Wizardscharter
16 Apr 2004, 05:45 PM
A quick nod to Sachin. I started to post this on his good thread as my answer to his own question. Then I realized that it's sports I love, but Soccer is special in the only way that counts. Soccer wasn't my first, or even my most intense. It is however the one that I miss when it isn't around, and I always want to come home to. Here's why:
No sport has a greater varity to it than the cornicopia of soccer. Countries, Individuals, leagues, levels, and even various other codes all combine to form the vast menu from which we at bigsoccer.com feast. Soccer has the widest variety to excite your bored tastebuds.
It's been my pleasure to observe that most sports have several things in common and it's those commonalities that allow me to be drawn deeper into all of them (except figure skating - they have to get rid of the hugs and tears first). Soccer is no exception. Defensive geometry changes very little in concept from sport to sport. Bodies must still move in efficient ways directed by alert minds. In the end it is only the shape of a goal to be protected that causes the bend in spacial gravity.
Other overlaps include a point guards' angular understanding of basketball will allow perception of possible combining runs with a greater ease. A wideout may click with a streaking forward. Linemen will indentify that the intelligent occupation of space will ulitimately lead to the fleeting glory they seek. More educated linemen will know that all codes of football were the same game once. Wrestlers will immediately recognise why a given player who lacks the sacrifice and discipline required will always fail to reach the very pinnacle of his sport. After all confort levels are by definition comfortable.
A hockey netminder might wonder how guarding 8 x 24 is remotely possible with just eyes and a pair of gloves; albeit at a greatly reduced pace. He will not wonder why communication is ultimately a goalie's second best friend to a set of quick firing neurons. A pole vaulter will discern within soccer the limited number of opportunities to reach a goal and that even one seemingly minor error absoluetly will determine the final grade of pass or fail. Any racer of animal or machine can comprehend the roll luck can play on a given day and that luck eventually will not be enough. Baseball players will understand the mental dexterity required to control an eneven flow, in addition to the inevitable penalty paid for momentary lapses in prolonged concentration.
Volleyball players like myself grasp that physical qualities will never be the sole master of either my favorite game to play, volleyball, or my favorite to cheer, soccer. We get that both sports are capable of being won many different ways, just as the game is likely to be lost within any of those same areas. Be outstanding or deficient in any of them and a result should follow, but still, it may not. How is it possible to master such a game? I'm sure Karch Kilray and Pele have an answer, but not many others do.
Soccer is at once a game to be played in numerous styles to infinite levels within abundant daily competitions, all influenced by long considered philosophy. Those who know me will tell you I can speak clearly about a great many sports. To me there is no greater cornicopia of possibility than that of soccer. No other sport is played on as many levels, by both genders, in as many places, and in as many outstanding configurations as soccer.
People can post about one true game and a defining set of rules. They can offer that an after dinner apertif of overtime somehow ruins the meal. Great, I respect your opinion, but please don't prevent me my enjoyment of it. I'm 21, quit preaching, relax, and let me enjoy my drink.
Others issues can be as devisive. The greater point is that soccer is a game that can satisfy all tastes. It will never overcome all learned biases or closed minds, but soccer is flexible enough to sate us all. A wise man once said that the list of ingredients is finite, but it's the infinite skillful combination of them that gives us cuisine. Tony Shalob's character in The Big Night had this thought, "To eat great food is to be close to God". Certainly quality will remain under all inspection. At some point variety will fairly change the definition.
Judging a hamburger should properly be confined to ground proteins; so that uniformity avoids the apples to oranges slippery slope. I don't believe that same set of rules should outlaw spices and herbs for within them lies other flavors.
If you miss my point consider this, everyone likes to eat. For everyone the most memorable meals are the quality ones of high quality, the occasions, the exotic, and the emotional. Not every meal can be 7 courses, tuxedoed waiters, and abundant drink. You should eat every day, but nobody says you have to eat the same thing.
Tonight I'll tune in to the Comets attempt to reach a final by knocking off Milwaukee in their barn. I'll enjoy the game on it's own merits in much the same manor as when I go to Arrowhead tomorrow night. There's no reason I shouldn't. On sunday, I'll watch the other MLS games I taped and check in with the EPL. Early next week, I'll look for playoff scores from Mexico's minors, the A-league's opening weekend, and fret over my MfLS team's problems. I'm going to enjoy the cornicopia, you should too.
