Across the West, from the United States to Germany to Italy, sports are a group event. In one way or another, people congregate to cheer on their favorite team. In the United States, we tailgate or throw Superbowl parties. In Münster, Germany, TVs lined the streets outside of bars, allowing dozens of strangers to crowd together at the same tables. Even in Florence, a city seemingly built for tourists, the Euro Cup is not hidden. Posters advertising its presence hang outside the rare sports bar, and the Mercanto Centrale aired the games on its half dozen flat-screen televisions. My classmates and host family enthuse just as much about the Euro Cup as my American friends and family do with the Superbowl. I had no idea that the American team lost to Argentina in football semifinals, but I don’t think it matters. Each culture and subculture assigns its own importance to sports. I followed the NBA Finals with my boyfriend, whereas some Americans don’t care that they missed out on a historic game. Meanwhile, the Superbowl has little impact on my life, but is the be-all, end-all for some people’s February. They watch what suits them, and I watch what suits me.
Good job.