For those of you who have lobbied loudly to make soccer a big American sport, we offer this cautionary tale:
A man in Malaysia, a "football" fanatic, sneaked out of bed to watch an apparently important soccer match. He did it despite a command from his wife that he hit the sack early because he had to get the kids to school the next morning.
So he's in front of the TV when suddenly he is attacked. By his wife. With the remote control.
She smacks him on the head a few times and then takes away the "smart card" that allows hubby to watch his favorite sport. (Some people call it "football" because it has something to do with feet and a ball. But they're confused. We Americans invented football. Soccer was invented to keep little kids busy during school.)
The 46-year-old man, identified only as Yap, according to some news service or other, was quoted as saying: "My wife just doesn't understand my passion for football." (See "football" above.)
Yap opened his (yap, that is) to the authorities, who had a little talk with the little woman. She soon relented and said hubby could watch the stupid game.
Yippee for Yap.

Posted at June 16, 2004 10:00 AM