Sabotage Times, We can't Concentrate so Why Should You?Sabotage Times, We can't Concentrate so Why Should You?


image description

Screen Shot 2014-01-10 at 12.52.36

Spurs ‘Til I Die: New York-Based Fan On His Love For North London

This feature originally appeared on The Fighting Cock.

Last Christmas and New Years I traveled with my family and a large group of friends to a cabin in Upstate New York. We drank, we ate, we were merry, there was hiking, singing, laughing, games, and good fun all around.

But there was one thing that was a steady topic of conversation: the bewilderment that all of them felt by my need to wake up at 8AM to watch the Football on TV.

Over and over again I was asked “why football?” and “why Tottenham.” It’s a nearly impossible question to answer when you are an American being asked by other Americans that, like you, have all been raised on Baseball and the ‘other’ Football. Never mind the ‘Tottenham Question’ which for me has to include a treatise on what it means to be a ‘Jewish Team’ and how I don’t care about that, but how there is this bar that used to be around the corner from my house which was the official New York Spurs supporters bar, and how I was dragged there against my will, and something about marauding style, and Modric, Bale, Adebayor, Redknapp, etc, etc…

Usually their eyes glaze over around the eighth minute of explanation and I get to go back to punching the couch in disgust as we give the ball away, or yet another attack fizzles out.

But in truth, there is a much simpler reason why I’m Tottenham: that horrible game at the Emirates a few years ago. You know the one: 2-2 at the half, and then 3-2, and then 4, and then 5-2 as the whistle blew.

At the half I had stumbled, shell-shocked, into the street to stand with the smokers (I’d long quit but I still feel some sort of solidarity with the rest of my lung-destroying comrades). Next door to the Spurs Bar is an Arsenal Pub, as though it was the perfect scale recreation of North London in sleepy Brooklyn.

More…

The Greatest Goal I Ever Saw: Spurs’ Gazza vs. Arsenal, FA Cup Semis 1991

A lone Gooner stood outside smoking, while dozens poured out of the Spurs bar. He grinned an evil grin, then mumbled something about “there’s only one team in London” and then nervously went back inside the minute he saw the hate and fury on our faces. I thought then, as I do now, about the passion we felt, all 300 of us, packed into that bar craning our necks to see the game on screens that were way too small and way too old to handle the number of us. I thought then, as I do now, how the Arsenal bar was practically empty despite the shiny new HD screens that lined the wall behind the booze. I pictured then, as I do now, that that is how it is in North London — a place I’ve never been but a place I spend my weekends dwelling in, living as though on GMT despite being so many miles away.

As I watched our team turn glory into pain at the end of that game, the crowd began to sing. An arm was thrown around my shoulder “I’m Tottenham til I die, I’m Tottenham til I die, I know I am, I’m sure I am…”

I’ll admit, now, that my eyes teared up. And when the song changed to “Tottenham when I’m dead…” I knew it was true. I had no choice in the matter, the baptism by fire had been performed and there was no turning back.

In this time of great uncertainty at the Lane, in this time of upheaval and disappointment dressed in fading hope and desperate decision making, I think back to that game and smile. It is our losses that drape us in glory. It is our heartbreaks that bind us and keep us coming back, hoping, dreaming, of redemption. I was a fan before that loss, but I was Tottenham following it.

I write this now, for one simple reason:

We are midway through the season. We have booed, we have moaned, we have celebrated AVB and mourned him, we have winced at Sherwood, and ridiculed Adebayor, we have turned upon each other and eaten our shoes in protest of how far we have to walk.

Every day I wake up and count the days until Saturday or Sunday. Every day I think about the day that my 9 month old son will be old enough to finally understand that a team from North London has become his birthright. Every game that I tune into I swell with pride when I hear all of you sing, and all of you cheer and think about the day that I’ll join you all, hoarse and tired winning or losing singing our glorious songs.

So keep the faith Tottenham, if only because somewhere across the ocean we’re relying on you.

Visit The Fighting Cock here.

