The F Word At the Football

Yes, it was time to watch the cowboys in action once again.  Last home game of the season, and sitting 5th on the ladder, I gathered The Wife and jumped in the car, to see the boys play at home.

And what a game.  The home side took the game by 8 points in a grinding battle.

I had a great time, and kept Cadbury Corner alive as when I arrived, the cheering section was sorely depleted.  The 2 guys I usually cheer myself to a sore throat with weren't there.  So, it a was up to me.  And you know, I believe my cheering made a difference.  When I started, the entire bay picked up the call.  And it was on.  What a blast.

But I am left to wonder.  

Some kids near me, in their enthusiasm to see an away team's line break come to a quick end, yell things like "Kill him," or "put him down," so be it.  That's part of the fun, part of supporting the home team.  There's nothing wrong with that.  And if you happen to barrack for the other side, well, you're in hostile territory, get used to it.  But make a complaint?  Why go to the game.  You have that same right to cheer your team, and in the same manner.  I'll respect it.  I won't like it, but I'll respect it.  If you're that easily offended by it, don't go hostile home ground.  Sit in your stadium, surrounded by the people who cheer for your team.

There's also a big thing about the use of the word fuck at the game.  Not just in cheering, but in conversation, they don't want it because "football is a family event."  This fucking word comes up all the time, not just at the footy, but in shops, movies, restaurants, music and even TV.  What the fuck is the fucking problem with saying the word fuck?

You can't protect your kids from it.  They'll hear it when you're not around and will be using it themselves before the fucking age of seven.  You can't protect em.  They'll fucking hear it whether you want them to or not.

So why even try to fucking regulate it?

Is speech in this country no longer free?  I should be able to fucking the say the word whenever the fuck I want.  If you don't want to sit near 15,000 people, all saying whatever it is they're saying as is their right, then stay the fuck at home.  Put on Foxtel, and watch it on TV.  But you'll soon work out that the players say it on the field and the coaches say it in their boxes.  You can read it on their lips.  I highly doubt they are bothering to moderate their language by saying "freak."

The fucking word is part of the game.  Its part of the emotions, the thrill, and especially the disappointments. 

If you don't like the fucking word, maybe it's time you followed a different fucking sport.  Harden the fuck up, and get over it.

They should be fucking grateful it's only that word they hear.  They could instead could be listening to the tuba section of the Sydney Orchestra and smelling the local sewage treatment plant if I decide to eat 2 bowls of chilli before coming to the game.

That'll fuck em.

Football

I'm going to the footy this weekend.  Not Grid iron football- that game is bit too stop/start.  I'm not talking about the AFL either.  No  one this far north down under plays AFL.  Don't even ask about football/soccer. 

I'm talking about rugby league.  Not rugby union which is the game played in Canada.  I'm talking about six tackles to cross the field and score, without a forward pass.  I'm talking about full contact, heavy tackle, no equipment.  This weekend it's The North Queensland Cowboys vs the Melbourne Storm.

I haven't been to the footy in years.  I used to have season tickets.  Then, one day, I moved 5 hours north and bought a house.  The season tickets became unnecessary and unaffordable.

But this weekend is different.  I've already driven south.  I did that Wednesday.  I was hoping to go to the game, and the friend that we're staying with scores a few tickets.  Free, but not entirely without strings.

You see, I have to say a certain phrase.  This is a requirement by the men who have bought the tickets.  If I didn't agree, I wouldn't get the tickets.  When I was a season ticket holder, I used to yell out and support my team in any way possible.  This included yelling "Cowboys" as loud as I could.  This included making very strange loud noises in time with the conversion or penalty kick attempt by the visiting side (I like to think I may even have been successful in breaking player's concentration and forcing errors more than once, but I think its my ego talking).

It also included this certain phrase.  I can take credit for starting this at the stadium, because no one said it before.   Once it came out, I said it often, and to my surprise I wasn't the only one saying it.  And even though I no longer go, it's said often.  And according to my season ticket holding friend, sometimes talked about with fond memories of that Crazy Canadian who used to come out here and yell and carry on.

Well, like the poltergeist, "I'm Baa-aack."  For one night only.

And Sunday night, by the man who first used it there, Dairy Farmer's Stadium will once again echo with..

"Get off OF him, not get off on him!"

It's going to be fun.