Jul
10
2010
Cheering on the Dutch
I mean no disrespect to the soccer team from Spain. In fact, I can think of several reasons to cheer for them in Sunday’s World Cup final. For example, I know a lot of Spanish colors and all my numbers up to 99; the running of the bulls always seemed pretty interesting; and the scarf on the Dutch coach has got to go. But alas, I have to be true to my roots and cheer for the lads from Leiden (for the sake of alliteration I’ll assume some players on the team must be from Leiden).
Here are seven reasons to cheer on the Dutch:
7. Netherlands’ Crown Prince Willem Alexander and Crown Princess Maxima look like friendly people (see photo above).
6. Orange is my son Jacob’s favorite color. It’s also goes with the Chicago Bears, Hope College, and Orange City, Iowa, and many of my t-shirts. I’m glad William was of Orange not of Mauve.
5. Windmills and wooden shoes. So quaint, yet so cool. Imagine a Dutch slide tackle or a bicycle kick with wooden shoes. Wicked awesome.
4. The Dutch team has a Van Bronckhorst, a Van Persie, a Van der Wiel, a Van Bommel, a Van der Vaart (don’t laugh), and is coached by a Van Marmijk. Makes me feel like I’m back in Grand Rapids.
3. They also have an Ooijer and a de Zeeuw. What a wonderfully egregious use of vowels.
2. The Dutch gave us tulips and TULIP. We owe them big time. (Well, you owe them. I probably had a relative at Dordt.)
1. Midfielder Nigel de Jong. We’re practically second cousins.