The big match
12/07/14 04:53
Well, sports fans, it has all come down to the championship game. Brazil and the Netherlands will play in the consolation round today, but the championship game, between Germany and Argentina will take place tomorrow. That game will crown the winner of the 2014 World Cup.
The stadium in Brazil will be filled to capacity. They have already arrested several people in a huge ticket scam. Officials know that there are more tickets out there than there are seats in the stadium. They hope that they can seat the legitimate ticket holders and provide some way for the others to see the match on large screen televisions. The big screens are the way most of the people in the home countries will be watching. There will be plenty of others watching around the world.
Had one of last week’s game been different, this weekends contests would have been between neighbors. Germany and the Netherlands share a common border as do Argentina and Brazil. The way it turned out, it is difficult for the loyal fans of Brazil to know which team to back. On the one hand they’re pretty mad at Germany. The 7-1 drubbing of Brazil last Tuesday was humiliating. How could you cheer for Germany to win? On the other hand the rivalry between Argentina and Brazil is long standing and there are plenty of folks in Brazil who can’t imagine cheering for Argentina under any circumstances.
With all of the hype, I can’t avoid thinking that if I were able to watch the match in any location, with any company, what would I choose? Of course there is the obvious: in the stadium in Brazil surrounded by family and friends - perhaps some of my Costa Rican friends. Another place would be in the home of a friend or family member. We’re not too big on television in this family. My computer monitor is larger than our TV. It might be fun to watch the match on a bigger screen. The big screens in downtown San Jose, Costa Rica would be a great setting. The crowd will definitely have a party atmosphere. Good food and good times will abound on the streets of Costa Rica. Of course the rainy season has arrived in Costa Rica and heavy rains with the possibility of flash flooding might put a damper on outdoor celebrations - perhaps an indoor location would be better.
Actually, however, I think that the most interesting place to watch the match might be the Vatican. I know that the Vatican is not known for big screen televisions and raucous crowds. I think they sip a little wine there, but they’re not known for their beer. Still, I think that there must be something going on. If you are a Vatican watcher you already know that Pope Francis hasn’t moved into the usual papal palace. He is still using his small room at the hotel reserved for Cardinals when they visit the Vatican. He has, however, used the Antechamber of the Papal Household for general audiences to greet the people of the church and of the world.
Now think about it for a minute:
All General Audiences with the Pope have been cancelled during the month of July. Weekly audiences resume in August. Hmm . . .
Through an extremely rare set of circumstances, there are two living popes at the Vatican. One is from Germany. One is from Argentina. Hmm . . .
Although the view of the Papal Household with the giant columns and the huge courtyard is familiar around the world, very few people have any idea what it looks like inside the building. It’s a really big building and it must have plenty of rooms. Did you ever wonder if somewhere in the midst of all of that history and all of that papal paraphernalia, in a basement, perhaps behind the place where they store all of the miters and other fancy hats . . . can’t you imagine a small sports bar with comfortable chairs and several televisions? Hmm . . .
What could be better than a couple of popes each with a frosty mug in hand discussing the details of soccer in Latin? Perhaps in a bit to outdo each other with their humility, Pope Benedict would actually pray for an Argentinian Victory while Pope Francis prays for Germany.
Since I know that Pope Francis already owns an official Costa Rica football jersey, I don’t want to imagine him wearing the colors of another nation. I guess I can imagine him wearing his white robes with a stole with light blue and white vertical stripes like Argentina’s uniforms. Pope Benedict, of course, would have a stole with black and red horizontal stripes in the fashion of Germany’s away uniforms. In keeping with his normal style, Pope Benedict would be calm, not showing his emotions, discussing each play and call of the referees with the rational rhetoric for which he has been famous. You can bet he’d have an impeccable command of the rules and be, of course, infallible in his calls. Pope Frances, on the other hand, might be more likely to show his emotions, giving Pope Benedict a huge bear hug as part of his victory dance each time Argentina scores.
Yes, I suppose it is a terribly irreverent flight of imagination and I suppose that tree are some people of good faith who might be offended by such a flight of fancy.
But then, I’m not exactly a typical sports fan, either. It’s just an image that came to my mind that I can’t seem to get out of my head.
I know that there are many in the world who take both their sports and religion very seriously. I want to remind them that in the end, it’s only a game. God loves the winners and the losers. Life goes on. It is for entertainment and fun first of all.
But then I also think that all of the silliness of religious rivalry and the claims of various churches for some kind of exclusive claim on God’s attention must also be amusing to God. I’m pretty sure God laughs at our antics and wonders why we take so many things so seriously.
