If you are not a futbol (ahem... soccer) fan, chances are you do not live in a Latin American country, nor have you ever had the overjoyous occasion to be included in their ritualistic futbol festivities. After today, I am proud and honored to say that I have.
Myself and a couple girlfriends, who I literally met for the first time today, went to the Plaza San Martin in the middle of the city to watch the World Cup match between Greece and Argentina. All day long people were selling memoribilia in the streets like we were in Boston on St. Patrick's Day. The plaza was packed!!! How can I describe this? As squished as tight as sardines? As stuffed as a Chipotle burrito? As overcrowded as the LA school district? No! Imagine the capacity of Qualcomm Stadium corralled into a one acre space on a hill, all peering over each other's colored hats and flags at one pantalla gigante (BIG screen). Bear in mind that Argentines have no concept of personal space!
It was kind of a nerve wracking game stuck at 0-0 for over an hour! But in the last 20 minutes, Argentina pulled off two pretty spectacular goals and the crowd went BALLISTIC! Jumping, dancing, singing, cheering, hugging! There were firecrackers and confetti and drumming! It was something remeniscent of New Years 2000!
Having never been much of sports fan, I gotta say this kind of energy is addicting. Millions of people around the world gather in their street squares together and collectively will their teams to victory. It's more than just a ball and a pitch. Its a communion of spirits! For that brief hour and a half, what binds us together is more important than what separates us. The taxi driver honks at the businessman who high fives the kid next to him, and politicians join hands and sing! If all other human interactions were as effective, as simple, and as pure as a ball and a pitch, what a world this could be!
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