The joy to be had chasing spherical objects is exquisite. Watching people skilled in ball control is a more leisurely pursuit, particularly in the summer months when laziness becomes an art form.
At Wimbledon the grunting efforts of top tennis players may be watched by crowds lounging on Henman Hill with their picnic baskets. The fans have their favourites such as Andy Murray and newcomer, Emma Raducanu, for whom they cheer and shout enthusiastically inbetween points.
The 2020 Euros have had their exciting moments such as when favourites Germany and the Netherlands got knocked out. People like underdogs, and England were not expected by many English fans to get very far in the competition. Little did we know. Beating Germany 2-0 and trouncing the Ukraine 4-0 took most people by surprise, myself included.
But spherical balls lack the unpredictability of rugby ballls. It is not just the odd shaped ball, but the physicality of the game that makes rugby enjoyable. Watching a player get a thumping tackle or a pack of forwards in a scrum shove their opponents backwards, or a back jump for a high ball when he knows he’s going to be flatttened on landing, all makes for engrossing sporting entertainment.
Even hitting little balls with sticks has its appeal. Golf and snooker require hours of playing and watching, but the fast forward on the remote can relieve the tedium for those like me with a short attention span.
The Lions playing the Lions had me mess up yet another betting slip. But the Lions, Sharks and Bulls club teams all get a crack at the British and Irish Lions. The 3 Test matches against the Springboks will be bruising contests. My money’s on the Lions with Stuart Hogg and Hamish Watson in dazzling form. Owen Farrell’s still a bit iffy.
odespinner 