Phalenar: "Fanaticism is a Disease": Fanaticism is a Disease Take the 1998 soccer World Cup. England and Argentina had clawed their way up the ladder and were facing off for the chance to compete against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. While international soccer rivalries are always fierce, this pairing had special resonance for the fans. Sixteen years earlier, the two countries had gone to war over the Falkland Islands. Although Britain officially won the skirmish, many Argentines refused to acknowledge defeat. Every time the two teams subsequently met on the soccer pitch, it turned into a grudge match. This game (which featured a young David Beckham, fouling out after kicking another player in full view of the ref) ended in a tie. The winner would be decided by a penalty kick shoot-out. One by one, the players lined up in front of the goalie to take their shots. The score had reached Argentina 4, England 3 when the English player David Batty jogged onto the field. He took a few short sharp strides toward the ball … made contact … and sent it soaring. But between Batty’s Puma cleats and the expanse of the goalposts, the ball met the gloved fingers of goalkeeper Carlos Roa—and the winner was Argentina. The Argentine fans erupted in relieved, joyful mayhem. But English fans watching on TVs in pubs back home gaped in stunned horror. And that day heart attacks across the United Kingdom increased by more than 25 percent.

Fanaticism is a Disease

Take the 1998 soccer World Cup. England and Argentina had clawed their way up the ladder and were facing off for the chance to compete against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. While international soccer rivalries are always fierce, this pairing had special resonance for the fans. Sixteen years earlier, the two countries had gone to war over the Falkland Islands. Although Britain officially won the skirmish, many Argentines refused to acknowledge defeat. Every time the two teams subsequently met on the soccer pitch, it turned into a grudge match. This game (which featured a young David Beckham, fouling out after kicking another player in full view of the ref) ended in a tie. The winner would be decided by a penalty kick shoot-out. One by one, the players lined up in front of the goalie to take their shots. The score had reached Argentina 4, England 3 when the English player David Batty jogged onto the field. He took a few short sharp strides toward the ball … made contact … and sent it soaring. But between Batty’s Puma cleats and the expanse of the goalposts, the ball met the gloved fingers of goalkeeper Carlos Roa—and the winner was Argentina. The Argentine fans erupted in relieved, joyful mayhem. But English fans watching on TVs in pubs back home gaped in stunned horror. And that day heart attacks across the United Kingdom increased by more than 25 percent.

Zoobiquity Barbara Natterson-Horowitz

16 görüntüleme

Yorum yapabilmeniz için giriş yapmanız gerekmektedir.

Gönderi

Phalenar