." Is there a game that empitomizes that philosophy more than soccer? How many times have we seen brilliant combination play to lead to that sterling chance on goal, only to be denied?
The game offers only a few chances, which must be siezed. Carpe diem, as the saying goes, because you never know when or even if another chance may present itself.
Finally, the game has an allotted time span, but no one, save the referee, knows exactly when time is up. It is up to each player to do their utmost in the time they are given. This control of time, is why the referee is God.
So why do I love this game? Because this game is life itself. We play as we live.
I love soccer. Call it football, futbol, calcio, voetbol, soccer, balonpie, whatever, I love this game.
Why?
A 90 minute soccer game is as close to truth as one can get on this earth.
The game unfolds slowly, as we learn what we are up against. But the action can take place in a breathless rush where art, science, physics and magic all collide in a wonderous spectacle. The game is maddeningly simple, kick the ball back and forth. But like the best music or the richest art, the simplicity combines into infinite complexity. No two games are ever exactly alike.
Every player has a role, but the role merely serves as a starting point. Forwards clear balls of their goal line, defenders, even keepers, score goals, wing players move into the middle, central players move outside. And it all unfolds on the fly. Teams may make plans, but they quickly need adjustment to meet changing circumstances. The players are all equal in responsibility and bring different strengths and weaknesses to the game, without limitations on their role.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna that is his obligation is to fight, heedless of the potential reward. "You have a right to the labor," Krisha says, "but not to the outcome." Is there a game that empitomizes that philosophy more than soccer? How many times have we seen brilliant combination play to lead to that sterling chance on goal, only to be denied?
The game offers only a few chances, which must be siezed. Carpe diem, as the saying goes, because you never know when or even if another chance may present itself.
Finally, the game has an allotted time span, but no one, save the referee, knows exactly when time is up. It is up to each player to do their utmost in the time they are given. This control of time, is why the referee is God.
So why do I love this game? Because this game is life itself. We play as we live.