FOOTBALL FEVER
If you're ever in town for a soccer game involving the Turkish National Team, count yourself lucky. Look for a bar and grab a stool among the locals for an evening to remember.
Why? You'll watch--albeit on TV-- a sporting event seated among the locales that's unlike watching any other professional athletic game in the world. Or maybe outside of other Mediterranean or South American countries that consider their football next to godliness.
Case in point: Turkey advanced to the Euro 2008 semifinals June 15 to the roar of tens of thousands of fans in the stands in Switzerland. And to the joyful screams of disbelief from the 70 million monitoring the game of 22 at home in Turkey from their living rooms or in coffee shops. With friends or alone, most were united in a win that translated into hours of revelry in the streets .
With less than 7 minutes of regular play, the Turks scored the equalizer and one-upped it within a minute. After some trash-talking and head-bumping, the Turkish goalie was expelled, leaving the National Team without a goal keeper and just 10 players. This play-by-play translated in a fan response of unequalled chime Istanbul-wide.
It's been two hours--now in the early a.m.-the streets of Fenerbahce on the Asian shores are brimming with motorists waving flags and honking horns. The mood extends to the sailors waiving flashlights from atop the yachts I see peering across my balcony to the Sea of Marmara.
The best part: regardless of creed or religion passersby are high-fiving, and embracing each other in a national sense of fraternity. Watch a game of such significance and you'll be sucked in. Like it or not.
STRICTLY SPEAKING
Futbal Atesi--Football Fever (Pron. football ateshi)