Football Fever

Football fever hits Sydney. Aside from the football-related advertisements in the tri-media, some TV programs now have a football theme. SBS, being the 2006 World Cup broadcaster, has two such shows. Song for the Socceroos, where your average-Joe singer/songwriter/band tries to come up with a um, song for the Socceroos. Winning criteria? It has to be simple and catchy enough so the even the drunkest of drunks can sing it to cheer on the Australian team. My personal choice? Here Come the Socceroos. Most people seem to like Green and Gold, though.

The other program is Nerds FC. Fourteen nerds and geeks with different interests and specialties. A bunch of them are into computers, gaming, AI, etc. Another's a linguistics geek, who speaks seven languages and even invented his own. You've got subject experts on cars, ships, politics, history, etc. What do they all have in common? They don't know a thing about football, specifically soccer. And after three months of intensive training, they're supposed to take on the Melbourne Victory in front of packed stadium.

I really have serious doubts about this. I mean, instead of doing hard-core training, these guys spend their time fooling around in some team-building exercises, learning samba from some Brazilian girls, recording a team song in the studio, shooting a music video, getting a total makeover from fashion consultants, having friendlies with the Young Matildas and some prison inmates, etc.

Our company is also doing its share to promote football. The company is hosting an event called Defend Your Turf, May 27 at Bondi Icebergs. Don't remember seeing a soccer field there? Well, just drain out the pool! It's Australia's best 5-a-side teams against the Boys from Brazil. UPDATE: Due to overwhelming response with over 250 teams, the venue has moved to the Overseas Passenger Terminal forecourt, West Circular Quay. Finals on May 25.)