Till now I always thought that soccer was about 11 people vs 11 others. But I am a little happy to tell you that I am wrong.
I am with the sports desk at CNN-IBN. And the people around me have helped me change my opinion. Soccer, or football as we prefer to call it, is more than just a game.. How often have we heard that phrase?! But I honestly have begun to experience this! There are thousands of people out there who are watching every minute of every game of the World Cup that has just begun in Germany.. Either at home on their TV sets.. or in sports bars and pubs.. Many are actually there in Berlin to watch the matches up close (1000 Km away from the field). No, but seriously.. this is one game where there are unbelievable amounts of passion involved..
Wayne Rooney probably had more than half the world praying for his recovery.. People cried when news came than Cisse was out of the World Cup due to an injury.. Thousands were anxious when Ronaldo missed a training session..
Now, a lot of things about the game struck me.. One, music...
There is so much of music involved in this sport! Starting with the Brazilians.. (isn't that obvious)... Have you heard their new Portuguese number? If you haven't, I strongly insist you do! What about India?? We are not even part of the World Cup.. But does that stop us from being part of it?! No! Indians everywhere are so driven and have been so taken in by this game, that cricket, has been forgotten.. And it will remain this way till 9th of July atleast.
What about advertisements?? Go watch the new Adidas football ad... It infuses an adrenalin rush like none other.. Wannna watch the Brazilians in action off the field? Watch them in the new ad where all the players keep kicking the ball around, in their dressing room, while they are changing out of their team outfits after a game...
I was one of the first people to hear the World Cup song.. And it made me very nostalgic... giving me goosebumps...
I have been pouring over football sites, reading up books just to feel like am a part of this giant wave that washing over half the world.
yes.. I could not act nonchalant and ignore all of that.. I had to say.. Football Football!
