World Cup and random conversations
Jun. 25th, 2010 10:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
guslAside from Brazil's usual lackluster performance, I'm really happy with this World Cup so far, as most of the exciting teams are qualifying, and the boring giants falling out, and the refereeing is above par. (You'd have to go back to 1998 or 2002 to actually see Brazil playing well)
The best thing about watching games on Commercial Drive is having nice conversations with people that I'd never have otherwise (bus conversations are typically too short). Most of them are immigrants, and I identify with their bicultural background.
I still dislike most of the culture surrounding sports fandom, and I avoid the loud and rowdy crowds, but there are still interesting individuals and groups to meet, with whom I can feel some camaraderie.
By the way, I have a visceral preference for the francophone TV commentators, even though I understand them less. The anglophone ones tend to be British and quite competent, but their flat and sparse narration fails to communicate enthusiasm, danger, urgency, etc. In comparison, their Romance counterparts are overly emotional and can't shut up... which communicates a lot more.
One pet peeve: CBC is broadcasting one game at a time, without any live information on the other game, so as not to spoil the experience for those who want to watch the other game later... but the simultaneity is by design! The teams themselves are hearing about the other game, and adjusting their strategy accordingly. So I'm on the Internet, visualizing the possibilities in my head.
The best thing about watching games on Commercial Drive is having nice conversations with people that I'd never have otherwise (bus conversations are typically too short). Most of them are immigrants, and I identify with their bicultural background.
I still dislike most of the culture surrounding sports fandom, and I avoid the loud and rowdy crowds, but there are still interesting individuals and groups to meet, with whom I can feel some camaraderie.
By the way, I have a visceral preference for the francophone TV commentators, even though I understand them less. The anglophone ones tend to be British and quite competent, but their flat and sparse narration fails to communicate enthusiasm, danger, urgency, etc. In comparison, their Romance counterparts are overly emotional and can't shut up... which communicates a lot more.
One pet peeve: CBC is broadcasting one game at a time, without any live information on the other game, so as not to spoil the experience for those who want to watch the other game later... but the simultaneity is by design! The teams themselves are hearing about the other game, and adjusting their strategy accordingly. So I'm on the Internet, visualizing the possibilities in my head.