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illustrations on this and next page by stefan chavdarov

22 OPINION 23OPINIONVERVE SPORTS

American football. As the name suggests, the sport originated in the U.S. Nowadays, its top players earn multi-million salaries and the final game the Super Bowl - is one of the most-watched events in the world. The National Football League is the most popular sports league in the U.S. American football became a national sport and a social phenomenon and almost every American college has its own team and stadium. It is much less-developed in Europe, where football (soccer, as an American would put it) is far more popular.

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VERVESPORTS

by Valentin Buhovski

What kind of a student were you?Thompson: I was a good student. Actually, I took my studies very seriously and Ive always been studious. Ive always enjoyed school and studying. Ive been quite consistent. From young age I enjoyed school, I tried hard, I worked hard. I took it very seriously. Levine: Haha! What kind of student was I? I was, actually, a good student. I was always a hardworking, intelligent boy. Sometimes I got lazy, which was not good, but on the whole I was a pretty good student.

What would you be if you werent a professor?T: A high school teacher. I worked also as an environmental planner. I did [it] for about four years after I graduated from university, but I discovered I didnt enjoy sitting behind a computer all the time. I went to Kirgizstan to work there at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA). Doing that and having a first teaching experience, I discovered that I really enjoy working with people, that I like talking about ideas and being engaged more with people. L: I am also a lawyer. I am actually a lawyer back in Canada, I worked as a trial lawyer. So if I wasnt a lawyer or a professor, Id like to be a journalist because I find journalism very interesting.

Whats the silliest thing that has ever happened to you?T: Silly things seem to happen a lot. I dont think its a silly capture, but it was shocking to me that I ended up teaching at AUCA, because I was always very reserved and I find it very difficult to speak in front of people. I would never have dreamt that I would have ended up teaching. I wouldnt qualify it silly, but certainly unexpected.L: Once, I was teaching a class, I used to be a profes-sor at AUCA, and a big bee flew into my shirt and I freaked out in front of the whole class. I yanked the shirt off and I was trying to get the bee away from me in front of the class while I was lecturing. It was very embarrassing.

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