The Beautiful Game

While living in Latin America I became an aficionado of the "Beautiful Game." For non aficionados I refer to the game played with one's feet and a round ball.

Club Vasco da Gama (Roberto dinamite, Marco Antonio, Andrada) was my team of choice in Brasil,  due to close personal Carioca friends ( Thanks Quincas!) long associated with the Vasco club. (http://www.vasco.com.br/ )

At one point I remember taking in a Rio league championship match at Maracaná ( stadium with 177,000 participating fans in attendance).   It remains to this day the most exciting sporting event I have ever attended.  One mistake was made during those years-I posed as a press photographer getting credentialed to be on the field behind the cage.  One learns quickly not to stand up to take photos.  Being the recipient of not so gently tossed bottles speeds ones understanding that perhaps blocking the view from those standing in the moat a few meters away isn't advisable.

I think the attendees in the Rio league games must have declined over the years as the more skilled Brazilian players opted to play for more money in Europe.  Meanwhile, Maracaná stadium has been rebuilt with much less capacity than the 1950's world cup final witnessed by 205,000 fans.

Club America ( http://www.clubamerica.com.mx/home/ ) caught my fancy while living in Mexico after taking in a few games at Estadio Azteca in the DF, due to the then skilled striker named Enrique Borja.  It is nice to see the Mexican national team playing better, after several years of less than favorable results.  Clearly the Mexicans like their Chicharro!

Over the years I have lost touch with club soccer I previously enjoyed following, but  recently discovered that the FIFA website reports club football results on a  timely basis, having noticed  that a Vasco da Gama/ Flamengo match is being played today!  In spite of winning the Brazilian championship recently "Vascainos" have lost a game or two recently.

The FIFA website is here: http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/index.html