My Love Affair with Liverpool

My affair with Liverpool is one that has brought me pain, heartaches and to one of the lowest lows in my life. But it also gave me fun, happiness, joy, passion and ecstasy. That word sounds hot and nice. And I bet you are getting interested.

Where do I start? Let me think; it was a long time ago. Ah! David Robert Joseph Beckham. Ironic? Yes. Could be. When I think about it now, it is funny how a fierce love for Liverpool should be ignited by a man so proud to have played for Manchester United – my most hated club – but that would be for another story.

It was senior high school. 1998. The hottest item was David Beckham. We had a good understanding of football in high school. It was part of the highlighted sports in the school. So the list of hottest celebrities would always involve one of those lean, tall, cute guys from the pitch. But no one really shook the all-girl school as much as Beckham. But as I has always been. I need to be different. I can’t swoon over a guy who was everybody’s crush. Unacceptable! I am different. I am deviant. I can’t have Beckham and get the same Gillete printed ads and make his blond good looks as a cover for my notebooks.

MICHAEL JAMES OWEN. I had him. The perfect choice. Not that tall. No Beckham looks. But he was the only guy who can better Beckham. He was only 18 but such promise can be seen in the guy. He was the BOY WONDER. (I was not born during PELE time so he doesn’t count for me) Fast, smart, prolific goal scorer and at age 18? WOW! He scores a goal in almost every match, a key contributor in every game. He was the perfect striker at that time. He shook the world during world cup. He awed England and the rest of the world with his talent. Pure magnificence. A class on his own. That was Michael James Owen.

When one learns to love the player, one will learn to love the team. My curiosity with Owen opened up not only the doors and windows but collapsed the whole house so I will open up to loving Liverpool. The most decorated club in England. The best English club in Europe. I have never seen the glory of the Kenny Daglish days. In 1998, they were not that good. But MO made them shine. He was just the best there was.

But Liverpool FC is more than MO. Liverpool is history. Liverpool is the team. Liverpool is the fans. Liverpool is red. Liverpool is passion. No other club can boast of fans as great as the RED fans. It has been said over and over again. And I will say it too. Liverpool has the best fans in the world. They may not have the best team but they have the best fans. Manchester United cannot claim that nor can Real Madrid. And the rest of the clubs? - It would be pure ignorance to claim that they are.

Liverpool may not win each time but she always make me remember when she does. Liverpool brings so much joy when she wins from complete dominance; she gives me ecstasy when she wins from comebacks. She hurts me when she cannot score from so many chances. She breaks my heart when she loses when she has dominated the game. And when she was overpowered and looked weak, she will suck the life out of me and I am left lifeless and broken. She became a part of life. Sometimes, even the center of it. She started to rule it. My world revolves around her. I read somewhere – Liverpool is a way of life. A brotherhood for many. A religion for the faithful. – I cannot agree more. All left to say is AMEN.

Then when I was so much in love with Liverpool and MO. My heart started to stray. I cannot keep my eyes from looking at another. STEVEN GERRARD. He was young and restless on the pitch, always all over. Very versatile. But he barely played in the 1999 season. I saw very few of his games. Shaven head, tall, young and cute guy. So perfect. Then I felt a tugging in my conscience. That is bigamy! I am so sorry MO. I promise I will not look at anyone else.

But I was stupid. I betrayed him. Here was a guy – always committed and persistent on the pitch slowly taking up a place in my heart. No longer do I rave about how magnificent MO’s goal is it was always how magnificent the pass was. Stevie can spot MO anywhere like he can spot him even when his eyes are closed. Just SPOT ON. Simply perfect. Purely amazing.

The obsession started. I started reading about him. They were even friends; trained as kids together. It felt very sinful. Taking another lover in the man who is MO’s friend. I was sorry but then like I can’t resist the temptation. I kept on coming back. I was just a bored wife with a faithful husband looking for some fun. And I started to look for mistakes.

MO wants to leave Liverpool. Oh no! But somewhere in my mind, I was happy; he was not that playing well for Liverpool. Sometimes, there was no fire in his eyes. So different from the MO I knew and loved. But this is the chance I was looking for. I can file for a divorce now. But I felt betrayed as well. MO is leaving the club where he trained as a boy. He is leaving the club where so many of his friends are. He is leaving. Liverpool is not doing well. Barely can they qualify for EUFA Cup. I have to give him up. I cannot give up Liverpool for MO. I love MO but I love Liverpool more.

So it is all STEVEN GERRARD now. Just one great man in Liverpool, one great in a team of small stars. He is always good. But he was not like MO. MO was already great when he started. Stevie developed before our own eyes.

When he became skipper, we saw how he loved Liverpool more. In 2005, he was rewarded and about time. After a marvelous saving goal for Liverpool against Olympiakos, after going through Juventus and Chelsea- Liverpool and Stevie deserved to be champions. And to be champion in such a fashion against AC Milan made it all the more special. The man is special. Stevie G. is special. And he brought the Champions League cup to Liverpool and it is staying there for good.

And there came more. The FA cup final was the STEVEN GERRARD FINAL. Two goals for and one of them being a 37-yard screamer in the 90th minute. Again, saving Liverpool and giving it a cup to bring home.

He is the best in the world. A box-to-box player. Never had there been someone as good as him. He scores goal, makes goals and stops goals. Messi and Henry may be better strikers; Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka may be better midfielders But no one does what Stevie does. They may be better in those positions. But Stevie G. simply does more. Bringing flexibility to the team via his brilliance. He will always be great. And I wish he will be the last I will love.

Michael Owen is my first love. He was brilliance and talent. Steven Gerrard spells commitment and forever. Stevie will NEVER leave Liverpool. He will play for the rest of his career in the Club I love most. For his skills with ball, he will always be number 1 in my list. For his commitment, I love him. And may my heart not stray. But one thing is certain and will never fade.

MY RED IS MY PASSION.

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