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Sports

Concordians excited for FIFA World Cup 2014

The soccer tournament brings people together, at least for one fan

With the 2014 FIFA World Cup set to kick off this June in Brazil fans around the world are gearing up to cheer for their respective countries.

As Canada will not partake in this year’s triumph to win the world title, we asked soccer fans at Concordia who they were rooting for, their thoughts on the grand tournament, and memories that came along with it.

Flickr photo by Matthew Perkins

For Concordia student Jason Ghetler and some of his friends, what soccer means to them is “get ready and

 drop everything.” Ghetler always looks forward to the return of the World Cup every four years.

“We love to watch the World Cup together, it’s a newly found[ed] tradition dating back to the last World Cup in 2010,” said Ghetler.

Ghetler, who has been a longtime soccer fan, is a little more enthusiastic than his buddies in regards to getting the opportunity to catch a match.

“We were in Las Vegas during the last World Cup and I’ll never forget that following a night of sheer adventures, I was able to sneak in a few hours of sleep before I went to the lobby by myself to watch the Netherlands take on Brazil in the quarter-finals.”

Ghetler remembers being alone upon arrival in the lobby and being greeted to endless televisions, mounted on a big wall, and airing all kinds of events and games. He sat himself down barely keeping his eyes open, drank a Red Bull, and was suddenly joined by approximately 20 soccer fans who were all interested in watching the same game.

“None of them were my friends,” Ghetler said. “But we were all friends as the match continued. Regardless of who we were even cheering for, it was a great game and I have never been part of an experience like that in my entire life. I hope that I’ll never forget it.”

This time around, the three friends are prepared and hopeful to watch all the matches they can together.

For another set of friends and Concordia students, Andrew Khawam and Roger Girgis, enjoying a soccer match may cause just a little bit of friction.

“My mother roots for Italy and my father roots for France, so when the whole family is together to watch a game, there’s a lot of complications, but we all know it’s in good fun,” said Khawam.

Meanwhile, Girgis cannot tolerate that his friend cheers for Italy and not France.

“He’s got both sides in his roots, but he chooses to side with Italy. I guess in the end it just adds some more excitement when we watch matches together.”

Both Khawam and Girgis are avid soccer fans and cannot express their excitement enough for the tournament to begin.

It is the 20th FIFA World Cup tournament in history, which will see 32 countries compete for soccer’s ultimate prize. The World Cup is scheduled to take place between June 12 and July 13.

 

Categories
Sports

Students share their favourite places to watch a sporting event

Graphic by Jenny Kwan
Graphic by Jenny Kwan

About a year ago, downtown Montreal sports bar and restaurant, La Station des Sports, completed its long renovation process. The result: La Station des Sports went from a small sports bar on St. Catherine street to being the biggest sports bar in the area. Today, the place has TVs everywhere you look and the food is reasonably priced. But the question is: is this where people want to watch a game, whether it’s hockey,soccer or football, in this city? Or is it the famous La Cage aux Sports? Or is it somewhere else, maybe?

For Concordia students Frank Racanelli, Matthew Shanahan, and Julian McKenzie, there is no better place than La Station des Sports, especially since its renovation.

Racanelli was quick to identify why he believes it’s the best spot to watch the big game, “Cool atmosphere, good food, competitive prices, newly renovated, and lots of TVs.”

Shanahan echoed Racanelli’s thoughts: “The food and beer are pretty cheap and pretty good and so it’s a good value. It also has a good location and a good atmosphere, which is a key component for sports fans.”

“La Station des Sports has TV screens everywhere, good food, [you] can’t ask for more,” added McKenzie.

But some sports fans disagree. Concordia student Samuel Panarello and Vanier student Kyra Lo Russo still prefer the more traditional La Cage aux Sports.

“[La Cage aux Sports] has a great atmosphere for watching Habs games, in my opinion,” said Panarello. “I’m not really picky to be honest but the goal horn, the wings, the popcorn, [it] all adds up.”

