Sunday, June 27, 2010

Sports fan... what fun!

by Philipina A. Marcelo
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These days, the working equation in my life is:

2010 FIFA World Cup + 2010 Wimbledon = superbad productivity

I am almost ready to feel guilty... but then, the World Cup comes only once every four years... and Wimbledon is a tennis fan's tradition that's painful to miss - too painful! So, I have been converting most of my sleep time to sports time... and so I walk around like a zombie in my workplace these days... but you know, the sports fan in me couldn't be any happier! =) So, I guess, spending the days like a zombie isn't too bad after all... not if you see the likes of Diego Forlan, Xavi Hernandez, Lionel Messi, Kaka, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at least once a week - you may as well put "Zombie" as my middle name! Go right ahead, thank you very much! :)

Aaah, how could I feel bad when I am able to watch those beautifully graceful Spaniards, Brazilians and Argentines running like they're one with the wind... kicking the soccer ball with so much ferocity like their own mothers' lives depended on whether or not the ball was sent to the goal in a sharp thin path across thick walls of goal defenders?! It's like they're showing the world that there is another way to dance the Spanish Flamenco, Argentine Tango and the Brazilian Samba. Hmmmm... delicious!

Just a few hours ago, I saw Uruguay progressed from the Round of 16 after out-goaling South Korea, 2:1. It was beautiful to watch how the South Koreans fought to the finish - refusing to go down without a great fight! When the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the match, with Uruguay having one goal more than South Korea, the jubilation in triumph among the Uruguay warriors was beautiful to watch... and yet, there was joy in watching the South Koreans weep on their knees in defeat... joy because their tears confirm the hard battle they fought until the very end. And this is the beauty of sports, when played with passion, skill and camaraderie, some beautiful souls shine in the playing field... and it's just awesome to behold!

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