View Full Version : The World Cup brings them out of the woodwork...
:hammer:
I thought it might be interesting to trade some off-the-playing-field banter, maybe stuff you encounter, discussions you've had, that sort of thing. Allow me to get this rolling.
Our local newspaper--and I'm giving it alot of credit by calling it that--has this one sports writer who doesn't like soccer. At all. Makes no bones aobut it. Yet he feels he has to comment on it in his column, so he just carries on about how he doesn't understand, blah blah blah. I'd like to tell him to go crawl under a rock. :hammer: Oh well, I don't have to read his column....and so I don't.
Then there's this guy I met in a Yahoo group for this one musician we both like. I'll call him GG, his initials. Never spoke a word about soccer, till maybe a week or so before the WC, and then somehow it came up that I loved the sport, was a fan of the Italian league and loved AC Milan. He was clueless, so I told him to go look up Paolo Maldini, AC Milan, some stuff like that. I don't know if he ever did, I kind of doubt it. So can you guess the scenario? Yep, since the start of the World Cup he's trying to act like some expert, carrying on about the US team's chances and about Brazil, commenting on the games and so forth. We've had a couple little arguments b/c he thinks he knows the rules of the game and so on. And did I mention he told me he's been IMing a Juve fan, some chick he says is really nice and come on, don't team rivalries disappear during the WC?? As I told him only within the Italian team, and I still could hate players like Flabaldo b/c he played for Inter and so on. He just doesn't get the passion that goes into this.
So....have any of you encountered any characters that have surfaced b/c of the WC??
ukrainian_CA
28-06-2006, 15:16
:hammer:
I thought it might be interesting to trade some off-the-playing-field banter, maybe stuff you encounter, discussions you've had, that sort of thing. Allow me to get this rolling.
Our local newspaper--and I'm giving it alot of credit by calling it that--has this one sports writer who doesn't like soccer. At all. Makes no bones aobut it. Yet he feels he has to comment on it in his column, so he just carries on about how he doesn't understand, blah blah blah. I'd like to tell him to go crawl under a rock. :hammer: Oh well, I don't have to read his column....and so I don't.
Then there's this guy I met in a Yahoo group for this one musician we both like. I'll call him GG, his initials. Never spoke a word about soccer, till maybe a week or so before the WC, and then somehow it came up that I loved the sport, was a fan of the Italian league and loved AC Milan. He was clueless, so I told him to go look up Paolo Maldini, AC Milan, some stuff like that. I don't know if he ever did, I kind of doubt it. So can you guess the scenario? Yep, since the start of the World Cup he's trying to act like some expert, carrying on about the US team's chances and about Brazil, commenting on the games and so forth. We've had a couple little arguments b/c he thinks he knows the rules of the game and so on. And did I mention he told me he's been IMing a Juve fan, some chick he says is really nice and come on, don't team rivalries disappear during the WC?? As I told him only within the Italian team, and I still could hate players like Flabaldo b/c he played for Inter and so on. He just doesn't get the passion that goes into this.
So....have any of you encountered any characters that have surfaced b/c of the WC??
What is IMing? dating?
or does I in IM stand for Inter...? I do not think there is an M in the word I am thinking of.
IM=instant message....like on MSN or AIM, which is AOL Instant Messenger.
instant messaging, like MSN or Yahoo messenger :)
thankfully nothing like that has happened to me yet Debs, there's still a week to go though so anything can happen :D
Debs, living in the US I have found them of all kinds, even before the WC... just going into a fast food place wearing a Milan jersey is an adventure...
of course, they don't understand the passion, the rivalries, or why we think a 0-0 draw could still be a good game...
The other day a guy asked me if Pele' was still playing... haha
Stezagud
28-06-2006, 16:09
I had practise last year with the Ashes (England vs Australia in the cricket) for the first time in living memory England were actually capable of challenging :eek: and towards the end of the series their were large groups of people watching, most of which had never seen the game before but were happy to offer advice and opinion :rolleyes:
Thanks to that experience i developed a few strategies. The easiest one is to buy a bag of crisps and crunch the packet whenever someone you dont want to listen to is talking. If no crisps are available bite your tongue, if this fails grow your finger nails really long and stab them into your hand as the pain distracts you long enough to let the rage at being dictated too by imbeciles pass :D
At least we got to watch WC, and it is ok that I watch it alone. I don't need to know that the people around me are enjoying too. :D
After WC, what will we have? It pisses me off badly just at the thought of CL. Only so few games on ESPN, and most of them are either English teams or Spanish teams.
I spoke to them once, they were even under the obligations not to broadcast Milan's certain games. I think that was Milan vs. PSV? the two-leg semifinals at 05? The person told me that they seemed to have sold the rights to some other company so they could only air two legs of Liverpool and Chelsea. but she was not sure herself. :bang: Honest, but clueless. :p157:
Stezagud
28-06-2006, 16:28
After WC, what will we have?
