Football (as in soccer)

[Barbarossa]

I hate to admit it, but I'm a Feyenoord fan. A dutch club doomed to lose every game they meet. Yet, I persevere. My theory is that I failed one too many sanity checks in my childhood, and henceforth could not distinguish sanity from club devotion. Ashamed as I am from the misbehaviour of a few so called fans in Nancy (France) a few months ago, I still stand by my team.

This is my, and our, thread to tell about childhood loves and other sportily afflictions. Share your clubs and why you love em.

[allworth]

I came into this affliction just this year.  As a child once every two weeks or so I would get to catch highlights from English Leagues on our American cable system.  Somewhere in there a seed must have been planted.

Fast Forward to 2006.  With the success of the American Women in previous World Cups I was interested to see how the US team would do in this year's World Cup and watched several matches, peaking my interest in soccer again.  Shortly after the World Cup was over, my favorite writer on ESPN.com (Bill Simmons-The Sports Guy) did an article about how compelling the soccer games were in the World Cup and he decided he was going to pick a team in the English Premier League to root for.  He humorously analyzed all of the teams and picked a team.  Once again my interest was peaked and I followed his lead, although I picked a different team than Mr. Simmons, I picked Everton.  This was in late spring I believe.

Also in the late spring timeframe, I received my new computer game called Football Manager 2006 (from Sega Games), where you get to become the manager of a soccer team from almost anywhere around the world and try to lead them to glory.  I started at the bottom of the English Leagues in what is called the Conference South.  I proceeded to sweat, cheer, swear and cajole my players up a level to the National Conference in 3 seasons.  I learned a great deal about how the English Leagues are run while I played and had a great time doing it.

For Father's Day, my wife and children purchased digital cable from our local cable company as a present to me.  Lo and behold, a week or two after the digital cable was installed, I notice they are starting to advertise English Premier League games on the Fox Soccer Channel starting in August.  I watched my first game in August and am officially hooked.  I usually watch one or two games over the weekend and tape two others to watch later in the week. 

Fate?  Karma?  Dumb Luck?  I don't know, but a lot of stars to lead me down this path to my favorite team Everton and my favorite league the English Premier League

[allworth]

Everton at Liverpool this weekend.  Go Toffees