One of my favorite blogs, Free Beer Movement has been holding a contest dubbed, "How I Got Here". This contest basically asks for readers to explain how they came to love the beautiful game of soccer. I thought I'd share my recent entry into this contest to help explain how excited I am for World Cup 2010.
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I’m a relatively recent convert to the beautiful game.
In the summer of 2006 (just prior to my second deployment to the Middle East), I went under the LASIK knife to fix my flawed vision. I was told to stay at home in my dark apartment for the next four days after the surgery. Fortunately, the World Cup was happening at the time. At first though, I was only able to listen to the announcers describe the sights of epic 1-1 draw between my beloved Yanks and the Azzurri. I was instantly hooked.
Despite the fact that my unit and I deployed during the knockout stages, I made it a priority to find an Internet café to keep myself abreast of World Cup results that year.
Over the subsequent 3 years, I started to “branch out” and develop my appreciation for the EPL and Bundasliga. I would also catch MLS matches whenever they were on ESPN. However, my fandom reached new heights last spring.
My girlfriend grew up in Seattle. When we started dating a couple years back, she would frequently tell tales of going to Qwest Field or the Kingdome to watch the USL Sounders. These stories got me more than a little jacked for the new Seattle MLS franchise.
Then March 19th, 2009 vaulted my love for the game to a borderline obsession. I watched the Seattle Sounders 3-0 victory over New York on that day in the comfort of my home. This has become a rare occurrence since then…mostly because I have tried to attend each and every home game since then.
Singing and chanting with my friends of the Emerald City Supporters in section 119 at Qwest Field has become (by far) my favorite pastime. I spend way more time at my place of work reading various blogs (Match Fit USA & The Shin Guardian are my favorites) than I ever should be allowed to in an attempt to quench my thirst for soccer news and/or knowledge.
So here I am. 6+ days from World Cup 2010. Next Saturday, my beautiful girlfriend and I will be celebrating her birthday…at Doyle’s Public House in our hometown of Tacoma, WA…watching the Yanks beat the Three Lions. I love life.
Sincerely,
Bobby
