Futbollers

Spain won the Eurocup, guys!

I don't know. I never thought I would get into sports. I enjoyed playing soccer in high school, up until sophmore year when it stopped being less fun and more work. but i never really needed to watch other people do it, or even think about other people playing. But it's pretty hard to not get worked up about soccer when you're in Spain. It's been over 40 years (or something) since Spain made it to the final game...i think. but even if it were less than that, it always feels good to be the champion of something you've worked hard for. so when i sat meekly clapping and smiling amidst of a bunch of hollering hombres y mujeres in the bar sunday night, i felt a part of something. they sang in unison, for god's sake! they hugged eachother, called eachother, sloshed beer on strangers and jumped up and down, and this crazy wannabe jack sparrow guy who i swear sleeps behind the bar banged on a drum for probably eight minutes. they were proud, and it was nice to see.

and when i was plastered with sweat to my bed at night, i could still hear them, all of them, honking their car horns and chanting: a por ellos, oé. it made the heat ok. there's an entire country of sweaty, but proud, spaniards going to bed with a smile.

maybe this is all just more appealing in europe. but when everyone turns our in their red and yellow for a big fiesta, sports are not so bad.