for some football

It's been 164 days since the last live college football broadcast and there is still 77 days until the opening weekend of Auburn and Alabama football.

Perhaps, for Father's Day, someone should let Father Time in on this disturbing fact because I am losing my mind, and morals, without football.

I mention that I am losing my morals because this week I did something I never thought I would: I watched both a World Cup and a Stanley Cup game.

I know I have probably let my friends and family down by going back on beliefs that soccer and hockey were created by Communists and Nazis, but I did it and I must confess.

The worst part of the deal is, (gulp), I actually liked it.

I couldn't believe it. As I sat in front of my television to watch a World Cup match between Mexico and Iran, I found myself cheering, out loud at that, for the Mexicans to take down those evil Iranians.

It was like America's biggest two threats, immigration and nuclear terrorism, meeting face-to-face on the pitch and I had to be vigilant and watch it unfold.

Or perhaps I have been watching too much Fox News.

Although I am clueless to the rules of soccer, I couldn't help but cheer out loud when Mexico's Omar Bravo scored not one, but two goals in less than a few minutes.

His second goal, a header, was one of the most amazing plays I have ever seen, and I barely knew what was even going on.

The same thing happened while I was watching the NHL Stanley Cup.

As I tuned to the game, the Carolina Hurricanes scored two goals against the evil Edmunton Oilers from Canada in less than a few minutes, and I was hooked for the rest of the game.

Although the only icing I know comes from The Cookie Company, I still was intrigued with this game.

Perhaps I am just thristing for some REAL football, but to Mexico's Bravo and Carolina's Corey Stillman, thank you holding me over until the real football season begins.

Austin Phillips is The Greenville Advocate sports editor.

You can contact him by e-mailing austin.phillips@greenvilleadvocate.com or by calling 382-3111 ext. 122.