This image on a thermal jersey pays homage to soccer teams in Slovakia. Mark Hodermarsky’s uncles and father were second generation Americans from Slovakia.
OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio — My twin brother of 68 years and I agree on most things. We share similar political views, enjoy watching the same films, and display a like sense of humor.
We are usually united regarding musical tastes (with two major departures being Mike’s aversion to Steely Dan and mine to John Denver). Our differences in choice of beverage and cuisine, however, are quite varied.
Where we are clearly in accord is our affection for baseball, football, and basketball. But a recent acrimonious debate about soccer’s stature as the greatest sport in the world temporarily (about 20 seconds) bruised an otherwise harmonious twinship.
Even though three of my uncles played soccer on several of the strongest teams in the Cleveland area in the 1930s, I pretty much ignored soccer and refused to place it among my list of major sports, pointing to the game’s low scores, lethargic pace, and feigned injuries.
I ridiculed the fan hysteria that sometimes erupted in mass brawls or, in some cases, demanded the construction of moats to separate the crowd from the field.
These foolish claims, I learned later, validated my ignorance of soccer.
Mark Hodermarsky, a retired English teacher from Saint Ignatius High School, is the author of eight books and numerous articles. A ninth book, “Baseball in Cleveland, 1865-1900: A Treasured Legacy,” from Cleveland Landmarks Press should be available in 2023. He writes from Olmsted Falls.
What changed my headstrong dismissal of this glorious pastime? The World Cup and my three grandchildren.
The spectacle that is the World Cup is unrivaled. Thirty-two nations (48 in 2026) from around the globe compete every four years to determine a champion.
Retirement brings its gifts, and since 2018 I have been lucky to have watched many matches. The quality of the play and TV coverage have not disappointed viewers.
From the first World Cup in 1930 to today, the athletes providing the thrills continue to amaze. This year’s World Cup has showcased such soccer legends as Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Brazil’s Neymar, Croatia’s Luka Modric, and Poland’s Robert Lewandowski. Their performances have been savored by millions across the world watching the Cup on TV and colorfully, passionately by zealous, decibel-breaking supporters in the stands.
Our World Series, Super Bowls, and NBA Championships cannot match the Cup’s excitement or energy and, for that matter, its importance worldwide.
Redemption has proven profitable.
The more I studied soccer, the more I appreciated the skills and strategies involved in the sport. I began to understand why goals occur so rarely, why the tempo of play crawls at times, and why players (apparently) stage being hurt when an opponent makes contact. What I find particularly remarkable about soccer being played at the highest level is the marvelous athleticism on display, including the enormous challenges facing a goalie, the ability to bend a soccer ball, the balletic foot skills necessary to push the ball forward or to make a steal, and the vision required to collect an assist.
The World Cup announcers and commentators, I must add, have also strengthened my knowledge and fondness for the game.
By far, I owe most of my love for soccer to my daughter-in-law and her three children who have played the game since pre-school. (A better team sport for young people may not exist.) Their mom played soccer in high school and later coached.
Listening to her instructions to her team helped me absorb the foundations of the game and recognize the techniques she successfully taught my grandkids and their teammates. I learned long ago as a fan of the game I love the most, baseball, that the more one views the game from the perspective of a coach, the greater the chance that a more discerning and pleasurable experience follows.
If you do not care for soccer, that is fine with me. I promise not to give you a yellow (or red) card. What I have learned most from my later-in-life attachment to soccer is the value of questioning one’s preconceptions.
Just think of what I would have missed if I had not witnessed Morocco’s upset over Spain and Croatia’s surprising victory over Brazil. Much worse, the dream championship matchup between France and Argentina coming on Sunday with, as always, blessedly, no commercial breaks.
Mark Hodermarsky, a retired English teacher from Saint Ignatius High School, is the author of eight books and numerous articles. A ninth book, “Baseball in Cleveland, 1865-1900: A Treasured Legacy,” from Cleveland Landmarks Press should be available in 2023. He writes from Olmsted Falls.
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