Cup Match spirit conquers all

I was actually pretty nonchalant about this year's Cup Match. With the poor performances by the men's national team in regional competition, and the apparent same-ol same-ol happening in local leagues, I was pretty much meh to this year's event. Combine that with the ICC's attitude to cricket beyond the Test world and possibly my own limited contribution to coaching with the Achilles' injury, I was more than content to let July and August roll by without caring one bit about Cup Match, who wins, who loses, whatever. Cricket was fully set to become an after-thought in my ordinarily All-Sport-Loving mind.

Yet somehow, there's this spirit of Cup Match that manages to win me over, stir up my enjoyment of donning the Blue And Blue and engaging with smack talk to the villainous Somerset faithful.

Perhaps it's that it's a rare occasion that people in Bermuda put aside things like politics or religion or other contentious topics that would otherwise stir up anger or vitriol, and everyone's just happy for the 'break' from the daily grind, even if the actual cricket isn't part of the conversation. People who don't know a lick about cricket, much less who Janiero or O.J. is, will chat about how their 'team' is going to win the Cup.

We now have handy how-to-guides published on how to enjoy the game.

Even our famous (international) adopted TV celebrity was enticed to weigh in (of course she chose the correct team to support):

I have to go with #StGeorges all the way! https://t.co/iCzPH5FfuL

— Llarisa Abreu (@Accu_Llarisa) July 28, 2015

There's something about Cup Match, indeed. Perhaps somebody needs to bottle it up and spread it throughout the remainder of the year.

Just remember, folks...

Does *your* country shut down for two days because of a two-day #cricket contest? #Bermuda does! #CupMatch2015 #STGvSOM

— David A. Gibbons (@bdatryangle) July 28, 2015

What a holiday.