You’ll Never Walk Alone

By: Jeremy | April 15th, 2009

I had some other topics to write about today, like Oscar De La Hoya’s retirement or the Dynamo’s Soccer Night Out promotion. But then I remembered what today is. If you are reading this you are in no doubt a soccer fan. And if you’re a soccer fan then you should know today marks 20 years since the tragedy in Hillsborough.

Of course I’m not the only person writing about it. You can find thousands of pages elsewhere dedicated to the event. There is nothing I can say that hasn’t been said better already. But 96 people lost their lives while attending a soccer match. It would be an injustice to write about anything else. My thoughts may be minuscule compared to those directly involved. I mean, how can someone 4700 miles away possibly relate? Well, I can’t. I do remember seeing pictures after it happened, but I was 13 at that time. Anything not in my own backyard was hard to comprehend as actually happening.

Now that I am older, now with children and one less parent, I can read about what transpired and can say it truly stirs the emotions. These people woke up in the morning excited about seeing their club play. They left home to see 11 men try to push a ball across a white line, but they didn’t come back. How does this happen?

A few years ago, when I found out Houston was getting a MLS franchise, my interest in soccer started growing. It wasn’t long before realizing the best teams are in Europe, arguably the English Premier League. I decided if I was to get into this “soccer thing” then I was going to need a team to follow, a team I can call “my team”. But like I said, I’m 4700 miles away. How could I choose a team? My first thought was Liverpool. Why? Because I like The Beatles. That’s a good reason, right? But then I found out they have an owner from Texas. Perfect! Then I read about Hillsborough. I vaguely remember something about it. Then I read more and more. So my adoration for LFC grows from insignificant reasons such as The Beatles and Texas ownership, to admiration of the Merseyside community for continuing the remembrance of their fallen brothers and sisters. This is why I love Liverpool. May God bless you all.