Barcelona v Real Madrid = the Spanish Civil war re-enacted on the football pitch*, some of the fans having been alive with all of the bitter memories of Franco, war crimes, famine, etc etc.
I sometimes try to argue with my Catalan friends that for Catalunya to be independent, Barcelona the football team would lose it's identity. The team represents the Catalan independence movement, the history of the war, and like it or not, it's defined by it's "enemy". Without Real Madrid to play against (shades of [em]Unbreakable[/em] which I really liked despite it's alcohol-is-bad message), Barcelona FC would be [em]just a club[/em].
Needless to say the hardliners couldn't give a fuck!
* see also Glasgow vs Celtic, which is 500 years of Protestant vs Catholic antipathy, but with added head-butts
HarveyCanal"a distraction from my main thesis." 13,234 Posts
My vote goes to: Dog versus Cat.
But yeah, Duke and Carolina games are almost always unreal in their intensity. I thought the Tar Heels had a win in the bag coming down the stretch last night, but nope.
Given what you say, who the fuck roots for Madrid?
Who the fuck admits in public to voting Republican?
History is written by the victors...
Madrid fans obviously find it easy to say that supporting their club isn't necessarily supporting Franco (but I expect some fans feel that it is!), and that they have moved on and it's just a sporting rivalry, but I'm sure they're all aware of what it means to Catalans, and nobody is pretending that it isn't at the very least a geographical/cultural rivalry with serious political undertones.
RE: Shadow Of The Wind - no, not yet, sounds interesting. Thanks for the tip!
For those that have watched multiple Duke/Carolina games, it is unreal.
No contest. Why are we even talking about Hockey or Futbol.
'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' [em]Bill Shankly[/em]
For reasons outlined in poasts above, football is often literally life-and-death vs some teenage college kids playing for parochial pride and future NBA contracts and ------------- wait a minute, we're arguing about which arseholes take sport too seriously.
"The Football War (Spanish: La guerra del fútbol), also known as the Soccer War or 100 Hour War, was a brief war fought by El Salvador and Honduras in 1969. The cause of the war was economic in nature, namely issues concerning immigration from El Salvador to Honduras.[1] These existing tensions between the two countries coincided with rioting during the second North American qualifying round of the 1970 FIFA World Cup. The war began on 14 July 1969, when the Salvadoran military launched an attack against Honduras. The Organization of American States negotiated a ceasefire on the night of 18 July (hence "100-hour War"), which took full effect on 20 July. Salvadoran troops were withdrawn in early August."
"The Football War (Spanish: La guerra del fútbol), also known as the Soccer War or 100 Hour War, was a brief war fought by El Salvador and Honduras in 1969. The cause of the war was economic in nature, namely issues concerning immigration from El Salvador to Honduras.[1] These existing tensions between the two countries coincided with rioting during the second North American qualifying round of the 1970 FIFA World Cup. The war began on 14 July 1969, when the Salvadoran military launched an attack against Honduras. The Organization of American States negotiated a ceasefire on the night of 18 July (hence "100-hour War"), which took full effect on 20 July. Salvadoran troops were withdrawn in early August."
Supporter rivalry, no question, futbol for the win.
In terms of team rivalry, it's open to debate, but I think Flyers/Pens carries the most hate (lately). Leafs/Habs and yanks/sox for historical reasons.
Maybe we need to add Stockport County vs Worcester City:
I love the way #11 has his arm raised, watches the bodyslam and brings his arm down in-synch, then holds his head in his hands as he realises the consequences.
Not for nothing, but three out of the four teams from my hometown have been mentioned, and the only reason the Pats haven't been is that nobody can even begin to compete with them. Pretty sure Boston wins for sports fanaticism and historical rivalries.
Dennis Berkgamp. Dennis Bergkamp. Dennis Bergkamp.
It's the way he's gasping like he has whooping cough - he can't get the oxygene back into his lungs quick enough to say DENNIS BERGKAMP. It has, for 15 seconds, become the only thing that his entire body, nervous system, brain, lungs & vocal chords are in existence for.
Comments
Barcelona v Real Madrid = the Spanish Civil war re-enacted on the football pitch*, some of the fans having been alive with all of the bitter memories of Franco, war crimes, famine, etc etc.
I sometimes try to argue with my Catalan friends that for Catalunya to be independent, Barcelona the football team would lose it's identity. The team represents the Catalan independence movement, the history of the war, and like it or not, it's defined by it's "enemy". Without Real Madrid to play against (shades of [em]Unbreakable[/em] which I really liked despite it's alcohol-is-bad message), Barcelona FC would be [em]just a club[/em].
Needless to say the hardliners couldn't give a fuck!
* see also Glasgow vs Celtic, which is 500 years of Protestant vs Catholic antipathy, but with added head-butts
But yeah, Duke and Carolina games are almost always unreal in their intensity. I thought the Tar Heels had a win in the bag coming down the stretch last night, but nope.
Who the fuck admits in public to voting Republican?
History is written by the victors...
Madrid fans obviously find it easy to say that supporting their club isn't necessarily supporting Franco (but I expect some fans feel that it is!), and that they have moved on and it's just a sporting rivalry, but I'm sure they're all aware of what it means to Catalans, and nobody is pretending that it isn't at the very least a geographical/cultural rivalry with serious political undertones.
RE: Shadow Of The Wind - no, not yet, sounds interesting. Thanks for the tip!
Dallas Cowboy fans?
No contest. Why are we even talking about Hockey or Futbol.
Red Sox/Yankees, ehhh.
DUKE/CAROLINA = EVERY YEAR. EVERY GAME. game over.
You're right, we shouldn't mention hockey. It's kind of a soft batch "sport"
Here are some intense moments between Duke and Carolina...
etc.
R**skins Cowboys who cares?
Piston Bulls?
Duke NC endures like no other.
LOL
'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' [em]Bill Shankly[/em]
For reasons outlined in poasts above, football is often literally life-and-death vs some teenage college kids playing for parochial pride and future NBA contracts and ------------- wait a minute, we're arguing about which arseholes take sport too seriously.
Supporter rivalry, no question, futbol for the win.
In terms of team rivalry, it's open to debate, but I think Flyers/Pens carries the most hate (lately). Leafs/Habs and yanks/sox for historical reasons.
opposite coasts, multiple chips, hall of fame players, deluded fans.
Futball/Soccer is that real shit though.
I love the way #11 has his arm raised, watches the bodyslam and brings his arm down in-synch, then holds his head in his hands as he realises the consequences.
It's been a good weekend for bodyslams in English football:
[removed][removed]
NC and Duke play with more passion, leading to better, less predictable games, when they play each other. This has been true for decades.
http://grantland.com/errol-morris-week/#theheist
No other rivalry is that close, EVERY time. That was my main point.
I'm undefeated against that fool.
by the way, I'm in Austin again (business trip). Seems like residents are running away to get away from the SXSW madness.
It's the way he's gasping like he has whooping cough - he can't get the oxygene back into his lungs quick enough to say DENNIS BERGKAMP. It has, for 15 seconds, become the only thing that his entire body, nervous system, brain, lungs & vocal chords are in existence for.