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Everything's Barca And Nothing Hurts
May. 28th, 2011 04:16 pmI'd like to say that I did an exhaustive amount of research before I picked which club football teams I was going to support last summer. That I learned everything I could about the different teams' playing styles, about their managers, about their line-up, about their history. That I watched as many matches as I could get my hands on. That I made comprehensive lists of their pros and cons and weighed them carefully before I made my decision.
Unfortunately, that would totally be a lie. This is what I knew about Barcelona before I decided they were going to be my team: 1) they had strong ties to the Catalonian seperatist movement, which is a big deal and 2) David Villa had a bitchin' soul patch and Carles Puyol had amazing hair. That's it. I barely knew who Leo Messi was. I'd never heard of Pep Guardiola. I didn't know whether or not they'd won the Primera Division last year or how far they made it in the Champions League. I just leaped in blindly and trusted my instincts and appreciation for hot Spanish dudes to carry me through.
Now, after a year, after a full season, after a La Liga title and a Champions League victory, I can't imagine ever making a different choice. And it's not just that they are good - I still love my Arsenal boys so much it hurts, even after their meltdown of a season. It's just - everything about this club. I love the idea of La Masia, of bringing kids up through the system and making them Barca through and through. I love tiki-taka style and watching them run circles around other teams. I love watching Messi succeed, again and again, and seeing how happy it makes him. I love the players who have been with the club for years and the B-team babies subbing in for their first match. I love that they play as a real team, not a couple of super-stars and a bunch of guys. I love Pep and his suits. I love Crackovia. I love getting up on Saturday mornings to watch matches. I love Dani Alves. I love the colors. I love Catalan.
I never thought I would feel this way about a sports team. I never thought I could feel this way about a sports team. I cry when they lose and I cry when they win and I just - I don't get this at all. But it's kind of wonderful.
SO HERE'S TO PERFECT FLAWLESS BARCELONA, CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE (AND ALSO OF MY HEART)
( beautiful match from a beautiful team )
Unfortunately, that would totally be a lie. This is what I knew about Barcelona before I decided they were going to be my team: 1) they had strong ties to the Catalonian seperatist movement, which is a big deal and 2) David Villa had a bitchin' soul patch and Carles Puyol had amazing hair. That's it. I barely knew who Leo Messi was. I'd never heard of Pep Guardiola. I didn't know whether or not they'd won the Primera Division last year or how far they made it in the Champions League. I just leaped in blindly and trusted my instincts and appreciation for hot Spanish dudes to carry me through.
Now, after a year, after a full season, after a La Liga title and a Champions League victory, I can't imagine ever making a different choice. And it's not just that they are good - I still love my Arsenal boys so much it hurts, even after their meltdown of a season. It's just - everything about this club. I love the idea of La Masia, of bringing kids up through the system and making them Barca through and through. I love tiki-taka style and watching them run circles around other teams. I love watching Messi succeed, again and again, and seeing how happy it makes him. I love the players who have been with the club for years and the B-team babies subbing in for their first match. I love that they play as a real team, not a couple of super-stars and a bunch of guys. I love Pep and his suits. I love Crackovia. I love getting up on Saturday mornings to watch matches. I love Dani Alves. I love the colors. I love Catalan.
I never thought I would feel this way about a sports team. I never thought I could feel this way about a sports team. I cry when they lose and I cry when they win and I just - I don't get this at all. But it's kind of wonderful.
SO HERE'S TO PERFECT FLAWLESS BARCELONA, CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE (AND ALSO OF MY HEART)
( beautiful match from a beautiful team )