One thing for sure: if the two Popes do watch the match together, God will be right there with them. And God loves both teams equally.
The stadium in Brazil will be filled to capacity. They have already arrested several people in a huge ticket scam. Officials know that there are more tickets out there than there are seats in the stadium. They hope that they can seat the legitimate ticket holders and provide some way for the others to see the match on large screen televisions. The big screens are the way most of the people in the home countries will be watching. There will be plenty of others watching around the world.
Had one of last week’s game been different, this weekends contests would have been between neighbors. Germany and the Netherlands share a common border as do Argentina and Brazil. The way it turned out, it is difficult for the loyal fans of Brazil to know which team to back. On the one hand they’re pretty mad at Germany. The 7-1 drubbing of Brazil last Tuesday was humiliating. How could you cheer for Germany to win? On the other hand the rivalry between Argentina and Brazil is long standing and there are plenty of folks in Brazil who can’t imagine cheering for Argentina under any circumstances.
With all of the hype, I can’t avoid thinking that if I were able to watch the match in any location, with any company, what would I choose? Of course there is the obvious: in the stadium in Brazil surrounded by family and friends - perhaps some of my Costa Rican friends. Another place would be in the home of a friend or family member. We’re not too big on television in this family. My computer monitor is larger than our TV. It might be fun to watch the match on a bigger screen. The big screens in downtown San Jose, Costa Rica would be a great setting. The crowd will definitely have a party atmosphere. Good food and good times will abound on the streets of Costa Rica. Of course the rainy season has arrived in Costa Rica and heavy rains with the possibility of flash flooding might put a damper on outdoor celebrations - perhaps an indoor location would be better.
Actually, however, I think that the most interesting place to watch the match might be the Vatican. I know that the Vatican is not known for big screen televisions and raucous crowds. I think they sip a little wine there, but they’re not known for their beer. Still, I think that there must be something going on. If you are a Vatican watcher you already know that Pope Francis hasn’t moved into the usual papal palace. He is still using his small room at the hotel reserved for Cardinals when they visit the Vatican. He has, however, used the Antechamber of the Papal Household for general audiences to greet the people of the church and of the world.
Now think about it for a minute:
All General Audiences with the Pope have been cancelled during the month of July. Weekly audiences resume in August. Hmm . . .
Through an extremely rare set of circumstances, there are two living popes at the Vatican. One is from Germany. One is from Argentina. Hmm . . .
Although the view of the Papal Household with the giant columns and the huge courtyard is familiar around the world, very few people have any idea what it looks like inside the building. It’s a really big building and it must have plenty of rooms. Did you ever wonder if somewhere in the midst of all of that history and all of that papal paraphernalia, in a basement, perhaps behind the place where they store all of the miters and other fancy hats . . . can’t you imagine a small sports bar with comfortable chairs and several televisions? Hmm . . .
What could be better than a couple of popes each with a frosty mug in hand discussing the details of soccer in Latin? Perhaps in a bit to outdo each other with their humility, Pope Benedict would actually pray for an Argentinian Victory while Pope Francis prays for Germany.
Since I know that Pope Francis already owns an official Costa Rica football jersey, I don’t want to imagine him wearing the colors of another nation. I guess I can imagine him wearing his white robes with a stole with light blue and white vertical stripes like Argentina’s uniforms. Pope Benedict, of course, would have a stole with black and red horizontal stripes in the fashion of Germany’s away uniforms. In keeping with his normal style, Pope Benedict would be calm, not showing his emotions, discussing each play and call of the referees with the rational rhetoric for which he has been famous. You can bet he’d have an impeccable command of the rules and be, of course, infallible in his calls. Pope Frances, on the other hand, might be more likely to show his emotions, giving Pope Benedict a huge bear hug as part of his victory dance each time Argentina scores.
Yes, I suppose it is a terribly irreverent flight of imagination and I suppose that tree are some people of good faith who might be offended by such a flight of fancy.
But then, I’m not exactly a typical sports fan, either. It’s just an image that came to my mind that I can’t seem to get out of my head.
I know that there are many in the world who take both their sports and religion very seriously. I want to remind them that in the end, it’s only a game. God loves the winners and the losers. Life goes on. It is for entertainment and fun first of all.
But then I also think that all of the silliness of religious rivalry and the claims of various churches for some kind of exclusive claim on God’s attention must also be amusing to God. I’m pretty sure God laughs at our antics and wonders why we take so many things so seriously.
One thing for sure: if the two Popes do watch the match together, God will be right there with them. And God loves both teams equally.