Last Monday I embarked on a weeklong trip that would take me to France and the U.K. to follow George Gillett, the owner of the Montreal Canadiens and the Liverpool FC.
I must admit I'm not the biggest fan of European football nor of North America's watered down version. I always thought the players were fakers and the game was boring. But I can assure you I was wrong and have since developed a new appreciation for the sport.
I attended two games. A Champions League tilt in Marseille and an English Premiership derby in Liverpool.
Gillett had told me to prepare to be amazed and he was absolutely right. The Liverpool supporters are the most passionate, most intense I've ever seen. My cameraman Hugo and I were standing in the famous Kop just before kickoff while the diehard fans sang the club's theme song "You'll never walk alone." It was magic. I had goose bumps all over.
The atmosphere was electric on Grand Slam Sunday. Archrivals Manchester United with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Owen Hargreaves in a hostile environment going up against Steven Gerrard and his Liverpool FC. It was the game of the year. A star-studded affair.
The game was intense and to my suprise very physical. The 44,000 fans were boisterous and stuck behind their team through thick and thin. The entire experience was out of this world.
On top of following Gillett around, Hugo and I drove around town and got to see some of the famous Liverpool landmarks. The Liverbuilding, the skyline, the famous port and most importantly Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane and the Cavern Club where the Beatles used to play.
We felt like royalty traveling on a private jet from city to city. We had a personal chauffeur driving us around. We got to briefly visit Marseille, London and Liverpool and saw The Edge from U2 and the Queen of Spain.
But nothing will compare to the adrenaline rush I got from watching those two matches. I never thought I'd say this but I'm converted. I will no longer knock European football.
Yeah, but was it the game or was it the atmosphere? I have all sorts of respect for the rabidness and fanatacism of English soccer fans, but would it lose some of its lustre if you took away the 44000 screaming and chanting fans? If you put baseketball in that environment, would you go back just to be in the environment? I'm just thinking that the culture of the game over there may be carrying it. Only if you take it away from that culture can you judge it on pure athletic and sporting merit.
How old are you?? Glad you found the light.
North Americans think they so great, that they know everything.
Of course it's the greatest sport ever!!! Why else the rest of the world would adore this sports???
I liked Hockey right away, Basket Ball and Football (American)is alright (CFL sucks), I have learned to love Baseball. Baseball is really great, Best American Sports!!
But nothing will ever beat Soccer. Not a question of taste, just a question of admitting that it is and will always be the most watched sport in the world (by FAR) and that's for a reason.
If North Americans can't accept that is only because of ignorance and pride!!!!!
I'd love to be in that atmosphere, I still don't think I'd have much interest in the game.
Now, sebas, calling North Americans ignorant because they don't enjoy soccer, well, is ignorant. It's not a traditional North American sport, and obviously the North American sports are loved here.
There's a reason that the sport is so big world wide - it does not take a lot of money to play the game. All you need is a ball and you can play anywhere. That's why the sport is so big world wide.
Nothing against the athletes, because you have to be in great physical shape to play, but if other sports were more affordable, you might see their popularity soar in other nations.
DjBabiuk, talk about ignorant.
The only reason soccer is the most popular around the world is because it is affordable?
All you need is a ball and a field to play on you say?
The big American sport is football. The cost to play a pick up game: a ball and a field. Or, is it baseball: the all prohibitive cost of a lesser expensive ball, and the bat. By your argument maybe it's the baseball glove that's keeping baseball from being a dominant sport across the world? And basketball, played all across inner cities in the US, for FREE. Hmmmmmmmm. So much for your theory.
But, let's look at the least expensive sport possible: Running/jogging/walking. Oh yes, people all over the world are flocking to see the famous world jogging athletes: Who are they again?? Sure many people jog, but are people flocking to see professional jogging events, is there even such a thing?
And talking about cost? If you haven't paid any attention to this blog, it's about soccer fans in England. You are aware that England is a well off country, are you not? You are aware that soccer is the most popular sport in both third world nations AND rich nations.
And also, go to a Buffalo Bills game, or a Leafs game, and take away the fans, and see how exciting it is. I personally like NHL hockey, and a good Raps game, but I think I'd have to give a slight edge to soccer/football over any other sport.
Also, what is with the inferiority complex amongst non soccer/football fans?
Sure, your sports arn't as popular around the world. But get over it. You don't see soccer fans going on MLB, NBA or NFL blogs to complain about the reasons they don't follow the sport.
I'm not sure what the complex is, but it makes me chuckle.
This is the sad part of foreigners buying up the EPL clubs. The passion you experienced in Europe will drain away as the leagues become "North Americanized" - here's just a few examples of the changes that will be coming down the pike:
- The franchise, closed league system works best for the owners, as it guarantees profits while ensuring there is no penalty for mismanagement on the field, i.e. no relegation;
- The rules of the games over here have been changed so as to maximize revenue generating stoppages in the play. The NBA this year formalized a certain number of times out during the last few minutes of each game, so that advertisers would then pay more for their spots to be aired;
- The franchise system permits owners to hold towns to ransom, so that if shiny new stadia aren't bought for them, they move - the supporters are then left with nothing;
I find it to be the greatest irony for dimwits like Gillett to rave about the passion in England/Europe, when they are the very ones responsible for draining any passion from the North Amercian sports scene. Try watching an NBA game when the arena doesn't use any noise making ploys - I guarantee a sound sleep. Watch the next game on TV from Chicago or Jersey this year - a cetain snoozefest unless the public address system doesn't constantly exhort the fans to make noice. Shameful.