Thursday, May 6, 2010

Futbolmanía

Around this time of year back home, basketball fans are at full speed in a whirlpool of sweat, beer, adrenaline, shouting, and big screen TVs, as the NBA continues deeper into the playoffs. When the leaves fade to red and fall in the wind the same scene will cascade into the baseball world, and "American" football shortly after that. But here, all year round, even as those same leaves are disintegrating under the icy layers of snow, it's all about soccer. Fútbol, that is.

Although unfortunately the sport is not on the top of the list for U.S. viewers, soccer is the most popular sport in the world. It combines all the values of raw athleticism, tight competition, the importance of teamwork, individual drive and determination, and a broad understanding of the game. But most of all, with its quick pace and relatively simple rules, it has become a sport that all of the world can watch and adore. As our first day with free time after class, we did our homework early, and even did a little shopping, so that tonight we could watch the pivotal match between Real Madrid and Real Mallorca.

Tonight, you could see through every window blurs of green that flashed a soccer field on the television screen of every home. For months, Real Madrid and its bitter rival, Barcelona have been battling back and forth, like two brothers over the last chocolate chip cookie in the jar, just to have a taste of the title of la Primera División de La Liga española. Before tonight's game, Barcelona was slowly inching away from Real Madrid, closer and closer to the Spanish League title.

As I prepared to leave my own home, tucking in my scarf so I could zip my jacket, I told my family, as a fan of Madrid, how excited I would be to see them win. Not two seconds had passed when I looked up and saw three gaping holes for mouths and six wide eyes staring at me. Let's just say the de Frutos Álvarez family are devote Barcelona fans, and with a Yankees to Red Sox quality, they hate Real Madrid. Jesús quickly told me that Madrid fans were not allowed to sleep in his house. But it was a joke, I hope.

We planned to meet at the bar El Gato, but as I was walking I could hear crowds of voices. Masses of bodies were strewn like bunches of grapes in the streets surrounding the bars to watch the game. In El Gato however, we had room to sit. The bar was blasting with the bellowing voice of the announcer as all eyes fixated on the screen. In the back of the room was a futbolín, a foosball table, one team dressed in the white of Real Madrid, the other adorned with the red and blue of Barcelona. As our eyes danced before the field, star player Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid produced a brilliant second half display, sticking his first hat-trick for the team. After defeating Real Mallorca 4-1, they trimmed the gap on Barcelona with only two games remaining in the Primera División. This victory, only increases the restlessness of fanáticos, and builds the base for the chaos to come.

Soccer has brightened the life of Segovia, bringing heat, passion, competitiveness, and even a certain aggressiveness to the old city. As time builds the word fútbol dances faster, promenading from one tongue to the next. I can only hope that tomorrow morning, I am not put on the street.

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