by Annie H. Liko

Created on: January 22, 2009   Last Updated: February 05, 2009

I've always love soccer. Even though I've never personally participated in the sport, I never miss any good matches on TV. The Red Devils alias Manchester United is my all time favorite and Norman Whiteside was one of the players that kept me glued onto the TV set. My deep interest in the sport might have been fuelled by my father and my male cousins who are all nuts about soccer; I remember being the only girl among them at every live telecast.

However, life takes a totally different turn when I got married. My other half is so not into soccer; his reason: there is no reason to sit in front of the TV for 45 minutes or more just to watch a bunch of guys running endlessly around the field chasing after a ball when there are a lot of other interesting programs to watch. So the message is delivered loud and clear and it is definitely the appropriate time to switch the channel on the TV set, abandoning the "not so interesting" match in progress, with the commentator screaming out excitedly that the defense of the favorite team had been weakened. Despite the calm reaction in reaching out for the remote control, underneath, the heat is seething to a dangerously boiling point. Why can't he just be like other guys who are able to be part of the sport even though they are only enjoying it on the screen? Come on. It's an exciting sport that every guy should love. It was a disappointing moment to suddenly realize that you are living under the same roof and sharing your life with someone who doesn't welcome soccer on his TV.

Life without watching my favorite matches on TV was lonely for a while and to go to the soccer field alone to watch the local friendly matches would be an embarrassment since most would be going with their family and friends. I did toil with the idea of having my own "freedom" TV set but then decided against it. It would definitely liven up my days but without doubt, it would also cause a wider rift in our relationship. I tried to console myself that I'm lucky enough since my life doesn't centered ultimately on soccer alone. I could at least substitute it with some other interesting shows or activities.

But then again, I could imagine how different my life would be if only I had given in to my freedom TV idea. I could see myself every now and then yelling excitedly and shouting relentlessly into the wall of the room alone as I watch with excitement every favorite match on my own TV set while my spouse would be in a more somber mood, watching Discovery

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