When I came to Australia two years ago, I knew nothing about Rugby League, much less its teams, five tackle rules, dummy halfs, and the like. But things have changed a lot. Since I found a computing job in the Parramatta area, I was gradually influenced by my footy-loving workmates, especially by my best friend Sir Matthew G, who has been supporting the Eels for over 15 years. By March 2001, his Parra'Matt'itude converted me to be a hard core Parra supporter. Since then, our computer room has got a sticker displaying "No entry except for Eels supporters", and a whole bunch of machines named "Parrarules", "Go Parra", "Steam Eel Rice" etc.
Year 2001 was the year of the Eels. We were always happy to see Parramatta beats the other teams like an elephant stampede. Parra Jesus's gosp-'eel' always sounded promising. Like many other supporters, I held the dream of Parra being the Grand Final winner. The dream, however, was buried by Joey's Newcastle Knights. After that, Matt and I went to a Chinese foodcourt to have bowls of steam eel rice to express our condolence to the eels.
As a Japanese, I developed a Japanese way of supporting the Eels. That is "Parra Buddha" style, wearing Japanese Buddhist pilgrimage costume, with a straw hat on the head, then I go to the footy games with the Parramatta flag. I become Parra Buddha for special occasions, especially for the serious games that Parramatta cannot lose.
The year turned 2002, the footy season started. The Eels showed patchy form in the beginning and placed themselves at fifth place. But then crashed with arch-rival Brisbane Broncos in ANZ stadium on the 7th of June. As it was a 'special occasion' since Parramatta could never lose, I dressed up in my Parra Buddha costume, and drove from Sydney all the way up to Brisbane with three other footy mates. It was such a long drive - 1,000 km each way - we spent three nights in Muswellbrook, Brisbane and Kempsey. But the travelling was greatly rewarded by the Eels' 22-18 win over the Broncos.
After the win, as you all know, 'dark age' followed. We waited, waited and waited for more than two months for Parra's next victory. The Eels slipped down the ladder to the bottom to be on equal footing with Manly Eagles, Canberra Raiders and Melbourne Storm. It was a total nightmare! For a great team like the Eels, such a position is simply humiliating.
But we still have hope. Partly thanks to Canterbury's salary cap scandal, Parramatta ended up 6th place and qualified into the final series. The first crash is with the Broncos at ANZ stadium again. Thank God! I've got to start another pilgrimage to Brisbane to see the replay of Parra's victory back in June. Go the Eels! We'll be the 2002 Grand Final winner!
