Not that I want to answer for Abstract, but here's my take on Scottish football.
You support your team no matter what, yeah? Like we all support the Flames regardless of their success. So, that takes care of the team aspect. The league aspect is a little trickier, though I think this'll makes sense. Remember, in football in the UK (and most/all other nations?) there are different leagues. In Scotland, the top league is called the Premier League, but there's also the First, Second, and Third Divisions too. Whereas the NHL is a set list of 30 teams which (generally) doesn't change, teams move amongst these leagues all the time. If you finish in the last few places of each of the leagues at the end of the season, you go down to the next lowest league (e.g., imagine Pittsburgh would now be in the AHL or something similar.) and, obviously, the highest placed teams move up one. As you get towards the top leagues, the skill gets better, the rewards are higher and the teams get more professional.
Another point is that both Rangers and Celtic are from Glasgow. That leaves an awful lot of the country with local teams with local rivalries, etc.
So, in Abstract's case, he supports St. Mirren who are in the First Division. The game was against a team called Partick Thistle -- who jsut happen to be from the next town over (less than 10 miles apart I'd estimate). Local Rivalry. Plus, St. Mirren are at the top of the league, so if they keep going, they're promoted to the Premier League.
Going back to the Rangers and Celtic thing for a moment, I see your point. But in Scotland, there's always talk of who will be Scotland's "Third Team". I think as far as the league is concerned, we all do expect 'those two' to be first and second so it's almost irrelavant (to fans of other teams) and the real battle is for third place.
Plenty to cheer about.
I'm a rugby man myself though ...
|
