World Cup 2014: Ramblings Of My Football Fanatic Friend #PersonalStory

"Football comes with a craziness inside of you," my friend told me when I suddenly bumped him at the mall. We dined inside the restaurant and still, he's uneasy that he wanted to tell me. Again, he looked at me and opened his pouting,kissable lips.

"It’s as simple as that. Nothing is as life-affirming as saying “because I want to.” But that makes this a very short article for you, you know. And I’d be cheating you of some valuable insights, isn't it?"

I nodded while sipping my beer thinking something different of my friend.

"So let’s start at the beginning. Football started in the Rudyard Kipling movie “The Man Who Would Be King,” starring Sean Connery. The bored but resourceful natives decided to get rid of the ruler by playing football in the King’s courtyard…using the King’s head as a football.

How I don’t know, but it became an event that involved the best 32 teams in the world, each team consisting of 11 grown men wearing satin shorts.

That’s my version at least, but the satin shorts are certainly one main attraction. Then there are the jerseys (we shopped, argued, bargained, and bought a set of yellow jerseys that retains heat like aluminum foil, but damn it, we look good!), the boots, the shin pads, the deep-heat cream and sunblock.

The football ritual I cherish is packing for the game. I prepare two days before, just in case the microwavable jersey isn’t washed properly or a sock is missing, I still have time to buy a new set.

And since I can’t predict the weather (it rains every time we play), I have to pack two pairs of boots – the six studs for wet ground, the 13 studs for a hard surface.

Then for 48 hours I watch football on TV. Watching football is one reason why I play football. Next to playing a great football game, the best thing in life is watching a fantastic match.

Another reason why I play football is because I hope, for one shining moment, to become Maradonna, Cartona or other great footballers. In reality, the gulf between them and me is like...it’s not even funny…it’s like a squirrel trying to play chess with Gary Kasparov.

Liverpool’s great manager Bill Shankley said it best. His famous mantra – “Football isn’t a matter of life and death, it’s more important than that” – is something only footballers understand.

I love to play because I’m hanging out with my friends, but we’re hanging out with a purpose. Instead of getting wasted, we’re there every Sunday to lay waste to any dumb schmuck who dares to challenge us.

Yes it does get personal, yes it does get ugly and violent sometimes, and on the field is where you discover the true worth of your friend, and your worth as a man. Are they going to back you up? Are you going to back down? They can talk the talk, will they fight the fight?

You can bring the girlfriends and wives to the bars, and our womenfolk also watch the games. On the field, however, it’s just us guys. Free from chores, talks, routines, laundry and cotton buds. Free to scratch your crotch, to spit, to cuss and to create.

Football’s visceral attraction for me is that it is all-consuming. There’s nothing like it, not movies, not sex, not parties. For 90 minutes when I’m on the pitch, nothing else matters.

I play because it makes me young. Because it makes me love my friends more. Because I want to.

Men often fantasize about all political and military disputes being settled by a football match. It’s not a bad idea, but then we’d all be ruled by Brazilians, wouldn’t we?

Free to samba everyday? That’s not a bad way to live...isn't if friend?"

I nodded again, thinking something crazy, and said to him, "Come, we need to energize."

He stood up at once and said, "Where to....World Cup 2014?"

I answered, "I'm a loyal fan of USA Football Team."


United States 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Roster


Player Position Club
Tim Howard GoalKeeper Everton
Brad Guzan GoalKeeper Aston Villa
Nick Rimando GoalKeeper Real Salt Lake
DaMarcus Beasley Defender Mexico Puebla
Geoff Cameron Defender Stoke City
Fabian Johnson Defender 1899 Hoffenheim
Omar Gonzalez Defender Los Angeles Galaxy
Matt Besler Defender Sporting Kansas City
Timothy Chandler Defender 1. FC Nürnberg
John Brooks Defender Hertha BSC
DeAndre Yedlin Defender Seattle Sounders FC
Michael Bradley Midfielder Toronto FC
Jermaine Jones Midfielder Beşiktaş
Kyle Beckerman Midfielder Real Salt Lake
Alejandro Bedoya Midfielder Nantes
Graham Zusi Midfielder Sporting Kansas City
Mikkel Diskerud Midfielder Rosenborg
Brad Davis Midfielder Houston Dynamo
Julian Green Midfielder Bayern Munich
Clint Dempsey (c)Forward Seattle Sounders FC
Jozy Altidore Forward Sunderland
Chris Wondolowski Forward San Jose Earthquakes
Aron Jóhannsson Forward AZ