From Football to Yourself, from the World Cup and Messi to One Hundred Years of Solitude

I stayed up late to watch the 2022 World Cup final, but my mind was more occupied with things beyond football.

From Football to Yourself

Firstly, it's about yourself. I'm not a football enthusiast, let alone a sports lover, and I can't understand the meaning of faster, higher, stronger. Although I have a height of 1.8 meters, which is somewhat acceptable. Because even with the best physical condition, one cannot outrun bullets or surpass technology. The survival and development of individuals and civilization depend more on intelligence.

However, individual physical fitness and combat power are still important. Intelligence and mind rely on life forms. Stronger bodies can have more powerful intellectual cores. Of course, this also depends on how effectively they are developed and utilized.

Another possibility is that even though humans have been away from the primitive society for thousands or even tens of thousands of years, sometimes in survival struggles, this most basic physical combat power is an important factor affecting survival or death.

Recall a little, during childhood and youth, I was quite fond of sports. In elementary school, influenced by a TV series called "A Kick to Heaven," which tells the story ancient Chinese football games, I treated throwing oranges as football, with rules agreed upon in advance, and the field was the large open space in front of the gate. At that time, I became obsessed with it. Of course, this obsession eventually faded like the summer afternoons when I used a bamboo stick to search for cicadas, spending an entire summer walking through nearby trees and searching every branch. But it was only during that summer, and since then, even if I hear more cicadas, I won't go hunting them anymore. Later, in my study or work environment, the sound of cicadas has not been heard for a long time.

My football story is gone, as are similar stories about table tennis. At home, we assembled two tables, quickly attracting children of all ages around us. Each person took turns playing, with only four balls each. If they played well, they would secretly feel proud; if they performed poorly, they would feel regretful and resolve to improve. It was like the Warring States period, with every child as a king and each ball as a battle. After losing, the reflection and improvement were like reforms. The player who often stayed on the table was like the dominant king of the Warring States. Now, when I go to rent a gym to play football, I feel calm and peaceful.

World Cup and Messi

After talking about myself, it's time to discuss the World Cup and Messi, as well as other athletes worth interpreting. When talking about football, one cannot avoid mentioning Messi. With the end of the final match in this World Cup through extra time, Messi's football career has been completed. Similarly, his family life is also complete. His wife met him when he was five years old, and she is the cousin of a teammate from his youth at the Barcelona academy.

However, there are more things to interpret about Messi. I like to pay attention to childhood experiences, as they influence one's potential values. In 1997, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. However, Messi's father could not afford the monthly cost of at least $1000 for treatment, and finally relied on Barcelona club, his father's efforts, and his own football talent to solve this problem. From this experience, we can interpret many things.

Messi himself voluntarily donated money to help national team teammates because he had received help and passed on the kindness.
Messi's height is somewhat shorter among football players, which may be due to growth hormone deficiency.
Messi's relationship with Barcelona club was once tense, but I think Messi is grateful and loves Barcelona.

Another example is Argentina's goalkeeper - Martinez, who directly helped the team win against the opponent in the penalty shootout. His life is also like many South American footballers: poor from childhood, leaving home to struggle, eventually achieving success.

Every time I think about this, I feel happy for Messi and Argentina, but there is also a sense of worry and loneliness for Argentina and South America.

From World Cup and Messi to the Centennial Solitude of South America

From high school textbooks' "One Hundred Years of Solitude" to reading the complete book in winter of university, my heart has repeatedly asked:
What exactly is the "century of solitude"?
Why does South America have a "century of solitude"?
How can this solitude be broken?
Why does South America, or the entire Latin America, not like China from the late Qing Dynasty, starting with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, to various anti-feudal, anti-military warlords, and anti-imperialist invasions, eventually establishing a completely national country?
What is the internal connection between South American football and the centennial solitude?

