90 minutes for 1 moment (world cup 2014)
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“Both teams produced exactly one chance in the second half in a bid to break the deadlock.”
World Cup semifinal Argentina/Netherlands
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“The moves weren’t like Colombia’s samba or their version of “The Twist,” but more like Elvis Presley’s duck walk splashed with a little “Moonwalk.”
International Business Times on Ghana’s goal celebration
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So.
I will admit … I am not a futbol <soccer> guy.
But even I have to watch some of the World Cup.
Here is the truly crazy part about soccer.
People stay glued to a TV for 90+ minutes … just so you do not miss the almost inevitable 40 seconds that makes it all worthwhile.
Yup.
People just do not move.
Where else … shit … what else … would anyone in the world today do nothing for almost 2 hours to see nothing <nothing as defined as something which would create a win or result> just so they could see the one 30 to 40 meaningful seconds?
Uhm. I would suggest nowhere else.
<note: plus … isn’t it for this exact reason sportscenter highlights were created?>
Soccer matches may seem odd to Americans in that they are 90 minutes long by definition where there are no time outs … the clock starts from the opening whistle, takes a break for halftime and winds all the way through to its conclusion.
Ah.
But a soccer game rarely lasts just 90 minutes. Time of the match is up to the discretion of the referee.
Huh?
As part of the ‘Laws of the Game’ while each half is 45 minutes long the referee can supplement those allotted periods to compensate for stoppages during the game. Each referee can add time as desired or as needed. There are guidelines — goals and substitutions usually bump stoppage time up by 30 seconds each — but the referee operates as the sole arbiter of Time <I wonder of we call him Father Time?>.
Regardless … as you can imagine … this uncertainty creates some angst and frustration because of this seemingly random coexistence with Time.
The application varies from game to game and referee to referee. Similar stoppages in two different matches could produce an extra two minutes on one match and perhaps 30 seconds in another. And the referee can end the game before the posted time or extend it beyond the supplemental period if required.
Anyway.
Despite its peculiarities … those 90+ minutes give you the one minute.
The goal.
And the aftermath of the goal.
As a non-soccer aficionado I am sure I miss the true spectacular nuances behind most of the goals.
And while they almost all look spectacular to me in that I have no clue how they get in position to do what they do and then do what they do when given the opportunity <let alone how they do what they do> … the aftermath makes it all worthwhile.
The smiles.
The dances.
The celebrations.
Because the ‘moments’ are typically so few & far between … when they do happen … grown men become little boys.
It is in those moments I think all of us who love sports get reminded why you play sports.
It isn’t the money.
It isn’t the fame.
It isn’t the cameras and adulation and fans.
It is the sheer joy of the moment.
And I believe the World Cup adds another dimension.
Team & country.
Aw.
I don’t know.
Maybe I am making too much of what I see.
All I really know is that I am seeing people sit and watch 90+ minutes of what I only see as almost ‘nothing’ as guys run around and on occasion the ball actually enters the zone from which it seems at least viable a score could happen.
And they watch for that one moment.
Or two moments.
Any and all of which total less than one minute.
Let me repeat.
Maybe one minute out of 1 1/2 hours.
Ah.
But in that one or two moments we see men become little boys.
And that gets frozen … imprinted in our minds … and as they smile … we smile.
And while this World Cup has seen some spectacular goals in spectacular fashion … to me … it was when Asamoah Gyan scored in the 63rd minute to give Ghana a 2-1 lead and he was joined by teammates for a hypnotizing celebration dance that did it for me.
The video does not do it justice.
Watching it live and how the camera lingered on this group of young men doing this dance you couldn’t stop watching was mesmerizing … chuckling … and delightful.
Ghana celebrates: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgzMHCxSJzM
Look.
In a world where we bitch & moan about not having any time or not enough time to do everything … could you ever imagine sitting for 90+ minutes just to 
get 1 minute of ‘doing’ satisfaction?
The entire game has a seemingly random coexistence with Time.
Frankly … that is what makes it special.
Take a moment and watch if you haven’t yet.
That one moment will be so worthwhile you will not regret you took the time.
Hmmmm. Well, that’s definitely an American pov- particularly Americans who like the instant gratification of scoring, and the belief that “winning” is the only reason to play/compete. But as I’ve lived here (Hup Holland Hup, btw…), I’m learning there’s a whole other culture of appreciation for the game of futbol/soccer as an art form as much as a sport. There are those who will (and do) argue vehemently that it’s better to play an elegant game and lose than play any kind of game simply to win. So to these guys, it’s 90 minutes of appreciation for an art (think ballet, opera, whatever…), and not just waiting for someone to score/win. I myself am kinda in the “why play if not to win” camp, but it’s been interesting to experience and learn a different point of view,
well … i am an american you know. heck. i not only admitted i was not a futbol fan but also suggested i missed out on all the craft that went into the ‘art’ of the game … beyond that … in today’s world … regardless of how much you love something and the art … it amazes me that a world of people who complain they don’t have enough time to get everything done that they want to get done … will glue themselves to a screen for almost 2 hours enjoying the art … and realistically it all culminates into maybe one minute of ecstasy. sort of soccer nirvana where the world is perfect if but for one moment. in the end i imagine i am pleased that some people out there recognize that ‘if but for one moment’ was worth waiting for. oh. but do the dutch always have to wear orange?