It's been about a month since the last edition of my You Know You're A Parent When... series, so enjoy - especially if you are a soccer (it's "football," people ;) fan!
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My wife came home from work Thursday and said, "Isn't soccer a funny old game?"
As a naturalized U.S. citizen (ecstatic the U.S. made the last 16 of the World Cup again) who was born in Ireland (didn't qualify - again #sigh) from a Dutch father (also in the last 16), I had to smile - again :)
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| Bradley, Dempsey and Howard of TeamUSA (Courtesy: ESPN) |
"Especially now, because it's the World Cup," I said after watching yet four-hour-day of soccer (okay, I don't actually sit down and watch four hours of soccer, but Disney Channel and Nick jr are personas not grata in Casa Koopmans until mid-July.
What's funny is that two weeks ago I could barely name one player on the U.S. side - and still don't know anyone on the Dutch side, but I am rooting both teams on like nobody's business.
I mention this only because (most of) my writing has fallen to the wayside and my current, and much-used hashtag on Twitter is #amNOTwriting :)
See, I remember my Dad and I watching the 1974 World Cup Final between Holland and then-West Germany and now here I am, 40 years later, watching with my three boys. How awesome is that?
That was such a sweet memory and I do hope my sons will watch the 2054 World Cup with their kids (God willing.)
I say it was a sweet memory because the other day I may have traumatized my poor children after I got caught up in the action... and forgot I wasn't 21, single and drinking in a bar alongside hundreds of other lunatic soccer fans screaming at the small-screen TV (as if the referee could hear us:)
When the U.S. scored a second goal against Portugal, I jumped out of my chair and let out a huge roar of "GO ON, MY SON, GO ON!!!"
Truly, I must have sounded like a sick and injured banshee (who discovers yet another parking ticket on her windscreen.)
Our three boys - who were all quite happy, either watching the game or playing with cars - looked up at me with big bug eyes as if I was reprising a role in The Exorcist.
"Don't worry, children, it's just Papa watching soccer," cooed my wife. "He'll be better next month."
I do hope they're not scarred for life - I'll report back after this year's final - and in World Cup '18 to let you know :)
So is the drama of the World Cup - and long may the chanting/screaming at little TVs last :)
"Hup Holland!!!"
USA! USA! USA!
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| Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard and the *coolest* ball boy :) Courtesy: A Livesey/Getty Images |
13 comments:
Mexico is in too and Mother Dragon also scared the hell out of the dwarves, hahaha. It seems we will be opponents in the very near future. Mexico vs. Holland. May the best win.
My husband used to make our kids cry when he shouted during football. I, too, have been trying to watch as many games as possible, but they start at 5pm here - and so does my job, so it's not so easy.
I'm not even going to mention England :-(
As long as your head doesn't spin around, your kids are safe.
I've had to learn the game as it was not something that I ever played--but with the kids involved in it, I knew I needed to understand it.
I've gotten to see several matches as well and have enjoyed watching even the teams I don't care if they win or not.
Enjoy your weekend Mark.
Though my boys played soccer when they were little, they all played American football when they grew up. Still, we've all been into the World Cup, rooting on the USA and booing the Russians. You'd fit right in here. Lots of shouting and yelling going on.
They will be cheering alongside you in no time. My guys were barely in double year digits when they became rabid football (the kind with helmets) fans.
Hey Mazza dude,
Thought I'd better go searching for you. And here you are talking about soccer aka football, football.
I know of a few of the American players, especially Dempsey who sometimes played for Fulham.
Never mind Holland or the USA! Watch Belgium surprise the heck out of y'all.
If I hear another chant of *USA!* *USA!*, I'm going to scream and start saying CANADA! Yes, the only team in the 1986 World Cup that was made up entirely of amateurs.
Now then, dude, get back to watching the other football, the better North American version, yes ,The Canadian Football League!
Aloha and whoa!
Sir Gazza of Leek :)
Hi Mark - I'm not even going to mention that game - completely taken over ... for what?! Waste of space - but I'm glad some teams are doing well - great about the USA and the Dutch .. it will be interesting to see now what happens ..
Cheers and don't frighten the kids any more! Hilary
I enjoy soccer too, but haven't got into the world cup; one of my daughters was a strong soccer player in high school. She was completely taken by the game the USA won on a header in the last couple of minutes, then managed to hold off the onslaught of the other team trying to score. Pretty exciting I guess.
My son who turns 9mos on the 5th kicks wildly. He reminds me of soccer at a very early age.
It has definitely been fun to watch this year's craziness around the games.
lol! Hubby and I were really looking forward to the WC, then after watching our favorite teams go down in flames, we've decided that we're very bad luck as fans.
I'm not a soccer fan, but I can understand that people get really wrapped up in everything that happens. So disappointing that USA lost this time.
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