My sports...my passion!

Growing up in Croatia there were three sports I followed: soccer, basketball and tennis. Soccer itself is bigger than life in that region and is followed on a daily basis by women, men, old and young. Even if you are not born with this passion for soccer, later in life it is instilled in you through years of watching, and with peer pressure in general. In order to understand this "sickness", one has to live in the country for a while and in particular during a major soccer event, such as World Cup. Stores close early, public offices and banks all shut down prior to the start of an important game, making it possible for the entire population to watch and root on the home team. A victory in such a game is celebrated in the streets by honking cars and random fans, who aimlessly wonder throughout the cities. By the same token, a loss in a big game is seen as the end of the world and people can be devastated for days and weeks following it. Some have even committed suicide based on the disappointing outcome of a major soccer game. It's a big deal in this region and some take it to the ultimate level, by ending their own life as a sign of their devotion to the team.
Basketball and tennis tend to get a similar following and dedication by the home fans but nothing ever comes to the fanatic level, associated with soccer only. Soccer has been in its own fan-following category for decades and it continues to separate itself from other sports, with the amount of money being spent nowadays on it.
While I believe some people take their passion and love for this sport to the brink of lunacy, soccer is a fire within me that will keep burning until the day I die. Sure the flame gets weaker at times and stronger at others, but one thing is for sure: it will never be completely extinguished.