The history of football has never been a particularly vibrant field (unlike, say, baseball history). The most common form have been annals of domestic and international competitions and dreary footballers' biographies. My love of history and football seemed destined never to meet. However, lately, with books such as Tor! and JOFH it looks like it's finally happening.
I often wonder if football has had a more profound influence on today's world than we often realize or acknowledge. It provides (mostly) nondangerous outlets for patriotism for politicians (e.g. Merkel at Euro2008) and lets nations of different size and wealth compete on relatively even grounds (witness Croatia winning against Germany, for instance). I don't doubt that a some day a historian will write a magisterial treatise on the role of football in shaping the 20th Century.
I also entertain my own wild theories about the importance of football. I think that if the Soviet Union would have won the European Championships in 1988 or done better at the 1990 World Cup the Soviet Union might have lasted longer and possibly survived the commodities slump which bankrupted it. posted by Kattullus at 12:46 PM on June 30, 2008
Looks like this is about soccer instead of football. posted by republican at 12:55 PM on June 30, 2008
Looks like this is about soccer instead of football.
Them Americans are coming out of the woodwork again... wondered how long it'd take.
Nah, it's about football. posted by WalterMitty at 1:10 PM on June 30, 2008
"Football" as a verb always sounds vaguely dirty, to me. posted by gurple at 1:14 PM on June 30, 2008
Ah crap! Hadn't noticed that I got the name of the Journal wrong. Oh well. posted by Kattullus at 1:27 PM on June 30, 2008
One of the many joys that arrived with the explosion of internet video is being able to see parts of sports history hereto only read about, such as Ferenc Puskas' famous dragback goal against England at Wembley. What a stunning goal. posted by Kattullus at 1:49 PM on June 30, 2008
Hurrah! Brilliant post, thanks.
[goes off to read] posted by ninthart at 2:22 PM on June 30, 2008
Nice post. I got interested in football/soccer around the time of the 1994 World Cup (yes, I'm one of those shallow people who got excited because it was held in my own country), and I bought some books on its history and culture (because that's the kind of bookworm I am), and I'm quite interested in this journal. I'm not quite interested enough to give them my name and address, though. posted by languagehat at 3:05 PM on June 30, 2008
*cough cough* you can lie *cough cough* posted by Kattullus at 3:08 PM on June 30, 2008
Nice post! posted by Kwine at 3:11 PM on June 30, 2008
I've figured out why they ask all that personal information. People can leave comments on some articles (like here) and I reckon it's to keep people as civil as possible. Why everybody can't read their articles and not all article are open to comments I can't answer. Either way, they've got some kinks to work out. posted by Kattullus at 4:18 PM on June 30, 2008
Soccer is like hockey, only no ice or excitement. posted by Mojojojo at 5:37 PM on June 30, 2008
Go be North American elsewhere, Mojojojo. Thanks, Kattallus.
(BTW - I just read your profile and I am ....bemused.) posted by salmacis at 12:51 AM on July 1, 2008
I wondered when you'd come across that, salmacis. posted by Kattullus at 5:20 AM on July 1, 2008
(yes, I'm one of those shallow people who got excited because it was held in my own country)
We'll take fans any way we can get them, thanks. posted by Wolof at 5:08 AM on July 2, 2008
« Older
Without explanation, all of Violet Blue's posts ha...
| The Bullitt chase...
Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
Subscribe
posted by proj at 11:10 AM on June 30, 2008