One of England's best-loved TV sports pundits is a fellow called Ian Wright. He played for Crystal Palace, Arsenal and England. Earlier today, via live TV coverage, he was watching his beloved Arsenal play Bournemouth in The Premier League. It had been a surprisingly tough match for table topping Arsenal but in almost the last minute of the game, substitute Reiss Nelson came up with the winning goal. This was Wrightie's reaction:-
To those who are not passionate about football, the reaction may seem puzzling but I get it completely. I feel just the same way when my beloved Hull City achieve victory in the last minute of a game. It is quite orgasmic and briefly you forget yourself - such is the explosion of joy.
I did that same thing when Cher won the Oscar.
ReplyDeleteOkay, maybe I'm kidding.
Maybe.
I thought you might be a keen supporter of Charlotte F.C..
DeleteThis is me when I beat the husband at scrabble. About the only sport I am interested in!
ReplyDeleteI guess it must be a rare event. If it was common you would not get so excited.
DeleteI can admit having this reaction to sports but that was a long time ago and now I have no interest in sports at all.
ReplyDeleteI find that a little sad though so much professional sport is tied up with money and greed.
DeleteI'm not a fan of any kind of sport, but I totally understand the reaction to a surprise win.
ReplyDeleteI am astonished that you don't play women's Aussie Rules Football!
DeleteExplosion of joy, yes. I wish everyone could have such moments in their lives.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to let yourself go sometimes.
DeleteYou correctly predicted my reaction. However I hoped to be able to say something sarcastic about Hull victories, or the lack of them, but it seems the team is doing quite well. I note the club's major sponsor is well known Corendon Airlines, with its exemplary safety record. Ah, I can catch a flight from Bristol to Antalya.
ReplyDeleteInspecting earthquake damage is not on my holiday wish list.
DeleteThey use to call it Fergie time now it's Arsenal time. Or is it VAR time? 1999 was Treble time.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't Arsenal fans sing, "Come on Arse! Come on Arse!"?
DeleteThe closest I've come to experiencing something like that was when I was in junior highschool and was a waterboy for the highschool basketball team. Every year we always had an exhibition game with huge school well out of our league as a way for us to warm up. They always beat us thoroughly. But that one year when I was waterboy, we eked out a win with a last second shot. I remember my high school principle, a stern man who never smiled, come running out onto the court and leapt up onto the coach wrapping his arms and legs around him and screaming hysterically.
ReplyDeleteI myself have never experienced such joy but that image remains seared into my brain after all these years.
For just this moment I am wishing that I loved anything this passionately.
ReplyDeleteMy kids participated in some sports and I remember feeling this way whenever it went well for them or their team. Oops, time to watch F1 with my grandkids... gotta go!
ReplyDeleteThat is how I feel when Paul Hollywood gives a baker his famous handshake. Silly I know, but dang it, I love that show.
ReplyDeleteI can remember an epic basketball game between the Boston Celtics and my Phoenix Suns back in 1976. It was the championship series and game 5 went to a TRIPLE OVERTIME before Boston finally won by two points. But when the second overtime ended in a tie I leaped with joy from my chair and struck my head on a chandelier. So I can totally understand Mr. Wright's reaction to his team winning in the final minute today.
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