Some may say Euro 2008: Germany advances to semis with 3-2 win against Portugal ...
European Championships first day wrap ...
Ferguson wins managerial honour ...
Germany puts Slovakia on ice ... 2008 has been a good year for sport and all in all Iâd have to agree all except for one thing, one small niggling detail, one small unfortunate item: every team, every professional sportsman or woman Iâve set hopes for has done either outright badly this year, or worse, done well but stumbled on the final hurdle.
Example.
Hockey: the Czechs at the World Championship go out early - not altogether unexpected as they are no longer the powerhouse they used to be. When the Czechs go out, it isnât difficult to root for my homeland Canada. Fast forward to the final: the Canadians are up by two goals over the Russians; theyâve been playing well. But all too suddenly, when they should be dominating, the wheels come off. Guess who ties it? In overtime, guess who wins?
Football in May: Czech goalie Petr Äech and Londonâs Chelsea. Who wouldnât want a goalkeeper with so much talent and promise to win the prestigious Champions League? Itâs the final â an incredible culmination of emotion after so many matches â and the game comes (urgh!) down to penalties. Chelsea goes ahead of Manchester and is a goal away from victory. Wanna know who wins?
Last week more football: Euro 2008. After coming under criticism for winning a poor game against Switzerland, the Czechs play far better against Portugal â but lose. Then they play Turkey in their final group match. Five minutes from the end, theyâre still winning. Three minutes from time, the game is tied. The seconds tick down: guess who score the final goal to win? Thatâs too painful for any fan to watch. For me this is the straw that breaks the camelâs back. Soccer, hockey, it doesnât matter, if I picked you to win this year, you didnât. Forget it Nicole VaidiÅ¡ová, no French Open for you! Iâm not even going to watch the Olympics, so that renowned Czech decathlete Roman Å ebrle has a chance.
Sending emails to a close friend of mine of Czech descent halfway around the world, who also watched many of these same moments and whose hopes were also crushed, we agree, this has simply got to stop. But what to do? He thinks we should give up; he uncovers a sudden fascinating and profound interest in gardening at the ripe old age of 28. Me? I donât know if Iâm fully ready to give up on watching professional sports just yet.
But I admit my future âas a fanâ is hanging on a knifeâs edge. Perhaps I can find a sports team to root for that nobody in their right mind would support? No expectations, no disappointment? Even better, maybe find a sport with a very low profile in this country to back: say bowling or fencing. If we win, nobody else notices and I cheer quietly at the office. If we lose, no problem. The marbles championship title slipped away by millimeters? Sorry to hear it. But if you donât mention it, I wonât: itâll be our little secret.
(radio-Prague)
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