Go Sports!

"Happy in work, lucky in games, crazy in love, strongly in bed, money in the pocket, never sad, always fun!"

Cherry blossoms are a big event in Korea.  From the last remaining weeks of March into the first weeks of April, Koreans come out in swarms to pose under the many white speckled trees that line the streets in cities all over the country.  Cherry Blossoms are common in Asian countries and the festivals date back to when the Japanese occupied Korea. 

What better thing to symbolize the advent of spring than beautiful white flowers that make the trees look like they have been doused with a sprinking of snow?
I went to Yeouido this past weekend to enjoy the splendid trees with their white blossoming flowers but I was fighting back the nastiest cold I ever had, so springtime in Korea is still just an illusion. 

It was a sweet event nonetheless.  A lot of families were out, riding bikes, having picnics, walking along the river, snapping photos, eating carnival food like cotton candy and what looked like roasted carmelized bugs in papercups with toothpicks, drinking Maxx beers, couples walking hand-in-hand, flying kites, and trying their best to take advantage of the festival even though it was a bit cold out.

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In the evening, I went to Beer O'Clock in Sinchon, a nice Canadian bar where I had my first ever caesar of the season in this country.  Being one of the few Canadian bars I have been to, it was the first time I saw my favourite cocktail on the menu and I hastily ordered it.  It was a mighty disappointment from the fine celery salt-rimmed-clammato-juice-filled glasses that I am used to being served back in Ottawa while hiding from the beaming sun under a patio umbrella, but it had a lot of the right ingredients and was reminiscent of the real thing. 
I also had my first taste of pizza since I have been in Korea and it was Hawaiian deliciousness.

I had another first of the night as well.  I watched my first ever full game of European football.  It was Manchester City versus Manchester United (so my friend tells me), but it was really the Team in White versus the Team in Red.  Anyways it was long and tedius and in the final minutes of the game, a player from the Team in Red head-balled (I'm sure this is the correct professional term) the ball into the net and the Team in Red won and the bar erupted into some sporadic screams.  The camera panned the jam packed stadium and you could see such elation in the faces of fans.

This is why I enjoy watching sports.  I loved going to bars in Ontario to watch hockey games with the hometeam and their rival, or to sit at sports bars and watch the UFC paperview, or to gather around in loose-fiting jerseys to watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs--not only because nothing makes me more happy than drinking with friends, but also because the fans inspire me. 

Nowhere in my life have I witnessed such a display of heartwrenching emotion, whether its sheer disappointment, dream-shattering heartache, red-in-the-face anger, glorious joy, just-won-alot-of-money excitement, or unspeakable teary-eyed pride, than on the faces of sports fans.
When Team Red scored in the final minutes of the Premier League soccer game, the fans in the stadium morphed their faces into pure happiness, screaming as loud as they could, eyes popping wide, bodies pumped with adrenaline, looking stupid and ridiculous, and couldn't caring less.

It made me think to myself: where on earth would I see a 38-year-old man jumping up and down like a little girl on Christmas morning? Where would I see a 25-year-old man with his arms raised over his head and his mouth open wide screaming and bubbling over?  Where would I ever see a bald, pot-bellied, 49-year-old crumble to his knees and cry?  Where would I ever see my good friend Henry curse like a truck driver?

The answer: only when watching sports.