When an artist friend mentioned a few years ago that he regularly got up at 4:00 am to watch European soccer on television, I was more than a little surprised. I just didn't think of David - a serious painter and professor of fine art - as an avid sports fan. Soccer? What would he find so fascinating about soccer? The answer came with a little probing. "I like to watch soccer because each field is a different shade of green, depending on the location, the time of day, and the weather. I make notes on colour," he explained. Proof positive that there's something for everyone in the beautiful game!
As the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament takes place in South Africa, passion for soccer seems to have taken over Argentina. National pride, Latino machismo and a genuine appreciation for the speed and accuracy required in the game, are factors that heighten the excitement for Argentine fans. The colourful personalities and star status of forward Lionel Messi and coach Diego Maradona are an added draw for many viewers. Television sets have been mounted at the end of each aisle in Vea supermarket, so customers can stay tuned even while grocery shopping. San Rafael has become a city of spectators, all keeping their eyes on the ball while eagerly awaiting Argentina's next important match.
Robert, who played soccer as a schoolboy in Holland, gets excited over the fast-paced technical aspects of the game and delights in moments when precise placement of the ball resembles clockwork. The geometry of passing and the split-second timing of shots on goal appeal to him. His perception of the game fits the rhythm of this video:
Robert, who played soccer as a schoolboy in Holland, gets excited over the fast-paced technical aspects of the game and delights in moments when precise placement of the ball resembles clockwork. The geometry of passing and the split-second timing of shots on goal appeal to him. His perception of the game fits the rhythm of this video:
At the opposite end of the couch, I enjoy slow motion re-plays, where camera work and tight editing make the players' movements sustained and graceful. Colliding bodies appear to hover in mid-air, the ball floats like a helium balloon off the top of a players' head, and each miniscule expression of frustration, anger, joy or triumph becomes a monumental close-up. In these elongated frames, soccer becomes a sport as visually engaging as a ballet performance. I am reminded of the video work of U.S. artist Bill Viola, whose slow motion interpretation of a painting by Pontormo entitled "The Greeting" employs the same effect. I saw the full-length version several years ago in a gallery in Cologne, and it left an indelible impression on me. Here's a short clip.
The perfect meal to pair with soccer viewing is osso buco (veal shank), which takes 90 minutes in the oven, the same amount of time as the game itself. During the pre-game warm-up, I sear the meat in a frying pan with pancetta, which adds a rich bacon flavour to the shanks. Onions, carrots and celery are combined with a few sprigs of rosemary and thyme, a cup of white wine and some chicken stock to simmer in the pan for a few minutes. As the opening kick-off begins, the shanks, vegetables and sauce are placed in a covered casserole dish and put into a low oven to braise for the remainder of the match. At halftime, I make gremolata, the traditional herb topping for osso buco, which consists of chopped Italian parsley, garlic and grated lemon rind mixed with a tablespoon of lemon juice. I cook some large potatoes in the microwave, peel and mash them. By the time the match has been decided and the final whistle blows, the tender veal is falling off the bone and a delicious dinner is ready to be served.
We pair the soccer feast with Novecento Syrah 2009 from Bodega Dante Robino in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. This wine needs to be opened early in the game to breathe and unfold its unique coffee and spice flavours. A bottle of Novecento costs 17.09 pesos at Vea.
Here's another good reason for viewing the World Cup games. The grass planted on the South African soccer fields was supplied by Pickseed, a Canadian seed company and is a hardy combination of perennial rye grasses, Zoom (an appropriate name) and SR4600.
Manitoba farmer Brad Rasmussen was never a soccer fan until the seed grown on his farm was sent to the stadiums in South Africa. He's watching the tournament to see how that bright green turf holds up!
Here's another good reason for viewing the World Cup games. The grass planted on the South African soccer fields was supplied by Pickseed, a Canadian seed company and is a hardy combination of perennial rye grasses, Zoom (an appropriate name) and SR4600.
Manitoba farmer Brad Rasmussen was never a soccer fan until the seed grown on his farm was sent to the stadiums in South Africa. He's watching the tournament to see how that bright green turf holds up!
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