Daniel Brigham 0 Posted May 8, 2015 Sport is at its best when it matters more. So embrace the nerves, says Daniel BrighamIt’s been a difficult week. Across the East Anglian divide people have been discovering that their bowels are capable of noises and lurches no one would believe possible. Nerves have been twisted into the sort of knots only scout leaders could undo. In order to cope with The Biggest Derby For 30 Years, it’s been useful to pretend that football doesn''t matter.After all, it''s just a silly game invented by people who wanted to kick things through town centres and across muddy fields because they didn''t have gramophones, wireless sets, televisions or iPads to preoccupy them. Back then – then being a long time ago – there was nothing else to do other than competitive vegetable tossing, incest and dancing around a maypole in ridiculous coloured clothing (a little like many football kits, actually). So, to stave off the relentless boredom, and with little else to take their minds off not having a fully-functioning sewage system or electricity or PlayStations, people started kicking things around.So, no, football doesn''t really matter. Not at all. Just a bit of fun, isn’t it. Just something to pass the time. The ruse doesn’t last long though. The mind jolts to 12.15pm on Saturday and it becomes blindingly obvious that football does matter, and precisely because it doesn''t matter. It is a distraction from the norm, the regular, the everyday. It is a world away from the work meetings, the doctor appointments, the receding hairline, the guy in the office who eats all of the team biscuits but never provides his own. Football, and all sport, is as deeply human as breathing, sleeping and drawing things on walls. The importance of it has stayed with us from the dawn of humanity, when hairy men with beards went hunting for sport as much as for survival, and its importance will still be there tomorrow, when hairy Bradley Johnsons with beards go hunting. Sometimes it matters so much that you need a distraction to distract yourself from the distraction. This Saturday, for example, sport matters more. Like the best sport, it matters more because of what is at stake. Think back to the great moments of British sporting triumph since the turn of the century, and there was always a subplot that made them mean so much more than just the winning: the country was gripped by the rowing at the 2000 Olympics because of Steve Redgrave’s quest for a super-human fifth Gold medal; the 2003 Rugby World Cup gave England a first World Cup win in any major sport since 1966; the 2005 Ashes turned a nation of cricket-shruggers into devotees because of the possibility of a first win against the Australians for 18 years; Andy Murray’s Wimbledon triumph in 2013 had 77 years of history depending on it as he became the first British male to win the title since 1936. The play-off semi-final has plenty of subplots to lift the two matches above most football games, certainly across East Anglia and, judging by national newspaper country, also across the country. The simple, old-school reason of geographical rivalry (a city of cathedral and churches against a town of Costcutters and Co-ops) will ensure it entices the neutral and traumatises the biased. There’s also a subplot in the dug-out and on the pitch, with a cool, popular new kid pitted against everyone’s favourite grumpy uncle, and a team of pressers and passers verses a team of pragmatism and punts. Then there’s the Big One: a win would be a step closer to the prize of Premier League football (or, to give the prize its full title, Struggling Not To Be Relegated From The Premier League). They say your best chance of getting to the Premier League is the first season you’re out of it, which adds extra drama for Norwich fans. For Ipswich, well, the last time they were in the top flight Britain was getting all worried about Mad Cow Disease and excited/horrified by Gareth Gates and Will Young (there’s probably a link there). So this matters to Ipswich. Like, really matters. When sport matters this much, the only way to cope is to fully embrace it. Sporting moments of truly high drama, intrigue and meaning come along rarely. So relish the nerves, relish the sweaty palms and relish those weird things your stomach is doing, and just be grateful for that fully-functioning sewage system. Daniel Brigham is a sports writer and editor. He tweets at @dan_brigham Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's Character Forming 1,160 Posted May 8, 2015 Hmmm - in some ways this derby is easier to prepare for and less nerve-wracking, for me at least, than a normal one. Simply because it''s a massive game anyway, being in the play-off semi-finals, having it against our biggest rivals just piles on some more importance. So it''s all-important and you don''t need to worry about whether you''re getting it out of proportion. Defeat over the 2 legs would be a crushing blow, no getting away from it, while a win will be fantastic. So I agree completely with AN when he says this is what football is all about - your team competing in a massive game - why else do we bother watching? Bring it on ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,531 Posted May 8, 2015 This match isn''t about Ipswich. It''s about Norwich and a quest to get promotion. Ipswich just happen to be the team that need to be beaten for that to happen. It is neither more nor less important because it is them. The focus is on beating a team over legs, the fact that it is Ipswich gives it a little spice, but nothing more. The main issue is getting through the tie, whoever it is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
R Mellie 0 Posted May 8, 2015 DB - "the guy in the office who eats all the team biscuits but never provides his own" - I may be wrong, but I reckon ''that guy'' is one you once knew, or currently know, and completely despise!!This is all pure amateur psychology conjecture on my part of course, but I agree, ''cos I know his twin and I hate him too...Joking aside, good blog though. I''m both looking forward to the semi finals, and dreading them too. OTBC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barclay seats 4849 the 3rd 0 Posted May 8, 2015 Totally ,,,, completely ,,,, 100% wrong long distance Canary ,,, as usual ! Of course it makes a huge difference that ,,, our most important game in years is against our hated enemy !!!Oh , I remember ,,, you don''t believe that animosity exists do you ? You probably have trouble feeling the atmosphere from where you are . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,531 Posted May 8, 2015 [quote user="Barclay seats 4849 the 3rd"]Totally ,,,, completely ,,,, 100% wrong long distance Canary ,,, as usual ! Of course it makes a huge difference that ,,, our most important game in years is against our hated enemy !!! [/quote] Fine if you see it like that. I don''t. I don''t deny it adds a bit of spice, but what is the more important issue to the club - the fact that is Ipswich or the fact that it is two matches to the play off final? It doesn''t matter who it is - we have to beat them. They are just a hurdle to the next round. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel Brigham 0 Posted May 9, 2015 ''A bit of spice''Ah, come on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites