Tell me about it! In the fall of '98, i was with a group doing Christian mission work in Mexico. The U.S. and Mexico were playing at the beginning of the week, and we dreaded the outcome, because either team's win would mean a royal pain trying to get respect out of the locals instead of either bitterness or condescension.

Bless the Lord, it was a tie (i think, maybe even 0-0), and we had a great week. But i was amazed at how our campus ministry director (who grew up in Argentina as a missionaries' kid) got worked up any time the ball was kicked at the goal. I think my ability to see ahead of time when it's going to miss (carrying over from playing basketball) combined with my subdued introvertedness in the company of complete strangers on their "turf" to keep me calm. It was fun, but more from watching Tim than the match.

Mi "Tennis and beach volleyball are my favorite spectator sports. I think tennis, because i'm bad at it, and v'ball because its predictability is somehow hypnotic. And i'm bad at that." ke