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Little Moments of Triumph
The Slip-Up That Brought Me Closer
I’ll own up to this: I become infatuated by the Olympics with every round. The torch, the tears, the sprinters rushing by marks — it’s an adrenaline high that leaves you feeling like you’re part of something huge. But then it’s over, and I’ve got nothing but a sparkling memory and not a heartbeat. And then there was this random Thai goalkeeper I couldn’t help but think of, who believed he had won until the ball spun back to mock him, or Antonio Rudiger turning a soccer game into a comedy sprint. These little, unglamorous sport moments — the ones that don’t have bronze plaques — stay with me longer than any gold medal. They’re messy, they’re ours, and in some ways, they make the world a little smaller than the five-ring circus ever can. Let me tell you why.
The Goof That Keeps on Giving
I saw this video a few years ago from Thailand — a youth soccer game that went absolutely crazy. It’s a cup match, Bangkok versus some country club team, 2–2 and deep in penalties, like 20–19 deep, and everybody’s exhausted. This Bangkok kid shows up, swings his shot, and it clangs the crossbar. The other team’s goalkeeper, a tall wild-grinning guy, takes off running, arms up, thinking it’s over. The shooter’s miserable, head in hands. Then the ball does this ridiculous twirl, bounces a…
