Everyone’s gearing up for the SuperBowl here. Me? I don’t know if Super Bowl is one word or two words. Or who is playing. Absolutely no idea. I could type it into Google but such is my lack luster for the whole thing, I can’t be bothered. I’m just delighted that the local mountains have had a good dump of snow so that we can head off skiing for the day. The rest of the country can consume a vast amount of pizza, beer and potato chips and watch some very expensive commercials.
My big sporting event is Saturday morning. God Bless BBC America! Not something I thought I would ever be saying due to their usual horrendous programming (there’s only so many cleaning and cooking programmes I can take.) This year they’re showing the Six Nations, for which I am so happy.
To appreciate my enthusiasm for the Six Nations, you have to understand that my father was Welsh and a rugby fanatic. I spent my childhood watching him basking in the glory of Phil Bennett, JPR Williams and Gareth Edwards. We spent many weekends in Wales whilst my father would head off to his debenture at Cardiff Arms Park.
I’ve watched Wales play in Cardiff, I sing the National Anthem in Welsh. There is not a bone in my body that can support England when it comes to rugby. You really have to understand the intense rivalry between England and Wales to appreciate how much I support Wales and not England. There was no way was my father raising a daughter who supported the English rugby team.
I even have this chap sitting on my desk. Not the most attractive of ornaments(!) but his stare ensures my Welsh side never slips. He’s a Grogg, purchased by my father with great pride when Wales won the Triple Triple Crown.
If you have BBC America, can I suggest that even if you don’t want to watch the entire match, just watch the Welsh team sing their anthem at the beginning. Strapping Welsh lads hardly able to open their mouths and sing due to the emotion. It is a thing of beauty, well, I think so anyway.
And thank you BBC America, I’m so glad I can watch the match. It’ll make me feel so much more connected to home. Could we have ‘Have I Got News for You?’ too?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Oooh, thanks for the heads up. I’ll record it. I’m with your, I’d rather watch proper football or rugby any day over the Super Bowl.
I am SO GLAD BBCA is finally showing 6 Nations! Today, I’m wearing my WRU 6 Nations shirt from 2001, when I got my first taste of rugby studying abroad. I’ve been a diehard WRU fan ever since and there’s nothing I’d like more than to see them beat England…unless it’s to take home the grand slam again this year like they did in 2008!
I will be very British-ly watching the rather good adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma on PBS on Sunday night. No Superbowl for me! Don’t follow the rugby either I’m afraid – although I know my Dad will be watching.
By the way, have caved on the Valentine’s thing – we did get a note from school after all mentioning how many children are in the class. So I have bought some rather tacky Disney cards and lollipops from Rite Aid……
Am with you all the way on this one, albeit slightly different take as I am married to a Welshman, and I think the Welsh national anthem is by far the most beautiful and moving of any.
And I should know as our boys could in due course play for Wales, or England, or Australia, or Italy, or even (at a push) Ireland or New Zealand.
Confused? Only when forced to pick sides!
LCM x
I thought it was the ‘Super Ball’ for the first year or two I was here!
LOL Iota – it does sound like “Super Ball.”
We won’t be watching the SuperBowl either. Maybe the Toilet Bowl on HGTV instead! I definitely want to see at least part of the rugby game – I just blogged about it too.
I grew up with American football, both on TV and live, and I became a total convert to rugby about 5 years ago. Although I admit my team is New Zealand and my loyalties are with the tri-nations, not the 6-. But I’ll happily cheer for whoever is playing against England (Wales included, but mostly Scotland).
We’ll be watching the rubgy too – it’s important to introduce the boys to the concept of shouting at the TV screen. But, I’ll stand up for myself here, despite my diluted Welsh blood there will only be the words ‘COME ON ENGLAND’ coming out of this household. Swing Low….Sweet Chariot…. and other unprintable phrases rubbishing the men in red.
(my Dad got to us at a very young age to ensure we didn’t display any other country supporting tendencies!)