Most enjoy watching some sport. This week represents major milestones for fans of three different sports. The Stanley Cup Finals concluded greatly on Wednesday. The NBA Finals are tied at 2 games apiece in a best of 7 series. The biggest event it the opening of the World Cup in South Africa yesterday.
While the NHL and NBA have international players, it’s primarily a North American thing. There’s no question that the World Cup is anything but a global phenomenon.
I completely understand why soccer is the most popular international sport. It’s a game that you can practically play anywhere with only one piece of equipment needed. Most other sports are much more complicated in terms of the equipment and rules.
But I’ve never gotten past the healthy respect stage. I’m not a fanatic like many others seem to become about the sport. I’m not sure why or how. I used to play as a kid, and I’ve played in a few indoor leagues recently.
I wonder if it’s my exposure to too many sports in my younger days. There was soccer, baseball, golf, skiing, basketball, tennis, racquetball, football, volleyball and probably a few more here and there. Only one of those sports was favored over the others, so there was no real specialty as it were. Oddly enough, I never played hockey, but I probably enjoy watching it more than almost any other sport.
Who knows? I know that I’ll enjoy the World Cup. I just know that I will not be getting as much enjoyment as most of the world or my soccer friends. I hope they aren’t going to be disappointed. Now I’m off to watch the US vs. England.