English Football. A thing of beauty.
I grew up with my older brother, Craig, playing soccer. Craig is 10 years older than me, and much of my elementary school days were filled with admiration for him. Craig was a great soccer player, and it was his example which got me into the game.
I would go into our backyard with him and marvel as he kicked the ball higher into the air than I could fathom. He seemed like a giant then. He seemed like a god. This man amazed me, and I wanted to be like him.
Craig developed my love of soccer. Together, with my dad, we would watch any and all games that graced American broadcasting.
Enough with history. How about today? Well, I have only got more and more enamored with the game. Picking a team to follow in high school served to only enhance my love for soccer. I am a Chelsea FC fan.
Chelsea has a long history in the English Premier League. In recent years, Chelsea has had their fair share of success, and my love for the sport has grown with every season.
Why you should consider English Football:
1. It is getting more accessible: I can find nearly every game online, and many matches are broadcasted on regular cable networks. For a monthly fee as low as $5 in some locals, a homeowner can watch a new endless supply of soccer on their TV.
2. The game is fun! Seriously: I know it may not seem American to like a sport where score lines can be as low as 0-0 after 90 minutes of play, but soccer's excitement is in every element of the game, not just the scoring. Now, imagine if there is excitement in every pass, dribble, and run. How much more is the excitement of a game winning goal? A goal that comes in the last five minutes of a game! That is excitement.
3. National pride: Soccer is a sport of epic proportions. No other sport hosts such a tournament as the World Cup. Just coming from the Winter Olympics, I have seen firsthand the level of national pride that comes with watching our athletes compete. Americans banned around teams and athletes that most had never given a thought to before, and they loved it. The World Cup, and all other international games, provide an opportunity for entertainment that is largely going to waste.
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