We went for dinner last night and our French friends showed up a bit late. They were glued to the TV, watching the French team battle the Russians in the Davis Cup.
The Davis Cup?
They said they came reluctantly, and that a friend had missed her train to Lyon in order to watch the end of the match.
Tennis is moderately significant in the US, but surely not the main event. Nor is it in France: there are three overlapping football leagues to watch, cycling, Olympic-style events for winter, etc. Rugby, even. This woman told us she only follows tennis and rugby. Weird for a woman, but if an American said she followed soccer and football it would be no knockout.
My diagnosis: it has to do with nationalism.
Posted by amol at December 3, 2002 11:48 AM