1:34:00 PM
English Portfolio V - Inferiority
The seemingly cynical musings of this blog post are made with reference to the massive storm of articles flooding the weekend TODAY. These articles have been downloaded, compiled and re-uploaded and can be accessed HERE.
(Not-so) Live action from the English Premier League: one of the most glamourised activity where millions of clueless spectators scream at 22 grown men kicking a small white ball.
(and here the word count starts).
One of my favourite conversational topics is soccer. I love comparing opinions, rattling off statistics and making bold decisions on the upcoming Man U versus Chelsea match. In fact, I can recite random facts about almost any league in the world.
However, one of my least favourite conversational topics is Singaporean soccer. These discussions usually end up in #1 awkward silence, #2 awkward silence or #3 more awkward silence.
For instance. One day, I went up to my friend and inquired: "Eh, do you think Alberex Niigata can beat Geylang United tonight, ah?".
I was greeted by awkward silence.
In today's TODAY paper, I counted 9 long pages of commentary, predictions, information and analysis on the upcoming EPL*. Full colour pictures of smiling managers, smiling players and smiling pundits adorned the countless pages of knowledge from the soccer gods.
Oh, I also spotted half a page on S-League soccer with a badly taken shot of some Malay (or is it Indian) manager that I have never seen in my life. The paper says his name is Sundram-something. I think. Sorry, but We the citizens of Singapore (well, most of us) can't be bothered with Mr Sundram-something, and five minutes later, if you ask us who V Sundramoorthy is...
Awkward silence.
Let us silently contemplate. What IS the difference between the EPL and relatively inferior Asian leagues such as ours? The EPL has extensive media coverage, excessive publicity, expensive-but-who-gives-a-damn sponsors, and the explosively charismatic faces on and off the pitch. Meanwhile, the S-League is represented by virtually unknown Mr Sundram-something and receives 11.112% of the media coverage that the EPL does.
Don't you just hate that feeling of inferiority?
Just a while ago, Singapore bravely held world-class Australia in a friendly match. These Singaporeans are a representation of the footballing standard of Singapore, and these Singaporeans chased, sprinted, slid and dived every time they caught sight of the ball, AND not to mention, the Australians praised Singapore for a match well played.
Is this inferiority?
People might argue: the EPL has Rooney, Ronaldo and a myriad of talents in all departments, and meanwhile, Singapore goes insane cheering for Lionel Lewis, Aide Iskandar and 20 other foreign-talent players whose "Singaporeanisms" have come under question
Yes, this seems like inferiority, but we're catching up.
We too CAN learn from this polarisation phenomenon. Even though there is huge gap between your personal S-League and the EPL of your life, YOU CAN CATCH UP. For example, If your studies suck now, 5 years later, you might just be the genius of your class. If you can't kick a ball straight now, just wait. 5 years later, you might just be a football prodigy.
You'll never know.
But anyway, strip everything down to the bare essentials, and you ultimately get 22 men kicking a ball in an utterly overhyped game of brawn, a tiny bit of brains and, who can forget, the screaming fans to cut out the awkward silence
And that's all that matters. Hopefully.
(five hundred words exactly)
*for the uninitiated, EPL is an acronym for the English Premier League.
Labels: ep
