From: charoe@memstvx1.memst.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Re: Thai Soccer
Date: 26 Jan 93 05:08:36 GMT
Article-I.D.: memstvx1.1993Jan25.230836.5213
Organization: Memphis State University

In article <16617@auspex-gw.auspex.com>, tstil@Auspex.COM (Tim Stilwell) writes:
> 
>  Sawasdee Khrup Tuk Kon
> 
>  I watched the 49th annual University Soccer Match between Thammasat and 
>  Chulalongkorn last Saturday.
> 
>  In case anybody is interested, the score was TU - 2, CU - 1.
>  Each team scored a goal quickly in the first period.  Nothing happened
>  until the last 5 minutes of the second period.
> 
>  I really wanted to get one of those cute CU soccer t-shirts but I was unable
>  to visit the bookstore before it closed.
> 
>  The students displayed several banners and floats before the game.  In that
>  respect, it was like an American Homecoming Football game.  However, the
>  floats were all hand-carried instead of decorating cars or using cars to
>  pull floats on wagons.  Thammasat even brought a band.
>  
>  Thammasat floats were leftwing as usual.  I saw a tank and a statue of
>  General Suchinda.  Also, a cute dead mannequin labeled "AIDSS for sale."
>  I heard that Thammasat students speak English better than Chula students,
>  but I guess they do not spell as well as Chula students.  :-)
> 
>  The game was also different from American games because of the student
>  participation.  I was surrounded by screaming girls (gee!  too bad I am
>  married :-) who seemed to know every cheer!   Do the students learn the
>  cheers for the school?  I remember watching some freshmen students at
>  Chula learn some cheers.  Like Americans, the boys clapped but did not
>  cheer.  Only the girls cheered (Boys are too cool?)
> 
>  The cheerleaders were both boys and girls!  The boys appeared to have as
>  much fun as the girls.  The Chula students wore nicer costumes, but both
>  groups changed costumes during the half-time show.  Why did the Thammasat
>  students wear the peace sign (3 lines inside a circle) on their costumes?
> 
>  Also, at either end of the stadium, students sat together wearing their
>  school soccer shirts and holding square cards of different colors.  During
>  the game, they displayed their cards as directed and spelled out Thai words
>  which were read by the announcer over the P.A. system.  I could only read
>  some of the words, because the colors were too close together (I am totally
>  colorblind).  The Thammasat students always spelled words.  The Chula 
>  students drew pictures instead.  I saw the faces of Vishta, Harumakien, 
>  a giant and one other person.  It was very clever!
> 
>  The half-time show consisted of several children acting out a play.  I
>  thought it was something from the Ramakien but I could not tell because
>  everyone was facing the Chula side.  Were these dancers university
>  students?  Most appeared to be less than 140cm tall.
> 
>  The ending show consisted of another play.  This time, it appeared to be
>  some people fighting on a boat.  The actors waving cloth above their heads
>  created a very dramatic display of the ocean in motion.
> 
>  Finally, there were 2 dancers.  They danced individually a style I would
>  call modern ballet.  They danced on the grass in front of the Chula
>  students with their cards.  The Chula students created a descriptive
>  stormy sky complete with lightning from rotating spotlights.
> 
>  Afterwards, they had the usual dedication to the monarchy.  The announcer
>  sang the national anthem and everyone stood quietly except for a few boys
>  who started throwing fireworks.  Then fireworks began over the heads of
>  Thammasat students.  Usually about 30m above their heads but sometimes as
>  close as 10m!
> 
>  The most interesting thing about the whole affair was the lack of civil
>  disobedience or display of bad manners.  In America, because the game is
>  at night, students the same age would be drinking smuggled alcohol (the
>  alcohol drinking age is usually 21) or smoking marijuana or using drugs!
>  Nobody was drinking alcohol and I cannot remember seeing anyone smoking.
>  Also, some students would be kissing and many would be hugging.  I looked
>  and looked but could not find a single couple holding hands.  Lastly, it
>  is sometimes difficult to get Americans to stand proudly and respectfully
>  for their National Anthem especially if they live on the coasts.  Most
>  Thais stood quietly.
> 
>  I apologize for watching the game from the Thammasat side.  I was lost and
>  tired.  Probably Thammasat won because I was giving them my luck.  :-)
> 
>  tim
> 
>  Chula is still better!
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai