Wangberg Weekly: Our Obsession

We have tried all sorts of sports. In Utah we went to Grizzly (hockey) games. They were ok, but after going to an Olympic Hockey game during the Salt Lake Olympics we realized how slow the Grizzlies were. So we went to some Utah Jazz games mostly because we were given free tickets. Those games were beyond boring. Sorry if I've offended any Jazz fans, but it just wasn't for me. When we got to Maryland we went to some baseball games. Here we have two teams to choose between. We could be Nationals or Orioles fans. While I am an Oriole fan at heart the games just dragged on. They are fine to attend on occasion, but I couldn't be a devoted fan. Then we found DC United. A sport that finally kept us interested. I totally get the European and world obsession with soccer. The game keeps moving and you know that it will be over pretty much an hour and forty-five minutes from when it starts. The fans are great. They chant, jump, throw confetti, and pound drums the whole time. Tade likes going to the games with us which is a plus with a 5 year old. He actually understands a lot of what's going on. Last year we hosted several UK soccer coaches who were over here teaching at soccer camps for the summer. Tade had the best time learning all about European soccer. By the end of the summer he was calling his uniforms kits, the field was a pitch, and soccer was no longer soccer it was football. We loved our coaches and all the time they spent teaching Tade about what they love so much. They even keep sending him stuff from England to keep his love of soccer flowing. We are well stocked with Manchester United and Liverpool stuff as well as DC Untied things. With his new soccer knowledge Tade has even chosen what position he wants to play. He has informed us he wants to be a goalie. A while back we were at one of the DC United games and Tade asked why the goalie was holding the ball. He said "there are no hands in soccer." He's never liked the no hands rule. So he sat back and processed everything then looked at us and said "I want to be a goalie because they get to use their feet and hands."

Last year we went to many of the games. This year we decided we wanted to see a lot more games so Jake's mom and I bought partial season tickets for him for Christmas. This was an incredibly cheaper way to attend games. Plus it made for a wonderful surprise for Jake. It has been so much fun knowing we can see more games. Tonight we went with the Morgans. Both Jon and Allison played soccer in high school, but had never been to a DC United game. So we figured it was time they went. They were playing Real Salt Lake tonight which we thought would be an appropriate game for all of us to attend. It was a fun evening out, but unfortunately a scoreless game. Whenever we go to games with friends the outcome it always 0-0, but it still beats watching basketball or baseball. So GO DC UNITED!

We're not sure if the reason Tade loves going to the games is because he wants to watch soccer or because he knows he gets cotton candy every time we go. He and Josh both had a grand time getting sticky.