As most people should know, im the first person to lambast American football as a bunch of poncy, low IQ guys running around a field wearing pads. That part of it hasn't changed but in hindsight of watching the University of Arizona Wildcats play last night, i can certainly see the draw of the game. The atmosphere was electric - the players and fans celebrated everything from a decent tackle to someone running 3 yards up the field! (seriously!)
The stadium here at the UofA is impressive for university standards, ive seen nothing like it in the UK. With a capacity of 56000 its bigger than most premiership clubs grounds. The actual stadium though is so crap its awesome. The steps are so steep to get up towards the top, when you get there, theres nothing to stop you falling down the rows infront of you and only a 6ft high bit of concrete to stop you jumping off the back of the stand 120ft to the carpark below! We were seated near the top but could still see everything clearly enough with great views over Tucson aswell.
The game itself is played over 1 hour of "play time" however the actual result is it last much longer than this for breaks, time-outs and other pointless crap. It was actually a full 4 hours after kickoff that we left the stadium following the pitch being rushed by thousands of students! The Wildcats are having something of a weird season, not doing brilliantly but causing a few upsets and last night was no exception. We beat the #2 team in the division with some great plays which subsequently lead to long celebrations with people climbing the goal posts etc despite warnings that if they rushed the pitch, they'd be arrested. The police had other ideas and just said sod it when 10,000 fans ignored the failing voice on the loudspeaker. It had a really university sporting event feel, like nothing ive seen at a UK university. And for $15, it was a steal. I'll load up photos this weekend so check them out as and when.
In the mean time, ive got much work to do so better get on with it but just a quick bite of news from Russia. Some 30 "simple Christians" (let not get into a religious debate!) have barracaded themselves into a cave in fear of the "end-of-the-world". I kid you not! It is reported they have taken food in with them but exactly how long for is unclear. They have warned police not to storm the cave with threats of commiting suicide by blowing up a gas cylinder. The doomsday cult in Russia believes the world is going to end in May of next year. Roughly when im coming home to the UK, wonder if that has anything to do with it? COME ON PEOPLE, GET A GRIP!
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