I can honestly say that I have never met a German person I did not like.  Ever.  In all of my travels (including a brief stint to Germany), the German people in sum have been friendly, outgoing, and really smiley.  I say this as an introduction to what I can only say is one of those irrational things about me.

Here goes:  As a jew, I don't hold any German person responsible for the atrocities that took place in and around that country circa the late 1930's-1940's.  I don't.  That would be ridiculous, uncalled for, and even a bit xenophobic (oh yah--rocked an "x" word).  But, here's the thing.  I DO, however, take those negative feelings from history out on the German national teams.  This includes Olympics, World Cup, and any other international competition where competitors are identified by their flag.  I root against the Germans.  Across the board.

And it would be highly irrational of you to tell me that this is a highly irrational reaction.  The reason i'm writing about it is indeed because I realize how totally f'd up it would seem to normal humans.

The way I figure it is that we all need an outlet for our conscious and subconscious anger and resentment. And I can't find a more victimless purge valve than me screaming at the Polish ski jumper to knock the German's off the medal-stand.  Or, perhaps even more risqué, for the German biathletes to not be such accurate snipers.  Did I say snipers?  I meant marksmen/women.

I think you all feel me.

ps.  I come by this irrationality quite honestly as, after a horrendous experience with a Brazilian exchange student (he shit-smeared our bathroom), my mother and father always root against Brazil in the World Cup.