If I had to rank my favorite sports (something I’d be better equipped to do circa 12 years old anyway - rock and roll stole the sporting impulse from me at a young age), American football would be a few long country paces from the top. However - turn real life into a 1991 Nintendo game and I will gladly shout from the Belgian rooftops that Super Tecmo Bowl is the most satisfying waste of time ever.
In the context of a tour, what makes Tecmo so good is season mode, wherein your assignment is to guide a group of overpaid, heavily licensed, and maximally juiced up pro ballers to the early-digital Super Bowl that is their purpose.
A tour is a lot like a long stretch of away games anyway, riding town to town doing the same kind of thing in a new place over and over, eating in away-game restaurants, sleeping in away-game hotels, wondering how the folks are back in home game territory. Additionally, flying these many miles in enemy territory, a significant number of hours spent in the solitary pursuit of benign solace and/or oblivion is a requirement for basic sanity. This is where such an irrational endeavor as playing season after season (…after season) of 8-bit Nintendo football on a borrowed laptop starts to make its odd, tenuous sense.
Peter was the original spokesman for Super Tecmo Bowl, and for a long while I did not heed his calls to sport. But I am now a leading proponent. (Noam, as a rule, avoids sporting contests.) Filling out my playbook, bemoaning the latest ill-timed injury, and trying to avoid the nose tackle shuffle.
But I am still not a champion. I came close with the New York Giants last season but feel better about my chances with the Chicago Bears this year - they of the claustrophobic defense and gifted (though often injured) running back Neal Anderson. Assuming I can get around the 49ers in the Conference Finals (the playoffs start today, right here in Brussels), I feel pretty good about my chances.
Peter, however - he of the undefeated season, of the 95 yard passes - is still dominant in virtual football, another of his many unusual talents. That said, he’s not as good as this guy.
June 11th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Hi Guys
Just wanted to say me and the wife had a fab time at your gig last night at King Tuts. Having gotten in to you guys after seeing you 5 times on the Editors tour, we just had to make the trip though from Edinburgh to see ya’s. And it was well worth the trip.
No Keys in The Door though, which I know you said afterwards Ben that if you want to hear something just shout out lol.
And was nice to meet you as well of cousre after the gig.
looking forward to you guys comeing back in the fall.
Enjoy the rest of your time here and safe travels, stickshift gears are funt ot drive afterall.
Think Susan wil be wearing her t-shirt to work today she got last night. Spearding the word
Cheers
Gary + Susan