More soccer today

Some people have really forgotten what sports are all about. Especially soccer. Soccer has a stereotype of being a sport suitable for the typical 8 year old girl. Not to mention the hooligans that follow the team and wreak havoc among other fans. That's Hollywood for you... thanks, Green Street Hooligans (it really did help me to like the Hammers and hate M*llwall, though). 

Well, I was reminded of the importance of just getting together and playing a nice pick up game on an open field (pitch, for those across the pond). I walked up to Stankowski Field here at ol' Mizzou looking to play a game. I chose my Ireland national jersey for the occasion and came across all three of the fields taken. I set my bag near the fence behind a goal and just watched the games going on with hope that I would soon be able to get a chance to kick the ball at the net for a while. To my right, I saw about six people speaking spanish and kicking a ball in a circle while looking at the same field I was looking at. A game was about to happen. To my left, four Russians walked up with a ball. Alright, a soccer match with some international flavor here. This was more exciting than the time I played the stunt double for Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 (cue Family Guy clip). Not to be outdone, a man by the name of Ohse walked up and started a nice conversation about school and his home country Ghana. 

It was at this time that field one opened up. I turned to the six guys kicking the ball around and said "¿Quieres jugar?" They said yes and a nice 7 on 7 game was about to be underway.

There wasn't a good amount of skill on the field, but it was still a game. I mean, what else is going to bring together 6 men from Mexico, 4 men from Russia, and 2 men from Ghana and America? Sports is the easiest answer. Soccer brings people together. For those that don't know or haven't heard, in 2006 for the World Cup in Germany, the Ivory Coast stopped their civil war and came together as one nation to cheer for their first ever team to qualify for the world's biggest tournament. They STOPPED their CIVIL WAR. That's what sports can do. It was on full display yesterday during that game and I was happy to be a part of it.

I should probably get back to this history lecture now, so I'll just leave you with a random question today: If you're in a rush to get to work in the morning and need a quick breakfast, where do you stop to eat?