I've been a football (or soccer) fan since I was about 6. My father, an ocassional supporter of Deportivo Cali -local team of Colombian league-began telling me about corner kicks, fouls, player names while I played with my dollies. And boxing-I still watch a boxing match with reverence and looking up to those great boxers like Ali, Lewis, Fraizer and Holyfield, after spending countless Friday nights with papá bonding over boxing.
Daddy's little girl, in awe of shirtless men punching their night and life away, and running around after a ball.
One of the great players of the time (mid eighties-yes, as far fetched as it may seem, I'm soon to be 30) was Carlos 'el Pibe' Valderrama. His name, his passes. And his hair. Those are things you can't really forget when you begin to enjoy the sport like I did. I had the fortune to see him play actively for many years and now, watching current players, as good as they are, I still believe in my heart that there will never be another like him-smart moves, charisma, killer passes. And did I mention the hair?
And the best part of it all? I never cared if el Pibe scored a lot of goals or not-I just watched him play, like I watched all the great players move and work as a team. Watching soccer games just for the score and not for the game itself is pointless to me-I know that there must be goals in a game, but where's the magic? The great players? Sorry for the expression, but watching a game just for the goals seems to me like having sex just to see when the other one is going to come (or worse, just you) and no enjoyment ensued.
Oh and by the way, if you're into nostalgia, like me (I'm 6 days away from changing the life I have)-check out another great player from that time, René Higuita. I think that he holds the record by most goals scored by a goalkeeper, other than Chilavert. (Imagine that contradiction-goals scored by a goalkeeper). His moves also glued me to that screen.
El hecho que estos jugadores tan increíbles me tengan pegada a la pantalla y que con las copas de ahora me muera de sueño solo puede significar una cosa-en materia de fútbol, muchas veces todo tiempo pasado fue realmente mejor. Porque no siempre todo en fútbol tiene que ser el gol-es la resolución, pero de que me sirve ver mil goles si no se juega bien? Entiendo que hay que tener resultados, efectividad, goles. Pero un gol-y perdonarán la expresión- feo y que sirva solo por el resultado es como uno ir a tirar a ver cuando se va a venir la otra persona. O uno mismo.
No me creen? Juzguen Ustedes:
Don't believe me? You judge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwlwVEhS3DY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lQd0H5vgg8&NR=1
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