Today marked the beginning of the English Premier League season, arguably the best soccer league in the world. The league consists of 20 teams, the 20 best in England. Each team plays 38 matches with the majority being played on saturday and sunday. At the end of each year, the bottom three teams are relegated to the championship, the next best league in England, and the top three from that league are promoted to the premiership. Last year's EPL champion was Chelsea, who has players such as Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba, Germany's Michael Ballack, and France's Nicolas Anelka. Although this is not the World Cup, this league defines what sport is all about.
Take your average NFL sunday. There is alot of hype, regardless of the teams playing. Now take that hype, and multiply it by thirty. In the NFL, you have fans that support their respective teams. For fans who support a team in the premier league, match day is more than sitting down on the couch with tostitos and a few beers.
The fans flood the pubs as soon as they open, often many hours before game time. They discuss the upcoming match and make sure that no opposing fans enter the pub. If their team wins, the fans have the pleasure of singing their team songs in the streets for hours; if not, they have to listen to the other fans.
If you think Raiders or Eagles fans are obnoxious, they don't even compare to Evertonians or Scousers, fans of the two EPL clubs Everton and Liverpool. The history of these clubs goes back over 120 years, when Liverpool and Everton became crosstown rivals. Along with a dispute-stricken history, religious implications polarize these fans even more.
Today the Merseyside (Liverpool) derby scintillates all of England and the rest of the soccer world. It is one of the best soccer rivalries in the world, and yes, it beats Packers-Vikings. Yet this rivalry is only one of many through out the premier league.
Although it is not of the same magnitude of the world cup, it is the best quality soccer in the world. In the words of famous broadcaster Ally McCoist, The English Premier League is "brilliant, absolutely brilliant".
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