If you like it, Pass it on

image descriptionCOMMENTS

Anonymous 12:02 pm, 12-Jan-2014

Up the Spurs!

pauld 12:22 pm, 12-Jan-2014

Nice one !!!!!! Yids in Brooklyn !!! Shame you boys never experienced the real thing first hand.There is one undeniable fact and that is your 'Tottenham tell you die'. !!!! Let's face it Tottenham have under achieved for so long now that it seems to make no sense to glory hunters ( Chelsea, Arsenal) etc... why we can under achieve the way we do and fill our stadium every week with a 23 thousand waiting list for a season ticket !! Well I can answer that very simply, we love Tottenham, we love the style we love the tradition.....WE LOVE TOTTENHAM. !!!!!!! Oh and by the way, when your Goober pal gets on it about only one team in London, just remind him to get his facts right first of all...1; I don't believe they've one anything in the past 8 years or more so I guess they're behind Chelsea scum on that one straight away. 2; They're not even a North London side !!! They should be playing Charlton Athletic as their true derby game not us. !!! Let's face it,,,,, NORTH LONDON IS OURS , NORTH LONDON IS OOOUUURRRS, WE'RE TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR NORTH LONDON IS OURS !!!! YID ARMY !!!!

OzOnYouSpurs 12:28 pm, 12-Jan-2014

I've been there mate. I know just how you feel. I was in a Manhattan pub when they sang "we're the Y1ds in America, WoahOH!" Love my Spurs

MightSpurs 12:31 pm, 12-Jan-2014

Awesome post my friend. Great to hear there are Spurs fans with such passion about the team across the pond. COYS!!!

stu 12:32 pm, 12-Jan-2014

Legend. The lillywhite army is with you brother

kevtheyid 1:16 pm, 12-Jan-2014

You got me #tears cogs

yaseen 2:09 pm, 12-Jan-2014

Good on ya mate. I'm in Baltimore, but actually from Stamford Hill, which is just down the road from the lane, 2.5 miles up a straight road, to be exact. I visit home (London) annually and always catch a game at the Lane. The feeling, the emotions, the euphoria, is indescribable. On my last visit I got to see the final game of the season at home to Sunderland, and experienced the emotions when we were wrongly told that Newcastle have equalized against the scum at St.James's. And then to witness that Bale goal. And then to see the Legend come out and give a little speech at the end, knowing full well that we will never see him grace the Lane again in a Spurs shirt was making me teary. Spurs have taken over my life and influence my emotions.

Kenny Johnson 2:50 pm, 12-Jan-2014

Having been born and raised in London and supporting The Mighty Spurs since I was 9, its wonderful to read stories of my fellow Yids from over the Pond. I've been getting over there since my Granddad took me in 1970. I do not believe there is a better atmo anywhere else in London. I go to as many away games as work allows, but I never miss the games against The Scum, The Pikeys & Chelski. Spurs are famous for their loyal away support and I like to think that I'm part of that as well. If You ever come to Blighty look me up and I'll take you to Billy Nic's Bar.

Jonny 3:27 pm, 12-Jan-2014

Beautifully well put.

xtotters 3:46 pm, 12-Jan-2014

thank my fellow yid in the usa that is so true,i was born in aberdeen scotland i moved to luton when i was 5yrs old way back in 1973,and i started supporting spurs in 77 when we was in the old 2nd div.i to this day dnt no why i support tottenham but am so glad i do with all my heart,

Spurs USA 4:20 pm, 12-Jan-2014

Nice to hear about other Spurs fans on the east coast. Sad to see that Spurs are not playing a game this side of the states.

Aaron Wolfe 4:30 pm, 12-Jan-2014

Thanks for reading! Really appreciate all the kind words. And @kenny I definitely will! Cheers, and COYS!

Andy M 7:48 pm, 12-Jan-2014

The part that's very interesting is that the ARSE pub next door was practically empty. Those lot just don't inspire the passion or the loyalty that the mighty Lilywhites do, and never will. Spurs till I die.

Michelle 2:27 am, 13-Jan-2014

You've articulated my exact sentiments as a Spurs fan living on the other side of the pond. Only exception is that I'm Canadian. I just learned this week that Spurs are coming to Toronto in July and let me tell you I screamed out loud and jumped up and down. I get to see my team play! Still can't believe it lol

Aaron Wolfe 5:40 pm, 13-Jan-2014

@MIchelle, I went to a Spurs Red Bulls friendly two summers ago and it was possibly one of the most exciting things I have ever seen. Siggy and Bale scored. I don't think I sat for a second of the game. Find out if the Toronto Supporters are getting a block of tickets and go with them! You'll never forget it.

Col mc 1:55 am, 21-Jan-2014

Yid army

Leave a comment

Football image description SABOTAGE

1