An Insult to Football
An Insult to Football
-Check out this conversation I had recently. Me and a few friends were passing by some shops when the television on the shop aired the some clips on the recent Euro 2004.
Person X: “ I’ve never liked football. It’s just a game where 22 stupid idiots chase one stupid ball.”
Person Y added : “ Yeah, yeah. It’s actually 20 stupid idiots chasing the ball and two more waiting at the other end for it.”
-Those two sentences struck me like a lightning. I was caught speechless and practically stoned. It was difficult for a person like me, an avid, hardcore football fan, student of the game and staunch devotee of the religion of football to listen to the devilish and abominate insults of a freak. As it turned out, they happened to be supporters of Formula One, and started gloating and boasting about the glories of engineering and racing. As they are my friends as well, I withheld all my might on trying to protect my “religion”, putting friendship above all. Unfortunately, on came another person, who also to dislike football, gleefully added “Yeah, football is just a ball.”
-That was when all hell was broke loose. I could no longer sit back and witness the sport which I have so passionately embraced be polluted and defiled by these people. Words were exchange, debates were discussed, some logical, some not so logical, yet it ended quite abruptly, without any of us saying goodbye.
-After calming myself and pondering for a moment, I realize that it is of no use that we argue among one another over this matter. And yet, I felt that I also need to protect and stand up for the name of Football. So, after saying all these, I will rest my case. Here goes.
-Saying that football is a stupid game where 20 people chase aimless for a ball is already damaging, but to even compare it with Formula One will be like adding petrol to a raging fire. A person making that statement very clearly doesn’t have flicker of an idea what actually football is. Since the beginning of age, mankind has tried to excel and achieve higher physically. Besides that, maintaining control and balance of the body, as well as exceeding limits in stamina has been something the human race are practicing till now. All this is found in the game called Football. Morever, in football there is strategy, discipline, teamwork, and other valuable attributes as well. And face it, it is fun. In football, the full human body works out. In Formula One, the full human arm works out, as the job of the driver is to only steer a wheel. Oh yeah, I forgot, the fingers as well, in switching gears.
-Judging from the statements above, if a person says that Formula One is a celebration of Engineering, I would gladly say that Football is a celebration of Humanity. If a person says that Football is a game where there are 20 idiots chasing a stupid ball, I would gladly say that Formula One is a sport where there are 20 over stupid idiots sitting in a car driving in circles, oh, circuits I mean.
-Let’s break it down even more. In a football game, you can witness a 90-minute entire game in the stadium, no regards to whatever sitting position you are in. You get to witness every movement of the passing of the ball, the scoring, etc. In a F1 circuit, you can witness blurr images of a car whizzing you by every few seconds. Then you would have to wait for the cars to make another around. Then it comes again. 2 seconds tops. Then the waiting. What’s there to witness? Oh yeah, you have the engine sounds. One may ask also, why bloat and gloat about the screaming of the engines, and buy an ear muffler at the same time to put it on?
-Next, the most important, the fans. Football fans all over the world heavily outnumber Formula One fans. Let’s take an easy and local example. When Manchester United made their down to our country, the authorities had no problem getting a full house to our stadiums. Many people were deprived of sittings because the stadium could not support anymore fans. Yet annually in Formula One the authorities face problems selling tickets to the fans. Tickets cost a bomb and the only way to be able to get a decent look on the cars is to burn a hole in your pocket. Paying less results in sitting on grass beneath the scorching sun.
-Football fans cheer passionately for their team during matches. For the full 90 minutes and beyond, loud drums are banged upon and patriotic songs are sung endlessly. Applauses could be heard if a tackle has been made, or the footballer made a masterpiece pass. During F1 grand pix, one could only hear fans shouting and cheering only when they finally have a view on their favorite team, which is of course after the race has finished. For the rest of the time it would be just craning their necks and basically concentrating on catching a glimpse of their favorite team when they go whizzing by.
- Let’s talk about safety. Yes, many people could blame that many deaths are caused by football riots. But that is beside the point. That is not in the football game, but rather the attitude and morality of the fans themselves. Putting that matter aside, it is clear and direct to say that football is a much safer sport than Formula One. You do not see a footballer tackling to death a fellow footballer, or even see a person died due to been hit by the ball. Formula One? One of the most dangerous sport in the world. Aryton Senna paid the ultimate price of it. Every year we have Formula One Marshalls casualties due to been hit by car pieces. We have drivers driving to their deaths. And we have some drivers having their legs cut off, or paralyzed for life due to accidents on the circuits.
- Resources. Formula One is wasting our earth’s natural resource. Instead of using it to transport more loads, it is used to see which transporter moves faster. A single car crash costs millions of dollars. People say why pay money for football jerseys or football advertising. This is simple calculation. The most expensive football jersey you can find around costs RM 300. Find the cheapest Formula One component and compare with it. A screw? Maybe.
- There are so many more arguments which could be dealt with. It could take a long, long time to talk it out. After stating some of my points, I shall now rest my case and no longer debate about how good Football or Formula One is. I was once also a Formula One fan. I too know all the rules and drivers and anything else that matters about Formula One. I do not mean to scorn or make fun of Formula One drivers out there. I apologize if I do. An apple cannot convince another pear that he is an apple. Everyone will have their own interest, that’s what makes this world full of different people. I have said what I needed to say to protect the name of Football. And it is now over.
