Sport and Music - Beauty

I watched the Champions League final today.  It was at a convenient time for me as it was 11:45am when it started and it ended at 2:34pm.  Those lucky souls in Moscow watched the match end at 1:34am.  To boot they got to go home in cats and dogs rain.  But we all saw a pretty emotional match.  Ronaldo's amazing header.  Ronaldo's heart wrenching miss in penalties.  Terry's bad luck in penalties as well.  Tension with Drogba's slap of Vidic's face.  Schole's nose.  The game itself was choppy and didn't flow well but nevertheless it was an entertaining game and the three hours flew by.  Manchester wins in penalties 1-1 (6-5).

At the beginning of the match I had no preference but as the game went on I gravitated towards Man U and was rooting for them in the end; happy to see them win the cup.  Ronaldo is a fantastic player.  I have always liked van der Sar.  Giggs is classy, Rooney has punch.

I am looking forward to Euro 08 starting June 7.  Portugal is my team with France being my second.  Let's go!

Watching major sporting events allow me to dream.  As a kid I watched the Montreal Canadiens and felt like I was on the ice with them as they won their many Stanley Cups and I remember crying when they would lose.  As a teenager I was into tennis and remember having the same feeling of involvement watching McEnroe, Connors, Borg, Edberg play.  I now feel that with the big football matches (World Cup, Euro, Champions League).  Anger, sadness, tears welling, anger, happiness.  Watching the Tour de France.  Inspiring stuff.

What a feeling.  To be on the field, to be one of the best, to be cheered, to be booed.  To feel our legs cramp up, to have the anger to continue, the passion within us, to work through the pain and come up on top or to lose.  

Music also is something that brings out goosebumps in me.  I get some of the same emotions well up in me when I am at a concert or when I listen to concert videos or documentaries on musicians.  Their talent, their ability to speak to me through their instruments, the way the move the crowd, control the crowd.  

In a way those are my religions, the places where I like to gather with others (or virtually via television) and share in the feeling.  Sport and music are powerful.  The physical beauty of the human body and what it can accomplish.  The creative beauty of the human mind and what it can speak.

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