Before most of us Americans settle down to watch NFL playoffs, there is something I will be watching to warm up for these big games of American football.
It is probably something most American football fans hate, but there are many people—including NFL players—that love watching it.
It is that sport known as soccer. This weekend, unlike other weekends, is the third round of the FA Cup—a tournament that allows many small-town clubs, like Swindon Town, Vauxhall, and Salisbury, to go up against the giants of soccer such as Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool.
This competition may be difficult to equate to an American sporting event, but the concept is something all Americans love:The little guy going up against the big dog—the perpetual David vs. Goliath battle.
The great thing about the FA cup is that the games start roughly around 8-10am Eastern Time—roughly about the time you wake up to get ready for the playoffs. These matches will end just before kickoff of the first NFL game, so you do not have to miss the playoffs.
Instead of wasting your time hearing Terry Bradshaw and other goofballs give you analysis that is far from in-depth, flip over to Fox Soccer Channel, and catch some of these epic cup ties as our English brethren call it.
If you can’t get FSN on your TV, head over to a local English pub or well-known soccer bar to catch these matches. Have a nice English breakfast and watch some footy. The greasy food will do wonders to detox your body from the previous night’s spoils.
Even though soccer is a relatively marginalized sport in the U.S., there are plenty of people who enjoy watching these matches. The beauty of watching a bunch of carpenters, shop assistants and mechanics go up against players who play their favorite sport for a living is one that we all dream of.
Granted the majority of these matches will be predictable, like seeing Liverpool steamroll Luton Town, or Chelsea smacking around London rivals QPR—but just like the NCAA tournament, you never know when a bunch of ragtag boys from Ipswich or Cambridge will defeat the polished boys from Newcastle or Sunderland.
So if you have nothing to do tomorrow morning, watch an FA cup match—you will be entertained.
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