The New Sports Fan

I am sad that World Cup 2006 is over. The last time I was a sports fan was in the late 90s. I couldn't even tell you who was playing at the time, but I was a basketball and hockey fan. In the 80s, you couldn't separate me from a Mets game. I had lost that part of me as I got more passionate in my studies of psychology while at the same time getting more involved in my social life. Girls, girls, girls!

The only remnant of those sport fan days is my competitive nature. I am the King of Uno. I get very emotional playing poker. Board games, I'm a maniac. You should check out my intense game face when I play Taboo. I get especially competitive with my girlfriend. We have a long standing Uno rivalry. We have friction around table tennis, but only because I always kick her ass. Recently, we've gotten in each other's faces with Darts.

Watching the World Cup has reinvigorated my sports fever. My first soccer–I mean football–match was the U.S. vs. Czech Republic of this World Cup. I got hooked. There were 4 matches that I woke to watch at a bar while having breakfast. Waking up at 6am for a 7am kickoff? That's crazy! What got me addicted (other than my competitive nature) was the team spirit and fan loyalties. The unity of pride and competition were contagious. I am now a football fan.

After the World Cup final, the server at the bar that we've gotten to know well, gave us tickets to the Oakland A's game that was in progress. My girlfriend and I rushed to the Coliseum to watch the last 4 innings of the A's vs. Angels game. Although they lost 4-2 it was fun being out at the ball park. It has strengthened my resurrected sports fanaticism. Anyone want to come watch the A's play Boston?

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As an interesting side note...Although I loved watching every minute of the World Cup, every single team that I rooted for, lost. Every one of them. You know who to turn to when you need to place your bets.