Rooting for the Enemy

If you ask me what 3 sports teams I hate the most it goes as follows:
1. Boston University Hockey
2. Any college football program in Florida
3. The Mexican National soccer team

And not in that order. I loathe El Tri. They are the US MNT's biggest rival and there is plenty of hate in the 2 countries history. 2002 WC being the biggest black eye for the Aztecas. On top of that, they can't beat us outside that smog filled garbage heap in the sky they are so proud of (Gold cup final last year just does not count). But today I rooted for El Tri with vigor for the following 3 reasons:
1. They played France
2. They should have been playing Ireland
3. I am in Mexico

As much as I dislike them, being in a country that backs their team with pride fills me with envy and respect. In the US, soccer in most places (especially middle america) is viewed as some sort of immigrant conspiracy like Catholicism or the Metric System. We will root for the US in Badminton at the Olympics but just ignore our national soccer team and in many cases have outright contempt for it.

Mexico deserved to win. They controlled the game and the Frenchies had nothing creative to offer. Gio dos Santos played uncharacteristically unselfish and hard working and Rafa Marquez proved why he wears the armband. If he was only so consistent for Barca. The first goal was nice and Blanco hit that penalty perfectly.

After the way Forlan dismantled Bafana Bafana yesterday, I am looking forward to Uruguay v. Mexico next week.

Flynn