RUGBY, FOOT, GRIDIRON
November 2nd 2006 04:39
Ok, enough about being fun, its cool we know, moving on!
I've turned my attention to bigger pursuits and I have decided, after careful consideration that it is WAY trendy to take a sport which your country does not actively indulge. Yes, this even means tether-ball, though I caution against going too far away from the "good sports.' (That is not a crack at tether-ball, I actually love tether-ball!)
For example, at university, in America I played rugby. In fact, ONLY in university in America can you really indulge a love of violence and alcohol (as combined in the sport of rugby). I now live in Australia and this intimate knowledge of the game, and war-wounds of my own to accompany this acquired knowledge often become relevant to my interactions with "the locals." In fact, when I first moved here I was cautioned that I should immediatley learn the rules of, and to love, the game of Australian Rules Football. Without knowledge of the game and reverence of it, she informed me, I would never make an Australian friend. Dutifully I learned the rules (ok, learned ia strong word, but became vaguely familiar with them) and I actually did fall in love with the game, and she was right, it does pave the way for bar-time conversation!
There are two lessons that accompany the above anecdote. The first is that in playing a violent game you should always make the choice to play the game that is slightly less violent (i believe that to be rugby). The familiarity with the game accompanied by scars, brusies, and commiseration will pave the way smoothly for any traveler. The second, it might not be necessary to actually participate in the violent sport, itself, but rather become acquainted with it and be able to express a love for it, and this, too, will smooth the way for bar-time, traveler, conversations.
If you live in Australia, or England, or let's face it anywhere other than the USA, you can choose a non-violent sport to take up (though admittedly, its not quite as big an ego boost, and not quite as cool). Something like GRIDIRON retains the "coolness" factor a little bit. Baseball is a great sport that doesn't have the same international appeal as it does domestically for the USA. Its as good as frisbee for a picnic. Frisbee, as well, played as a sport is quite the American university past-time. You want to blend in on any college campus across the states, you should have a VERY good, straight, no-wobbling, kind of forehand on your C.V. That combined with an accent will make you the trendiest person aroound.
I've turned my attention to bigger pursuits and I have decided, after careful consideration that it is WAY trendy to take a sport which your country does not actively indulge. Yes, this even means tether-ball, though I caution against going too far away from the "good sports.' (That is not a crack at tether-ball, I actually love tether-ball!)
For example, at university, in America I played rugby. In fact, ONLY in university in America can you really indulge a love of violence and alcohol (as combined in the sport of rugby). I now live in Australia and this intimate knowledge of the game, and war-wounds of my own to accompany this acquired knowledge often become relevant to my interactions with "the locals." In fact, when I first moved here I was cautioned that I should immediatley learn the rules of, and to love, the game of Australian Rules Football. Without knowledge of the game and reverence of it, she informed me, I would never make an Australian friend. Dutifully I learned the rules (ok, learned ia strong word, but became vaguely familiar with them) and I actually did fall in love with the game, and she was right, it does pave the way for bar-time conversation!
There are two lessons that accompany the above anecdote. The first is that in playing a violent game you should always make the choice to play the game that is slightly less violent (i believe that to be rugby). The familiarity with the game accompanied by scars, brusies, and commiseration will pave the way smoothly for any traveler. The second, it might not be necessary to actually participate in the violent sport, itself, but rather become acquainted with it and be able to express a love for it, and this, too, will smooth the way for bar-time, traveler, conversations.
If you live in Australia, or England, or let's face it anywhere other than the USA, you can choose a non-violent sport to take up (though admittedly, its not quite as big an ego boost, and not quite as cool). Something like GRIDIRON retains the "coolness" factor a little bit. Baseball is a great sport that doesn't have the same international appeal as it does domestically for the USA. Its as good as frisbee for a picnic. Frisbee, as well, played as a sport is quite the American university past-time. You want to blend in on any college campus across the states, you should have a VERY good, straight, no-wobbling, kind of forehand on your C.V. That combined with an accent will make you the trendiest person aroound.
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Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
I cannot believe it has taken me this long to find my way here!
Excellent post.
What position do/did you play?
Rugby....the game they play in heaven...
DuskDevi