No sport has a greater varity to it than the cornicopia of soccer. Countries, Individuals, leagues, levels, and even various other codes all combine to form the vast menu from which we at bigsoccer.com feast. Soccer has the widest variety to excite your bored tastebuds.
It's been my pleasure to observe that most sports have several things in common and it's those commonalities that allow me to be drawn deeper into all of them (except figure skating - they have to get rid of the hugs and tears first). Soccer is no exception. Defensive geometry changes very little in concept from sport to sport. Bodies must still move in efficient ways directed by alert minds. In the end it is only the shape of a goal to be protected that causes the bend in spacial gravity.
Other overlaps include a point guards' angular understanding of basketball will allow perception of possible combining runs with a greater ease. A wideout may click with a streaking forward. Linemen will indentify that the intelligent occupation of space will ulitimately lead to the fleeting glory they seek. More educated linemen will know that all codes of football were the same game once. Wrestlers will immediately recognise why a given player who lacks the sacrifice and discipline required will always fail to reach the very pinnacle of his sport. After all confort levels are by definition comfortable.
A hockey netminder might wonder how guarding 8 x 24 is remotely possible with just eyes and a pair of gloves; albeit at a greatly reduced pace. He will not wonder why communication is ultimately a goalie's second best friend to a set of quick firing neurons. A pole vaulter will discern within soccer the limited number of opportunities to reach a goal and that even one seemingly minor error absoluetly will determine the final grade of pass or fail. Any racer of animal or machine can comprehend the roll luck can play on a given day and that luck eventually will not be enough. Baseball players will understand the mental dexterity required to control an eneven flow, in addition to the inevitable penalty paid for momentary lapses in prolonged concentration.
Volleyball players like myself grasp that physical qualities will never be the sole master of either my favorite game to play, volleyball, or my favorite to cheer, soccer. We get that both sports are capable of being won many different ways, just as the game is likely to be lost within any of those same areas. Be outstanding or deficient in any of them and a result should follow, but still, it may not. How is it possible to master such a game? I'm sure Karch Kilray and Pele have an answer, but not many others do.
Soccer is at once a game to be played in numerous styles to infinite levels within abundant daily competitions, all influenced by long considered philosophy. Those who know me will tell you I can speak clearly about a great many sports. To me there is no greater cornicopia of possibility than that of soccer. No other sport is played on as many levels, by both genders, in as many places, and in as many outstanding configurations as soccer.
People can post about one true game and a defining set of rules. They can offer that an after dinner apertif of overtime somehow ruins the meal. Great, I respect your opinion, but please don't prevent me my enjoyment of it. I'm 21, quit preaching, relax, and let me enjoy my drink.
Others issues can be as devisive. The greater point is that soccer is a game that can satisfy all tastes. It will never overcome all learned biases or closed minds, but soccer is flexible enough to sate us all. A wise man once said that the list of ingredients is finite, but it's the infinite skillful combination of them that gives us cuisine. Tony Shalob's character in The Big Night had this thought, "To eat great food is to be close to God". Certainly quality will remain under all inspection. At some point variety will fairly change the definition.
Judging a hamburger should properly be confined to ground proteins; so that uniformity avoids the apples to oranges slippery slope. I don't believe that same set of rules should outlaw spices and herbs for within them lies other flavors.
If you miss my point consider this, everyone likes to eat. For everyone the most memorable meals are the quality ones of high quality, the occasions, the exotic, and the emotional. Not every meal can be 7 courses, tuxedoed waiters, and abundant drink. You should eat every day, but nobody says you have to eat the same thing.
Tonight I'll tune in to the Comets attempt to reach a final by knocking off Milwaukee in their barn. I'll enjoy the game on it's own merits in much the same manor as when I go to Arrowhead tomorrow night. There's no reason I shouldn't. On sunday, I'll watch the other MLS games I taped and check in with the EPL. Early next week, I'll look for playoff scores from Mexico's minors, the A-league's opening weekend, and fret over my MfLS team's problems. I'm going to enjoy the cornicopia, you should too.