I’m not all that big of a sports fan, although I will watch parts of games or read about events when they interest me, and that usually means during a championship. One of my friends at work has referred to me as a “fair-weather fan” because I tend not to watch teams or players when they aren’t doing so well. I just wish I had the time!

One of my problems with sports is that I have had my heart broken too many times by certain teams (who shall remain nameless) over the years. One squad in particular would get to the playoffs, go up three wins to one defeat in a best-of-seven series, then lose the last three games in a row to be eliminated. AUGH! I had to give up following sports as closely as I had before because I just couldn’t take the gaff!

But I’m fascinated by the investment we place in something over which we have absolutely no control! We hang on every play and, as President John F. Kennedy once said, “We are inclined that if we watch a football game or baseball game, we have taken part in it.” Is that ever true! I spent one Redskins game at a friend’s home surrounded by fellow fans, and we never heard a single word the announcer on the television ever said because we were cheering, yelling and talking so loud!

Right now, the World Cup Soccer (everywhere else around the world, Football) tournament is on, and the United States team pulled off a stunning upset to continue to the next level. Apparently, one member of the team who lost was distraught over the loss, and did something that caught the attention of the media–in more ways than one!

Here’s the story:

>>World Cup 2010 – Algerian slaps female reporter

Eurosport – Wed, 23 Jun 19:48:00 2010

Algeria player Rafik Saifi slapped a female journalist across the face as the aftermath of the USA’s dramatic World Cup victory turned ugly at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday night.

While walking through the interview zone, Saifi spotted writer Asma Halimi, who works for Algerian newspaper Competition, and struck her with his open hand in front of dozens of witnesses. Halimi responded by striking the player in the mouth.

Saifi then threw a sports drink bottle at a wall in the interview area, as Halimi was ushered away by security staff.

Saifi came on as substitute for the last five minutes of the USA’s 1-0 victory.

“I said nothing to him and he reached over and hit me,” Halimi said to Yahoo! Sports. “So I hit him back. I said nothing to him first.”

It is understood that Saifi and Halimi had previously had a difference of opinion over an article she wrote for her newspaper.

“She was standing there and the guy came here and he hit her,” said Francisco Aguilar Chang, a reporter from Guatemala who witnessed the incident. “Then she hit him back and her nail caught his lip.”

Saifi and Algerian football association officials refused to comment when quizzed by Yahoo! Sports.

The Algerian team has come under heavy criticism in its homeland after a disappointing World Cup in which it finished at the bottom of Group C and was knocked out of the tournament.

When asked if she would launch an official complaint with governing body FIFA and the Algerian FA. Halimi replied: “Of course.”<<

Here’s a somewhat funny video about World Cup fans taking slapping to a new level:

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