That thought scares me too :eek:
today we had no games and i was shocked at how poor normal TV is: Cowboy films, home improvement shows, antiques programmes :groan: not even Neighbours because Wimbledon is on :(
They may as well give Federer the trophy and show re-runs of the early group matches ;)
zlatanov
28-06-2006, 16:37
football dorks :27rr:
That thought scares me too :eek:
today we had no games and i was shocked at how poor normal TV is: Cowboy films, home improvement shows, antiques programmes :groan: not even Neighbours because Wimbledon is on :(
They may as well give Federer the trophy and show re-runs of the early group matches ;)
I thought you live in England? No? :sweeteye:
Even in China (we suck in football in case you don't know :D), almost all champions league matched will be covered. Moving to United States costs me dearly. :v46:
Debs, living in the US I have found them of all kinds, even before the WC... just going into a fast food place wearing a Milan jersey is an adventure...
of course, they don't understand the passion, the rivalries, or why we think a 0-0 draw could still be a good game...
Yeah, you know when I tell people I like Italian soccer they look at me like I'm from outer space or something! Most of the time the reaction is "How on earth did you ever discover that???"
I was in heaven the one year we had a foreign exchange student from Italy! I wore my autographed Maldini jersey for Halloween and as soon as Gio saw it he was on his knees! :v408: :v408: "Oh Paolo Paolo Paolo! He is our God, he is so wonderful!" :v408: :v408: And this kid was an Inter and Reginna fan! I had him in my term long Office class and he and I always had to start out, especially on Mondays, exchanging barbs or complaints about the games over the weekend. And when he found out I had met Paolo and many others on the squad and had been to Milanello....yes, even tho he was an Inter fan, I became his godess! LOL, so to speak! :v408: :v408:
But yes, I find I've gotten quite addicted to having 2 or 3 games a day, even if I don't know a thing aobut some of the squads. Just the sheer joy of watching the game at such a high level--if we can ignore the refs that is. I feel....lost....until Friday! And then when it's over.....
:5schal: :5schal: :5schal:
Stezagud
28-06-2006, 16:54
I thought you live in England? No?
Even in China (we suck in football in case you don't know ), almost all champions league matched will be covered. Moving to United States costs me dearly.
yeah i do live in England but there wont be any Premiership games until mid August and the World Cup ends on the 9th of July. Thats a whole month of suffering antiques programmes !
Yeah, you know when I tell people I like Italian soccer they look at me like I'm from outer space or something! Most of the time the reaction is "How on earth did you ever discover that???"
I was in heaven the one year we had a foreign exchange student from Italy! I wore my autographed Maldini jersey for Halloween and as soon as Gio saw it he was on his knees! :v408: :v408: "Oh Paolo Paolo Paolo! He is our God, he is so wonderful!" :v408: :v408: And this kid was an Inter and Reginna fan! I had him in my term long Office class and he and I always had to start out, especially on Mondays, exchanging barbs or complaints about the games over the weekend. And when he found out I had met Paolo and many others on the squad and had been to Milanello....yes, even tho he was an Inter fan, I became his godess! LOL, so to speak! :v408: :v408:
But yes, I find I've gotten quite addicted to having 2 or 3 games a day, even if I don't know a thing aobut some of the squads. Just the sheer joy of watching the game at such a high level--if we can ignore the refs that is. I feel....lost....until Friday! And then when it's over.....
:5schal: :5schal: :5schal:
Literally down on his knees? like this? :v408: :D
I know quite a few Inter fans here (from Italy), and Paolo is of course much admired and loved, but I wouldn't expect them to do that. Maybe they did that behind my back. :guw:
I wonder how many hearts will be broken when Paolo eventually stops playing... :star: :proud:
yeah i do live in England but there wont be any Premiership games until mid August and the World Cup ends on the 9th of July. Thats a whole month of suffering antiques programmes !
dude, aren't you greedy.. :dumpf: When I said "after WC", I meant like "year", not "month" or "day"!!! :d33: :5horse: I was thinking where to watch the much anticipated no-Juve Serie A, where to watch Milan play in CL, and you were talking about one month of "suffering"? :wallbang: :skull:
:D :D
NestaIsKing
28-06-2006, 19:21
Most of my friends aren't into soccer. But then now that the Cup is going, they are ALL into it. And then well watching the games, every time there is a whistle or a stoppage, they all ask, "whats happening?" It gets so annoying to try to stop watching and explain to them every 5 minutes, but then again, I think I'd rather have that, then people who pretend to know everything about the best game in the world and act all fake about it
Well, here, its all skyblue and white, but is not just about football, world cup goes way beyond football. When our NT plays, the whole country is paralized, there is no one in the streets, everybody has to be in front of a tv, even people who dont normaly follow football, because as i said, it goes beyond football. And it doesnt happen just with our NT. For instance when Brazil plays its the same (expecting to see them loose). In the place where i work, puterd a server so wa can see every match in our computers, and when our NT plays, the put a giant screen on the first floor so that anybody can go see it toghether. The other day when Brazil played with Japan, the whole building shouted when tje japs scored, but then the thing changed, we all know. At the end of the second half the secretary with who i share the office got really pissed for their victory and she ended saying turn off that sh*@$%&!! hahaha
A funny thing that happened in the match Argentina-Holland (so far the only one i had to watch at work). Everyubody was there, even the big boss was there, and a lot of women, in fact i think there where more women than men. Everytime a pleyer got into the penalty area, they started screaming even before the player kicked the ball, very annoying really, haha.
