A Very Odd World Cup

I’ve been watching the World Cup a lot since it started almost 2 weeks ago now. For the most part, I watch it from the comfort of my own couch, an endless supply of junk food and kitten snuggles to get me through the games. I have a Belgian friend who lives in my building and he has stopped by (bringing Belgian beer with him) to watch each of the first two games Belgium has played. He’ll be over on Thursday night as well to watch the third one. I used to work with both he and his wife in Saudi Arabia so I’ve known him a long time. We’re very much alike in many ways and got really well from the first time we met.

How I usually watch World Cup games

I did wander out last Friday night to a local bar to watch a couple of games. Well, technically I was there for a friend’s birthday, but since she was being pampered by her co-workers, it was easier to just watch the games.

It has been an interesting World Cup. I don’t know if any of you are fans of football, sorry, soccer, but I’ve been playing it for nearly 40 years now. I’ve worked as a referee, I’ve coached as well. I received an athletic scholarship in college when I played on the college team. And I watch as many games as I can from various leagues around the world. I’ve been to three World Cups as well – Mexico 86, Italy 90, and USA 94. They were all wonderful, special in their own way, but this one has been downright odd.

And just when it couldn’t get any odder, along comes Uruguay vs Italy to raise the bar. Luis Suarez, one of the best players in the world, decided he needed to bite an Italian defender on the shoulder. Then when the Italian jerked his arm back in shock, Suarez decided he should crumple to the ground holding his face trying to be the victim. Sadly I wasn’t too shocked by this, as this is the third time Suarez has bitten an opponent!! Yes, three times!

What the Hell possesses a grown man to bite another grown man? Aren’t we told at, like age 4, that we shouldn’t bite people? I’m hyper-competitive when it comes to sports, and I’ve played against guys I have seriously hated, but never once have I thought of biting them. I played against one guy for 5 years, and he would kick me up and down the field, twice tried to break my leg (as a player you know when someone is deliberately trying to injure you), used to spit on me, punch me, pull my hair, etc. And even then, I never thought of biting him.

Nothing to do with stuttering today, but it still left me struggling to spit out words. Crazy huh?

Cheers,

Ger