Soccer

I came to soccer late. I really didn't start paying attention until a few years ago when the U.S. women's team began doing so well. Since then, however, I've become a fan, and moreover I understand why most of the world prefers this brand of "football" to our own.

For example, I just watched an incredible match in the Euro cup, Turkey v. Croatia. Scoreless through regulation, which is 90 minutes. An American football game is 60 (which takes 3x as long to play because there is so much down time -- soccer is almost all playing time). A scoreless Amer football game most often is boring but this soccer match was very exciting and non-stop. First overtime, still scoreless after 105 mins. Into 2nd overtime, scoreless after 119 mins. when Croatia scores. Should be over -- but Turkey also scores in final minute! Tied 1-1, on to penalty kicks -- and Turkey wins and moves on to the semi-finals. What a game!

A soccer athlete must be in much better physical condition than an American football player. In the latter, there's more down than up time -- time to catch your breath. Not in soccer, it's up and down the field, endlessly. I don't know how they hold up.