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(Fulham dismantles Newcastle. woo!)
Holy Hell, I'm a horrible photgrapher. Anyway, that's Craven Cottage. Go Whites.On a soggy pitch my biggest fears were overcome. I attended my first ever professional football match and did not observe a scoreless tie. I saw three goals to be exact. More importantly, two of those goals were scored by Fulham. The home crowd was unbelievable, and I watched in the midst of the loudest part of Craven Cottage as Fulham toppled Newcastle 2-1 on Sunday evening.*
I stood the entire time.* Through the freezing wind, the fans chanted for players to the toons of Kumbayah, Auld Lang Syne and Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (Replace Baby with Fulham. i.e.: "I love you Fulham. And if it's quite alright. I love you Fulham. To warm my lonely nights.") The seats were in the very back of the Hammersmith Section - Double WW (say it three times fast...it's not that hard). But those seats actually came recommended from a diehard Fulham fan/American, Mike Benedetto of the excellent Fulham USA Web site. I don't think I would've enjoyed the game as much if I had sat anywhere else.Those are the sections where you're not just watching a game. You're a part of it.* The comraderie, the songs, the jumping and dancing. Fanaticism at its finest. When Andrew Johnson nailed the first goal to give Fulham the early lead, you felt the stadium explode with excitement. When Newcastle tied it up early in the second half, you felt the life sucked out of the stadium. And then this happened:
Yes, Levin in London now has multimedia! Really, really, really crappy multimedia.*For someone who has never been a soccer fan in America, I was shocked by how much I enjoyed the experience. It's clear seeing a football game live in England offers something that likely won't ever be seen in American soccer. When you're living in a country where football is so ingrained into its culture, there's a different attitude toward it. Football fans are like a family. They love their team like a brother. And they hate Chelsea like a bunch of goddamn arseholes (man this was a terrible analogy). Passion like that MLS can only dream of.--Foot notes*This was actually a huge win for a struggling Fulham squad. The win shot them up from near the bottom of the standings to 10th in the Premier league standings (out of 20 teams). Niiice.*Events that I've stood the entire time at (ok more like 92 percent of the time):-Fulham football match-Syracuse basketball game at the Carrier Dome-Dream Theater concert *Obviously, after one game I don't claim to be an expert on the club. This is just the opinion of an outsider.There's still much about the game I don't understand, and chants I couldn't figure out. Still, the fact I loved a soccer game amazes me. In fact, I like it so much I had to celebrate with a pint afterwards at the Fulham fans-only pub, The Golden Lion.
*Since you have no idea what's happening in this video: Danny Murphy just rocketed a penalty kick into the Newcastle goal to give Fulham an insurmountable 2-1 lead. Celebrating ensues.
(The ticket to football cost more. whaaa..?)
American Clint Dempsey stars on Fulham.I'm now booked to two more destinations:Sunday will be my first ever professional football game ever. And what better game to see than an English Premier league game in London. Four of us will be heading down to historic Craven Cottage to watch the Fulham Cottagers try to defeat Newcastle United.All I'm hoping for is that the final score WON'T be 0-0. But a Fulham win would be fantastic, since we'll be sitting in what is supposedly the rowdiest part of the Fulham section. We're even supposed to learn the songs (some of those are outdated, but I just hope we get to sing Blue Flag). While I've never been a fan of soccer in the United States, football in Europe is like a religion, which excites me. Too many American sports seem too much about the money and players just showing off, seeing who can one-up each other (hello NBA...). The fans don't matter and neither does the team. But in England, where soccer is a way of life - not an escape from it - the passion and fanaticism are real*. At least I hope so. That's what I plan on finding out Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m.The question bothering me now: What the hell do fans wear to football games?At this time next week, I'll be in the City of Lights. Originally, when I arrived in England I had no intention of visiting the French. The more I thought about it the more I realized how stupid I was being for not wanting to visit one of the most glamorous cities in the world. Soon Paris jumped to top of my "must-see destinations" list. Plus, I found a bus to take there for 29 pounds round-trip. Au revoir.--
Foot(ball) notes*The most passionate sports in the United States.1. College football - 90,000 fans to a practice. Well, it looks like 'Bama fans' faith was well-placed.2 Baseball - Those who don't get it think its boring. Those who get it become obsessed.3. College basketball - March madness is my idea of heaven. I'm sure every college basketball fan out there would agree.
(Or football)
Cool!Well, it's about time for a new poll. As many of my American fans know, I know nothing about football*. But I'm in England so I might as well learn.
Which is the Premiership team I should cheer for? Like the last poll, I'll weigh the pros and cons, using what little knowledge I have about each team.Arsenal
Smashing: I only know three Americans who I believe are legit football fans. Two are fans of the Arsenal. There must be something about them that gets Americans excited. Plus, the Arseblog rules.
Bollocks: How the hell am I going to afford Arsenal tickets? The prices are insane.
ChelseaSmashing: The team that is currently atop the Premier League standings. Why not just hop on the bandwagon?
Bollocks: Chelsea is the Yankees (or is it now the Red Sox?) of the English football world. Do I really want to root for the Evil Empire (hmm, perhaps)?
Fulham
Smashing: (From football lover/American Tony Kolt) Matt, forget the vote. Root for Fulham. Go to Craven Cottage and see a game. You will not be able to afford a ticket to Arsenal or Chelsea, and West Ham is in a dire situation so far. Fulham are a fun team, they have a history of American players (incl. Clint Dempsey currently), and they're cheaper to see live. Go do it.*
Bollocks: Currently, one of the worst teams in the Premier League standings. But, hey, it's early.West Ham United
Smashing: Favorite direction is west.Bollocks: Not a fan of ham. (Obviously I know nothing about West Ham United)
Screw Soccer. Go Gators!
Smashing: Out of the five Florida teams I was raised on - the Dolphins, the Heat, the Panthers, the Marlins and the Gators* - only one of them hasn't caused me constant heartache and frustration. Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere come the Florida Gators!
Bollocks: Well, I'm in England so I should probably stop worrying about American football. If the Gators lose to LSU on Saturday, I'll have no reason to care anyway.
There ya have it. Which sporting event should I attend? Define my allegiance, please. And does anyone know where I can find some good rugby?--Foot notes
*One thing I do know is that Peter Crouch is awesome. And I want to learn the Crouch Dance.)
*Of course, I can't really consider myself a Dolphins fan anymore. And I flat out don't like the NBA. The Panthers are nearing a decade long playoff drought. So truthfully, there's only two Florida teams I still root for. The Gators and the Fish. Oh yes, the Marlins. I wish I could quit you. Yet after each fire sale, I find myself watching still attached. In fact, last week in class I spent a half hour predicting the 2009 Florida Marlins roster. The one that's going to win the World Series. That's right. You heard it here first.*If Tony's right, which he appears to be. Well, crap. I might just have to get the cheapest tix I can find. Go Fulham?