Lo Russo, a long time hockey fanatic, agreed, “La Cage aux Sports. Great food and good environment.”

La Station des Sports and La Cage aux Sports are definitely some of the most franchised sports bars around the city. La Station des Sports has opened many new locations recently and now has six locations in the greater Montreal area (GMA), notably two downtown, two in Brossard, one in St. Leonard and one in Laval.

La Cage aux Sports, however, has been around a lot longer, and has 53 locations in Quebec, notably 12 locations in the GMA and has been a popular spot for Canadiens games and other big sporting events in the province. In fact, they call themselves the official partners of the Montreal Canadiens.

Concordia student Christopher Scott, though, enjoys watching the big game at a less popular location.

“Personally, I prefer Chuck’s in Pointe-Claire,” Scott said. “It’s a small bar inside the golf dome. I prefer going there because it’s not too loud and you can enjoy the game while sharing a drink with your friends without coming out deaf after the game. Also, [it has] good food and drinks.”

McKibbin’s Irish Pub and Les Trois Brasseurs are also popular spots to watch the big game, but at the end of the day so many restaurants, in downtown Montreal especially, show the big game, whether it be the Habs game or another big sporting event, and it’s really up to the sports fans to choose a place based on the atmosphere they prefer. One thing is for certain, to enjoy a sports game, you need good food and beer and an excellent atmosphere, and these Concordia students have confirmed that places like La Station des Sports and La Cage aux Sports, among others, provide just that.

Categories
Music

Concordia: what are you singing at karaoke?

Graphic by Jenny Kwan
Graphic by Jenny Kwan

When it comes to karaoke, you will find three kinds of people: those who openly admit to loving it, those who just haven’t tried it yet, and those who lie about not loving it.

The reality is that karaoke is one of the greatest interactive party elements for one simple reason: it brings people together.

Wandering down Ste-Catherine St., between the Concordia and McGill campuses, many people were unable to answer what their favourite karaoke song was. This is largely due to the fact that like the age old question of “what is the meaning of life,” there is no simple answer. All we know is that we take our karaoke very seriously.

The students that did voice their favourites, definitely displayed a few commonalities.

“My two go-to songs are Enrique [Iglesias]’s “Hero” and Britney [Spears] ’s “Hit Me Baby One More Time,” said 23-year-old student Haaris Khan. “Hero” is the ultimate drunken serenade song to whip out for your girlfriend or the girl you’re macking on. Britney just allows every shy girl to break out her inner slut.”

“Because I Got High” by Afroman. That’s the only one,” said Concordia science student George Simeo.

David Crete could not decide on one song in particular. This may have been because the question launched him into a bout of nostalgia. “Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, pretty much any song from the ‘90s will do. It’s like all the 20-somethings in the room are kids again.”

Then the classics started rolling in.

Many students named Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” as their absolute song of choice. Among them, 21-year-old Jeff Araujo.

“Even after 30 years, it’s still one of the top 20 downloaded singles on iTunes. And it’s crazy fun to sing!”

After asking several students about their top karaoke tunes, it became evident that one track in particular might be the karaoke champ: Queen’s classic “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

More than half the people who were asked what their definitive track to belch out (while sober or completely wasted), agreed that “Bohemian Rhapsody” was their number one.

Student Bryden Lundell-Streeter recounted what many karaoke-goers have surely experienced, or must experience at least once in their amateur vocalist careers.

“When “Bohemian Rhapsody” comes on, it starts slow and that’s the perfect way to get everyone in the bar’s attention. Once they hear those first few lines, everyone is on board. The greatest moment I’ve ever had was with a few work friends at Andrew’s Pub. Everyone in the bar started off as strangers, but by the end of the song everyone had become best friends. There’s nothing greater than singing into a microphone with 40 other people singing along, no matter what your state of sobriety,” said Lundell-Streeter.

Whether it’s a ‘70s rock classic or a ‘90s pop single, students know why they love to sing it and what songs get the bar crowds going.

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