While it would be most excellent to see the Iraqi soccer - OK, OK: the Iraqi football team* - win the bronze, I don't know if they can beat Italy tomorrow; I'm given to understand that football is practically a religion in the latter country. 'Course, that seems to be true of just about every other nation on the planet besides the USA, so there you go. Appropriate invocations of luck all around; as for those who follow the sport, I hope tomorrow's game is a good one. And congrats to Paraguay for assuring their first ever Olympic medal, too.
Moe
*I suppose that I'm going to eventually have to get used to referring to it as 'football' and football as 'American-style football', or something along those lines. Grumble, grumble, groan.
Over here we call your sport 'American Football'.
And yes, bonne chance to the Iraqis. Good for them to know their health does not depend on the outcome of the games. Good too for the nation to cheer for the nation, as a nation. I hope this is getting coverage in Iraq.
Posted by: James Casey | August 27, 2004 at 03:58 AM
Never give in Moe. Within these borders, football is played by giants in pads with a funny-shaped ball by rules comprehensible only to those who have gone through many years of careful observation and instruction.
As far as giving in overseas, that's up to the individual. I refused to give in while in Uzbekistan. I made it really simple for my students. They assured me they wanted to talk like Americans, so I told them the first place to start was to learn the difference between soccer and football.
Posted by: Nathan Hamm | August 27, 2004 at 08:33 AM
Naah. You don't. When the Brits come to the US for exhibitions, like Manchester United, they try to remember to call it 'soccer.'
And where does that name 'soccer' come from? From 'Association Football,' to distinguish it from American-style football at universities back in the early parts of the century. The second syllable of 'Association' is the derivative, strangely enough. So the two words have been at battle from our kind of football's very start.
Now, if there was ever a time to get into soccer, this is it. England has never had a more powerful league, with Chelsea (London) becoming the Yankees and more, backed by a Russian tycoon's billions. Arsenal went undefeated last season and are arguably the most graceful side in history. Manchester United has the world's most exciting player, Cristiano Ronaldo. Ignore the other leagues with their play-acting and languid pace--especially the MLS, and see an English match. That's how you get hooked.
Posted by: djangone | August 27, 2004 at 11:11 AM
Ronaldo has a first name?
Posted by: praktike | August 27, 2004 at 11:15 AM
*I suppose that I'm going to eventually have to get used to referring to it as 'football' and football as 'American-style football', or something along those lines. Grumble, grumble, groan.
Never!
It's "soccer" and plain old "football" (meaning quarterbacks, pigskins, and tailgate parties). The rest of the world uses the metric system as well, but I'll be buried in a casket measured in feet and inches.*
Somethings don't need to change. I'll tell you which ones do... ;-)
*actually, I want to be cremated...it's just not as likely my urn will be measured in feet.
Posted by: Edward | August 27, 2004 at 11:19 AM
Ronaldo (the Brazilian forward who plays for Real Madrid) is a different person from Cristiano Ronaldo (the Portuguese midfielder who plays for Man U), who is in turn different from Ronaldinho (the Brazilian midfielder who plays for Barcelona).
Posted by: Mark | August 27, 2004 at 12:07 PM
The rest of the world uses the metric system as well, but I'll be buried in a casket measured in feet and inches.
I think I'm one of the few Americans who actually prefer the metric system. You just can't imagine how frustrating it is to deal with pounds of mass and slug-ft/sec^2 of force. And when you start dealing in moments of inertia, with the proliferation of different units conventions on the English side...it can lead to early baldness.
And then there's nautical miles, which the armed services somehow have gotten married to. Makes more sense than the statute mile, but they're quite different.
actually, I want to be cremated
Me, too. Just not yet.
Posted by: Slartibartfast | August 27, 2004 at 12:14 PM
Me, too. Just not yet.
hear! hear!
I want to live to see Chelsea Clinton President of the US, at least.
Posted by: Edward | August 27, 2004 at 12:17 PM
I want to live to see Chelsea Clinton President of the US, at least.
Me, too. I've always wanted to live until hell froze over.
Posted by: Slartibartfast | August 27, 2004 at 12:17 PM
I've always wanted to live until hell froze over.
Let's see, just for fun, with no disrespect intended: Chelsea Clinton or Jenna Bush? Who would you rather be president?
Posted by: Edward | August 27, 2004 at 12:29 PM
Let's see, just for fun, with no disrespect intended: Chelsea Clinton or Jenna Bush?
Aw, crap. Why couldn't you have tossed out Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson? The choice would have been much clearer, and could result in even more argument.
Posted by: Slartibartfast | August 27, 2004 at 12:33 PM
Moe,
I always call it gridiron football to distinguish it.
Football may be like a religion in Italy, but Italian football has been stultifyingly dull over the past few years. The best leagues IMHO right now are in Spain and England.
Posted by: Randy Paul | August 27, 2004 at 05:47 PM
Let's see, just for fun, with no disrespect intended: Chelsea Clinton or Jenna Bush? Who would you rather be president?
You know, scanning that just now I read it as "Chelsea Clinton or Jenna Jameson". Which would also make for an interesting choice...
Posted by: Josh | August 27, 2004 at 06:31 PM