Cheer like a dragon

There are many things that need translation when you are abroad. Nothing, however, is more universal than the emotional joy of a sports fan.

Cecile and I got great midfield tickets to football – aka soccer – rivalry match of Olympija Ljubljana versus Maribor. These are the two top teams in the country, representing the two largest cities. You have to keep in mind that the whole country of Slovenia has a smaller population than Chicago - but then - a White Sox-Cubs game packs a lot of emotion into the stands.

I’ve never quite understood Americans who think soccer is boring. Even a game with low points (this ended in a scoreless tie), the action is constant – much like a hockey match. The clock in soccer is real. It drives me crazy that the last five minutes of an American football game can take a half hour. In soccer the ref can add a few minutes to make up for injury delays on the field, but basically after 90 minutes it's over. There are no time outs, no stopping the clock for a television break, and no pause to reset the chains.

And there are no cheerleaders, officially. But just look to the seats at the goal ends to find the fans who really take their sport seriously.

Olympija Ljubljana has the Green Dragons, named for both the team colors and the mascot of their city. On the other side of the field was Viole Maribor, named for the purple jerseys of their players.

These are the “ultras,” fans so fanatical that police in riot gear station themselves nearby. Each group has loud drums, choreographed cheers, banners and fireworks. Well, maybe not “fireworks” but flaming flares that let you know with no uncertainty that these fans are enthusiastic. They also fill the entire stadium with lingering smoke that neither fans nor players seem to mind.

Fast action on the field

Meanwhile in the “regular” stands, fans are only less enthusiastic by degree. It didn’t matter that my Slovene is limited to a handful of pleasantries, I knew exactly when a favorite player got the ball or how deep was the disappointment when a shot narrowly missed the net. Within minutes, Cecile and I could chant “O-lym-pija” like natives.

And, of course, we did.

Caption: With the fans; The Green Dragon cheering section (left) literally erupts; Fast action on the field.