Football...the world's most beautiful game

Suspect not, this blog title is indeed what it reads as, nothing else.

As much as I'd like to belong to the larger group of the global population who literally eat football, drink football and probably even breathe football - somehow, something, somewhere always held me back from even developing the slightest form of interest in the game.

Believe me when I say that it is not the game itself which I dislike. The issue with me and my lack of liking for the sport is more deeply rooted with the kind of reaction the infamous game evokes among hardcore fans or die-hard supporters, however you wish to call it.

I need not go too far to cite examples of how an individual's religious-fanatism like craze towards football played by international teams can cause unwanted squabbles in even small families (hint, hint...I'm talking about my own here!).

My 68-year-old retired civil servant father depicts how a football fan's life and daily priorities become topsy-turvy the moment international soccer championship fever, like the current EURO 2004 for example, grips the transmission lines of paid sattelite televisions.

During times like these, to precisely quote my respected father, the world he lives in simply turns to become one that is filled with nothing but all stuff related to the glorious game. As he rightly pointed out to my home-maker mother and myself, at precise times of the year like now where it is football madness at every nook and corner, he (my father, that is) sees no need for our presence in ensuring his meals, essential needs and other daily wants are timely met.

At this point in time alone, he is an independent man who needs none by his side...unless of course, it is yet another soccer fan wishing to keep him company by staying awake in the wee hours of the morning to watch the matches.

Apart from that, he declares undeniable happiness if only my mother and I could vanish temporarily - he wants to hear no voice, breath, foot steps or even see our shadows anywhere near or in the living room area (where the idiot box is placed) during live, delayed live telecast and even repeat matches.

Oh well, so much for the love of the world's most beautiful game that I've long stopped reasoning with my born-to-be-served father (with all due respect, mind you) each time he decides that where decision making and priority of preference is concerned, he comes first. No further arguments.

Oh, and forget this I shouldn't at any given time - my stand on football or bola sepak as it is known in Malay, remains. I've got a huge problem getting along and liking people who go ga-ga over football matches, to the point all else (people included) are expected to take a back seat, throughout the year.

Among many unfortunate incidents related to the game recently, the following link tells of an extreme example of what should not be football-associated.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=5515086