Contrary to popular belief in the post-Anchorman world, diversity is not an old, old wooden ship used in the Civil War era, but rather a condition of heterogeneity or variety.
Too often, we are buried under homework or squeezed into familiar party scenes, and we miss the diverse environment here at Tufts. Regrettably, too many of the illuminating multicultural events listed in this paper or on TuftsLife go by the wayside because our routine duties take center stage.
In the world of sports, this topic is currently relevant. Last weekend, America's pastime, baseball, exercised its seasonal introduction, and began its epic journey to the World Series. And yesterday, "A Tradition unlike Any Other," (as CBS has called it), the Masters Golf Tournament, kicked off its opening round: two behemoths on the sports calendar, and two wholly American events. And with the culmination of March Madness, in which any Cinderella team can follow Horatio Alger's American Dream and rise to the top, patriotism seems to be the sporting theme of this past fortnight in sports.
However, quietly tucked in between the opening of the American sport with the greatest history (baseball) and the tournament which has long been a symbol of exclusionary and elite white male society (the Masters), Europe offers a wonderful example of cultural and athletic diversity.
Foolishly, or naively, I think that I am one of the few European soccer fans around. I read recaps of contests online, and try to catch Italian Serie A matches on Sundays on our Channel 9, (which, although announced in Italian, I highly recommend). Maybe I am trying to prove my sports elitism by dropping names of the top strikers in Europe; I don't know.
With these ignorant thoughts in mind, I marched from class to the campus center on Wednesday, hoping to catch the end of one of the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal games, this one between Juventus and Arsenal. When I arrived, I found both TVs surrounded by crowds of engrossed viewers.
Looking around, I noticed a diverse collection of soccer enthusiasts. Certainly some of these people could be watching their home teams in action. Imagine how crowded the house would be if the Red Sox were in such an important game. I realized that, for some of the spectators, soccer is the main sport in their home country. Ironically and fittingly, it took a soccer game from Italy, broadcast on an afternoon between baseball's Opening Day and the Masters, to remind me of the special multicultural environment offered by university life.
The game itself was a lesson in contrasting styles. Although the stature and prominence of Juventus and Arsenal affords them the ability to procure the best players from around the world, the teams hail from two different countries - Italy and England - and therefore reflect the characteristics of their nation's strategy and method of play.
Like its American cousin, English soccer typically employs longer passes and crosses which get the ball off the frequently rain-soaked field and into the air. Italian soccer is often marked by shorter passes and an emphasis on possession. In this particular game, the second leg of the two team's Champions League quarterfinal matchup, neither style proved superior, as both sides had chances but played to a scoreless draw. Arsenal, however, advanced to a semifinal match against Villarreal of Spain, by virtue of a 2-0 win over Juventus in the first leg of the quarterfinal a week earlier.
The other half of the semifinals, which will begin in two weeks, features a highly anticipated showdown between AC Milan and Barcelona. Milan is second in Italian's Serie A and Barcelona is atop the Spanish Premier League. Both sides feature deep overall rosters as well as offensive superstars, such as Andriy Shevchenko of Milan, the 2004 recipient of the Ballon d'or, an award recognizing the best European footballer of the year, and Barcelona's Ronaldinho, the 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year and 2005 Ballon d'or winner. The winners of these semifinals will square off to determine the top European club.
The purpose of college is not only to gain a degree that will facilitate career possibilities, but also to take the opportunity to widen viewpoints and to experience new people, places, and things. Tufts' own Web site offers a vision statement which articulates the desire to create well-rounded individuals and also speaks to the value of creating a community "where differences are understood and respected."
While I can't deny that the prospect of a new baseball season and the hope of a thrilling Masters get me excited every year, I think it's vital to take in and appreciate the lessons diversity can teach us, in both the sports world and life in general.
