Category: sports

I do not generally care about professional sports, the posturing, the whining, the divas. It irritates me. I prefer college sports of any flavor. That being said, the World Cup this year seems to have taken over the American psyche. Soccer has finally changed from the sport we love to ignore to the sport we can’t stop talking about. I am glad for that.

Mr. Rochester sent me an article by Bill Simmons, an ESPN writer who usually writes about the NBA. It is long but very amusing. My two favorite bits were right in the middle:

Question No. 13: If you could change anything about soccer, what would it be?

I hate how teams milk leads in the last 15-20 minutes by faking injuries and taking forever to sub players. When that Ghana player had to be carried off on a stretcher at the tail end of the America game, then hopped off like nothing ever happened as soon as the stretcher was out of bounds, I thought that was appalling. Actually, it made me want to go to war with Ghana. I wanted to invade them. I’m not even kidding. That’s another great thing about the World Cup: Name another sport in which you genuinely want to invade other countries when you lose.

Question No. 14: What’s been the strangest thing about the 2010 World Cup?

To hear Germany described in such likable, underdoggy tones. Who would have thought these young upstarts would jell this fast? It’s like the announcers were talking about the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays or something … if the Tampa Bay Rays had started two world wars and nearly brought down Europe.

I have never watched soccer on TV much. To me, soccer is like baseball, a little boring to watch on TV but really fun in person. The first time I saw soccer being played in person, I thought it was one of the most beautiful sports I had ever seen. Granted, it was the A&M girls team and they were all actually beautiful PLUS they glided around that field and kicked the ball with a grace I had only imagined. Extraordinary.

I hope soccer becomes more popular in the US. I have always thought our general indifference to something that is so pervasive everywhere else was a bit rude.

–Jane, will be watching soccer Saturday morning with a Bloody Mary in hand

It is that time of year again. When the flowers start blooming, the trees start budding, and Mr. Rochester becomes a man obsessed. Sadly, the object of his obsession is not his lovely wife.

College Basketball is his one true love for the next few weeks.

All day there has been basketball on in three locales in our house: the living room, on the newer flat screen TV; the bedroom, on the old flat screen; and the computer, for those untelevised games and for frequent checking of the brackets. The ever important bracket.

Do not misunderstand me. I love college basketball. I love the uncertainty. The idea that anything can happen and frequently does. Today, #1 Louiville was almost beat by #16 Moorehead and #1 Pitt v. #16 Eastern Tennessee State almost went badly as well. If either of those #16 teams had won, it would have been the first time ever for a #1 seed to loose in the first round of the NCAA tourney. That is exciting stuff.

I love the commentary supplied by Mr. R during the games. I find that with him by my side, I do not need to remember statistics or event he names of players. He provides trivia, gossip, and all manner of tidbits for me, whether I desire them or no. Who needs Prince Charming and a waltz when I can have a Mr. Rochester and a pint on the couch?

If you are a basketball fan, then I wish your team well. Unless, of course, they are playing the Aggies and then I am praying that we hand your arse to you.

–Jane, all is fair in love and sports

It is that time of the year again. Leaves are appearing on the trees, the azaleas are blooming, the sun is out, and college basketball is on at the Rochester house. I, under orders of Mr. Rochester who is not even home, have the first games on of the season. I suppose he thinks the aura of the games will fill the house with shiny thoughts for his arrival home this evening.

I have filled out my bracket which is nothing to write home about. I use the very scientific method of picking and choosing the winners from teams I like. In the years that we have been doing brackets with our friends, I have never come in last place. That’s not nuthin’, as the Captain himself would say.

If you have teams in the tourney, I wish them good luck, unless they are playing my team, that is.

–Jane, is there a cure for March Madness?

When the Ides roll around that means only one thing in the Rochester household: NCAA Basketball. The brackets are completed. The bets are laid. Let the smack talking begin!

Even Alyson Hannigan has weighed in on the tourney. You can see the brackets of other “How I Met Your Mother” stars here.

–Jane, hopes her brackets does better then last year’s – she knows her team will