The thing is that absolutely everybody is aware of the WC and every match, and now the tension is growing more and more untill friday, then we will explode, or depress, time will speak.
Steza there are always pre-season friendlies :D
Literally down on his knees? like this? :v408: :D
I know quite a few Inter fans here (from Italy), and Paolo is of course much admired and loved, but I wouldn't expect them to do that.
Yes, literally! On his knees in front of me when he saw the jersey! Like :v408: and speaking in very reverent tones! He told me it didn't matter what team someone supported, everyone loved Paolino!
Debs, you will find this funny, I'm sure:
Italy just defeated Ukraine, and I was talking to a coworker of mine about the next round, where Italy will have to play against Germany... he asked me when, so I told him that the game will be played on July 4th.
He asked me: -But that's a Holiday, why don't they reschedule it????
(for the information of many, the 4th of July is when the USA celebrates its independence, so it's a public holiday -no school-no work-)
so, do you think they believe they're the center of the universe, or what?
NestaIsKing
30-06-2006, 20:23
Debs, you will find this funny, I'm sure:
Italy just defeated Ukraine, and I was talking to a coworker of mine about the next round, where Italy will have to play against Germany... he asked me when, so I told him that the game will be played on July 4th.
He asked me: -But that's a Holiday, why don't they reschedule it????
(for the information of many, the 4th of July is when the USA celebrates its independence, so it's a public holiday -no school-no work-)
so, do you think they believe they're the center of the universe, or what?
LOL! Its like Americans think they are the only country or something. Does your coworker not realize American holidays aren't necessarily holidays in the rest of the world? hahahaha
Haha, this is a funny thread :)
And, pa7uel, I'm soooo sorry Argentina lost today, seriously am.
Debs, you will find this funny, I'm sure:
Italy just defeated Ukraine, and I was talking to a coworker of mine about the next round, where Italy will have to play against Germany... he asked me when, so I told him that the game will be played on July 4th.
He asked me: -But that's a Holiday, why don't they reschedule it????
(for the information of many, the 4th of July is when the USA celebrates its independence, so it's a public holiday -no school-no work-)
so, do you think they believe they're the center of the universe, or what?
Yes, that is amusing, even to a Yank. It also goes to show that--at least as I've observed--people who have never been out of this country are terribly ethnocentric. :1whis: But then again, when I was in Europe on my school's trip in 96, one of the other teahcers who went along was having a rather rude moment about us getting to Mass on Easter. she felt it should be done for us, b/c after all, we were Americans. I just cringed--she's an educated woman who should have known better!
ozMilanista
18-07-2006, 20:32
yeah we got that Australia too big time during the World Cup. People who have never watched a game of football ( i hate the word soccer) suddenly were everywhere giving ther 'expert' opinion. I found it funny during their rants I would ask them a technical football question, then watch their faces go like a 'deer in the headlights' look. Very funny, im a bad boy....
:D :D :D :D :D
Hasan Rossonero
03-10-2006, 17:57
Yes, literally! On his knees in front of me when he saw the jersey! Like :v408: and speaking in very reverent tones! He told me it didn't matter what team someone supported, everyone loved Paolino!
I think your friend may have been exaggerating.
There are some fans in Italy who think Maldini is a shade arrogant.
But generally he is well respected, yes.
I think your friend may have been exaggerating.
There are some fans in Italy who think Maldini is a shade arrogant.
But generally he is well respected, yes.
No, he wasn't exaggerating, after every game we'd talk about Paolo and his playing and his past.
Paolo?? Arrogant? the only thing I can think of is that he's a shade quiet (dare we even say shy) and that could be read the wrong way.
Hasan Rossonero
04-10-2006, 15:58
No, he wasn't exaggerating, after every game we'd talk about Paolo and his playing and his past.
Paolo?? Arrogant? the only thing I can think of is that he's a shade quiet (dare we even say shy) and that could be read the wrong way.
no..hahah...I meant that he may be exaggerating about everyone in Italy liking Paolo. I don't doubt his enthusiasm for him.
To me Paolo is a living legend. My 2nd favourite player after Roby Baggio.:proud:
zZ[-_-]Zz
04-10-2006, 16:12
you are a wise person Hasan... =)
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