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There are numerous religions around the world
and am sure you would have read all about them in the social
studies class at the age of 8. But every August/September, a
religion so alien and almost unheard of in Chennai rises up,
literally from the ashes every year and millions go crazy.
There's a special something in the air, hopes are high and you
can just sense the anticipation!! This religion, in its own way,
brings people together and has rituals diverse and varied as the
people.
And yes I am talking about the religion of
football (American version)!
In case you're not aware, football is the
most popular sport in the US (sort of like cricket in India),
and the football season runs from the end of August till
February. The NFL (professional league) and the NCAA (collegiate
league) go on almost simultaneously for most of this period.
While the NFL has superior players and is a professional run
organisation, nothing comes close to the emotions and pageantry
of college football.
Well, when I talk of football traditions, you
really need to experience it to understand it. There is a saying
that football is a religion in Texas, and my aunt says the
electricity in the air on any game day is similar to a
thiruvizha in India.
The game in itself to the football illiterate
can be explained as a mix of rugby and good old soccer. It is
intense, high energy and fast. So why do I call I sport a
religion, like many others? It is intense spirit the people show
for the teams they support. It is just not college students, it
is the whole nation, and it is millions and millions cheering
for their teams. And not just for the national team, as we do
for our cricket teams, but it starts at a much smaller scale,
their high school teams, their college teams and their city
teams.
And football brings people out, traditions
like a tailgate party before the game… it is time for family and
friends on a weekend. What can be more fun than hanging out with
good friends, dressed in team colors, sharing trivia about the
games, listening to the radio about other games, eating BBQ?
Does it bring back memories of the kovil thiruvizhas, decked up
in finery, buying trinkets and eating junk?
Now, it is the beginning of the season and
the anticipation is high. Most fans have finished laying their
bets and giving their opinions of how their teams are going to
fare. I have relinquished my hold on the TV remote on Saturdays
and Sundays for the next few months as my husband enjoys the
football games. I join in the fun; it is nerve-racking,
nail-biting but ultimate fun!
The spirit of the game and the millions of
fans all over keep the religion of football alive!
And a final yell for the team that has my
support, Go Aggies!
- V
http://poohsden.blogspot.com/
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