As a Book Attribute, "One Hundred Years of Solitude"

Nowadays, most people who talk about "One Hundred Years of Solitude" immediately think of two things:

Many years later, facing the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía would remember the distant afternoon when his father took him to see ice blocks.
Magical realism

Then, the common evaluation in China is:

"Through the hundred-year rise and fall of the small town Macondo, it reflects the historical changes of Latin America over a century. The work integrates myths, legends, religious stories, etc., skillfully blending reality and fantasy to present a magnificent imaginary world."

The problem is exactly this: I don't think García Márquez simply wants readers to experience "Latin American scenery and solitude." García Márquez must have wanted to express something through "One Hundred Years of Solitude."

Literally understanding:

Century: It refers to the hundred-year history of the Buendía family, from the first generation to the seventh generation.
Solitude: It is the solitude of the Buendía family and the solitude outside the family.

Understanding from the story of the seven generations in Macondo:

The first generation of the Buendía founded and created it.
The seventh generation of the Buendía was eaten by ants, and the town was wiped out by a hurricane, thus disappearing.

The entire book describes a metaphor:

The Buendía family represents the three ancient indigenous civilizations:
1. Maya civilization
2. Aztec civilization
3. Inca civilization
The creation and efforts of the Buendía family represent the development of these three civilizations.
The seventh generation of the Buendía was eaten by ants, and the town was wiped out by a hurricane, thus disappearing.
1. This represents the original indigenous civilization that died with Spanish invasion.
Foreigners killed the indigenous civilization, leaving only a few remaining. Now, most people on this land are mixed descendants of Spaniards and Europeans and indigenous women. The indigenous civilization had resistance but ultimately could not avoid death.
The true indigenous people have died, which is the "century of solitude" in terms of civilizational death.
1. Although some religious customs of the indigenous civilization still survive in corners today, they may be passed on in another way, shining brightly as mainstream and high-spirited.

Centennial Solitude and Football

The indigenous civilization has died, and this land is now a mix of invaders and some original residents.
Perhaps this group naturally has an identification with the invading group.
Or it's the intertwining of history, race, interest, politics, and conspiracy:
- For example, some Latin American countries once tried like the Buendía family to build modern industrialized nations but later fell into "solitude" due to certain factors.
Ultimately, only a "solitude" remains.
Solitude needs to be resolved.
Football is the drug to eliminate "solitude."

Africa is also lonely. Africa has also tried using sports and physical activities to treat it.

Can Football Eliminate Solitude?

The real meaning of this question is: can football save or develop a civilization?

Of course not.

But football is already the best thing available on this lonely land for the lonely people. Football gives them hope.

Messi finally received these beautiful things.

What Is Chinese Football?

South America needs football because its civilization has disadvantages and solitude. But football is also a anchor for gods and higher beings.

Chinese football is not the Chinese national team, but the Gaokao, various commercial companies, taking the civil service exam, scientific research, farming.

Everything that can improve people's lives is football.

The indigenous civilization has died, and on this land, football is many people's everything.

The Huaxia civilization thrives endlessly, and on the vast Chinese land, there are all sorts of things, and football is just one choice.

South American children start playing football at five or six years old; Chinese children study and attend tutoring classes.
They participate in competitions, enter various youth teams and training camps; we take the Gaokao and enter universities.
They join clubs; we enter various companies.

Criticizing the Chinese national team is meaningless. The Chinese national team has a very strong atmosphere, and once you enter, you are influenced. Many children from Africa and South America know that playing well can lead to a good life. If they play poorly, they may face slums or death. They play with their lives; we play with business thinking.

What Is American Football?

American football is an anchor.

The huge differences require sports to bridge the gap.

You don't need to study.
You don't need to read well.
You don't need deep insight.
Things that require reading many books and insights are already handled by others; you don't need to do them.
The more you know, the less beneficial it may be to me.
You just need strong physical strength.
You don't worry about starving because I have developed agriculture and production technology, and I will feed you, even occasionally giving you money.
You just need to vote for me in elections.

Of course, American football can also be many other things. All things that can improve people's lives are football.

For example, financial traders, programmers, politicians, schemers, financiers, politicians, and brokers.