way to go Manchester United, 2008 EPL champions!

I wouldn't normally write about a favorite sports team with a championship title still hanging in the balance. Luckless as I am, I wouldn't want to jinx them. However, this is too good to resist. Manchester United has just won the English Premier League title for the 10th time in 16 years, and will be playing in the European Champions League Final in a couple of days!

I was introduced to soccer in grade school. Having spent part of my childhood in the Philippines where soccer was virtually unknown, I was a total noob when we moved to Hong Kong. Everyone played soccer and I was the odd one out. What is soccer, I asked myself. Don't

they play basketball around here? Eventually, it dawned on me that soccer was their basketball, the sport everyone loved and played.

At first, classmates couldn't understand how someone could be a total soccer idiot! With my lanky frame (I was tall for my age) running around the pitch and missing the ball at almost every opportunity, I was their comic relief. Gradually, I learned. I eventually embraced the sport with the help of my gym teacher and some very (very) patient classmates, but not without my share of bruises. Kicks (accidental or otherwise) to the legs, shin (ouch) and thighs were quite ordinary and tolerable. But what left me grimacing were the occasional kicks to the family jewels! That always left me shouting in pain, and seeing stars twinkling all around just like in the toons. He he. But what is sports without the casual kick, elbow or head butt? After a few seconds of recovery, I was usually back on my feet and ready to play again (out to seek revenge!).

Manchester United was the most popular team then, and my brother and I were its two biggest fans. We would never miss any of its games on TV, sometimes even staying up very late (unbeknownst to our parents of course) just to watch them live. Man U hasn't changed. In fact, it has gradually improved over the years, winning championships not just in England but league titles in Europe as well. And this year is no exception. With the 2008 English Premier League title already won, we now set our sights on the European Champions League Finals in Moscow on Wednesday. I just hope I didn't jinx them with this post. (Photo courtesy of manutd.com)

If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my RSS feed. You can also subscribe by email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.