It’s funny how sometimes the things you’d least expect to bring back childhood memories are exactly the kinds of things that do. I’m not a big soccer fan these days, but you’d have to live under a rock to not be aware that the World Cup is happening in Brazil right now. And as the US team is getting ready for its second game of the tournament today, I found myself traveling down my own personal soccer memory lane.
I grew up in Germany, where soccer is huge. Soccer is to Germany what baseball is to America. I was a big fan when I was growing up, and especially during my teenage years – years that were peppered with crushes on famous soccer players like Gerd Mueller and Jürgen Klinsmann, the current head coach of the US soccer team (looking at him now, I’m not sure why, but he was awfully cute as an eighteen-year-old!) My parents and I attended almost every home game of our local minor league team, the Stuttgarter Kickers (which, as it happens, is where Klinsmann’s professional career started.) As your typical teenager, with all the drama that phase of life entails, attending soccer games was one of the few things we still enjoyed together as a family.
When I moved to the US thirty years ago, soccer wasn’t all that popular yet. It has, of course, become a sport that is holding its own over the last few decades; according to Wikipedia, it’s the third most played sport in the US. With apologies to my German heritage, I find football to be a much more exciting sport, but this year, the World Cup games have caught my interest again for some reason. Maybe it’s because I was ready for that trip down memory lane.
It occurred to me that soccer is the ideal sport for cats. It doesn’t require special equipment, the rules are a bit obscure, and it’s fun. And, as the cats in the video below demonstrate, it’s super easy for you to set up a feline World Cup in your home:
httpv://youtu.be/p2Fn3toTl0I
So, while I wouldn’t want to go back in time for anything, I’m going to enjoy my World Cup memories. And I may just set up an indoor soccer field for Allegra and Ruby.
What about you? Are you following the World Cup?
I loathe soccer — have ever since forced to play it in PE in childhood — & hate to see U.S. starting to get soccer fans. Fascinated that now that we KNOW some of these sports cause TBI’s they are even more popular now that the fact we shouldn’t have people playing them is known! I resent the way the World Cup is in your face on social media. I “x” it out when they try to give me scores.
Nice you have good childhood memories of it, Ingrid.
LOVE the cat playing ball on the video!!!
Oh boy, can I relate to bad PE memories, Brenda! For me, swimming was the bane of my existence when it comes to childhood PE. I’m pretty sure it’s because I hated swimming so much then that I still don’t enjoy it today.
You must have not watched any games in this World Cup if you seriously think (proper) Football is not exciting!! It’s a much faster game than American Football, without the constant interruptions – but to each his own, I guess 🙂
It looks like I’m going to have to start watching soccer again, Kat! 🙂
That is really funny! Our Oscar would be a good member of the black cat team. He has some great passing skills. Anya . . .would be a good cheerleader. Or better yet, she could run the cat nip concessions.
I think Ruby would be a cheerleader, Allegra would be the team strategist.
I was never a real fan of sports until I met a Cat named Steeler. Since then and thanks to your story about her I became a fan of American Football especially the Steelers and the Saints. Both have Tortie colors – Black and Gold.
Oh gosh, that video is just terrific. Wish I could get mine to do something like that. I will have to give it a try. We nominated you. Hope you win. Take care.
Thanks for nominating us, Marg!
Looks really FUN to play soccer !
Do you think you can play it with a human ??
XOXO
Wow, that gray cat got trounced! She threw the game away!