Long-time readers know that I am a huge fan of European soccer. When I have the time, there is just about nothing else that I would rather do than watch a match in one of the top leagues. Part of the reason I enjoy it so much is that the games just flow. The clock starts and play continues, without timeouts or interruptions. Quite a contrast to American football, in which eleven minutes of action are crammed into three hours of watch time. I also like the European clubs’ rivalries, their fans’ enthusiasm, and the sudden bursts of sheer athletic brilliance that frequently result in goals.

And I also like the players’ names. I know that the players are not chosen for their names, but for some reason the game attracts so many players with names that are distinctive, musical, or audacious. It starts with players like Robert Snodgrass, the Scot who now plays for Hull City in the English Championship League, and Lee Cattermole, who plays for Sunderland in the Premier League. These players’ are among those whose names I find that I can’t hear without involuntarily repeating them. Here’s what I sound like watching either of these player’s teams play: “Snodgrass!” “Cattermole!”
Continue Reading The Game of Names