Enough said.
-Check out this conversation I had recently. Me and a few friends were passing by some shops when the television on the shop aired the some clips on the recent Euro 2004.
Person X: “ I’ve never liked football. It’s just a game where 22 stupid idiots chase one stupid ball.”
Person Y added : “ Yeah, yeah. It’s actually 20 stupid idiots chasing the ball and two more waiting at the other end for it.”
-Those two sentences struck me like a lightning. I was caught speechless and practically stoned. It was difficult for a person like me, an avid, hardcore football fan, student of the game and staunch devotee of the religion of football to listen to the devilish and abominate insults of a freak. As it turned out, they happened to be supporters of Formula One, and started gloating and boasting about the glories of engineering and racing. As they are my friends as well, I withheld all my might on trying to protect my “religion”, putting friendship above all. Unfortunately, on came another person, who also to dislike football, gleefully added “Yeah, football is just a ball.”
-That was when all hell was broke loose. I could no longer sit back and witness the sport which I have so passionately embraced be polluted and defiled by these people. Words were exchange, debates were discussed, some logical, some not so logical, yet it ended quite abruptly, without any of us saying goodbye.
-After calming myself and pondering for a moment, I realize that it is of no use that we argue among one another over this matter. And yet, I felt that I also need to protect and stand up for the name of Football. So, after saying all these, I will rest my case. Here goes.
-Saying that football is a stupid game where 20 people chase aimless for a ball is already damaging, but to even compare it with Formula One will be like adding petrol to a raging fire. A person making that statement very clearly doesn’t have flicker of an idea what actually football is. Since the beginning of age, mankind has tried to excel and achieve higher physically. Besides that, maintaining control and balance of the body, as well as exceeding limits in stamina has been something the human race are practicing till now. All this is found in the game called Football. Morever, in football there is strategy, discipline, teamwork, and other valuable attributes as well. And face it, it is fun. In football, the full human body works out. In Formula One, the full human arm works out, as the job of the driver is to only steer a wheel. Oh yeah, I forgot, the fingers as well, in switching gears.
-Judging from the statements above, if a person says that Formula One is a celebration of Engineering, I would gladly say that Football is a celebration of Humanity. If a person says that Football is a game where there are 20 idiots chasing a stupid ball, I would gladly say that Formula One is a sport where there are 20 over stupid idiots sitting in a car driving in circles, oh, circuits I mean.
-Let’s break it down even more. In a football game, you can witness a 90-minute entire game in the stadium, no regards to whatever sitting position you are in. You get to witness every movement of the passing of the ball, the scoring, etc. In a F1 circuit, you can witness blurr images of a car whizzing you by every few seconds. Then you would have to wait for the cars to make another around. Then it comes again. 2 seconds tops. Then the waiting. What’s there to witness? Oh yeah, you have the engine sounds. One may ask also, why bloat and gloat about the screaming of the engines, and buy an ear muffler at the same time to put it on?
-Next, the most important, the fans. Football fans all over the world heavily outnumber Formula One fans. Let’s take an easy and local example. When Manchester United made their down to our country, the authorities had no problem getting a full house to our stadiums. Many people were deprived of sittings because the stadium could not support anymore fans. Yet annually in Formula One the authorities face problems selling tickets to the fans. Tickets cost a bomb and the only way to be able to get a decent look on the cars is to burn a hole in your pocket. Paying less results in sitting on grass beneath the scorching sun.
-Football fans cheer passionately for their team during matches. For the full 90 minutes and beyond, loud drums are banged upon and patriotic songs are sung endlessly. Applauses could be heard if a tackle has been made, or the footballer made a masterpiece pass. During F1 grand pix, one could only hear fans shouting and cheering only when they finally have a view on their favorite team, which is of course after the race has finished. For the rest of the time it would be just craning their necks and basically concentrating on catching a glimpse of their favorite team when they go whizzing by.
- Let’s talk about safety. Yes, many people could blame that many deaths are caused by football riots. But that is beside the point. That is not in the football game, but rather the attitude and morality of the fans themselves. Putting that matter aside, it is clear and direct to say that football is a much safer sport than Formula One. You do not see a footballer tackling to death a fellow footballer, or even see a person died due to been hit by the ball. Formula One? One of the most dangerous sport in the world. Aryton Senna paid the ultimate price of it. Every year we have Formula One Marshalls casualties due to been hit by car pieces. We have drivers driving to their deaths. And we have some drivers having their legs cut off, or paralyzed for life due to accidents on the circuits.
- Resources. Formula One is wasting our earth’s natural resource. Instead of using it to transport more loads, it is used to see which transporter moves faster. A single car crash costs millions of dollars. People say why pay money for football jerseys or football advertising. This is simple calculation. The most expensive football jersey you can find around costs RM 300. Find the cheapest Formula One component and compare with it. A screw? Maybe.
- There are so many more arguments which could be dealt with. It could take a long, long time to talk it out. After stating some of my points, I shall now rest my case and no longer debate about how good Football or Formula One is. I was once also a Formula One fan. I too know all the rules and drivers and anything else that matters about Formula One. I do not mean to scorn or make fun of Formula One drivers out there. I apologize if I do. An apple cannot convince another pear that he is an apple. Everyone will have their own interest, that’s what makes this world full of different people. I have said what I needed to say to protect the name of Football. And it is now over.
Enough said.
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