We Came, We Saw, We Lost
Well, we had a good run, didn’t we? I will miss waking up early, going into work late and using words like “pitch” “form” and “tackle” on a regular basis. Sure I’m going to get up early tomorrow morning to watch England vs. Germany because it’s sports and I like sports so why wouldn’t I?
Today Josh and I decided it would be good form to watch the USA vs. Ghana matchup at the beautiful Arlington Theater in SB, a convenient 5 minute bike ride from our house. Normally that would probably be a drive but since today was also the Solstice Parade we figured the ol’ Diamondback would be aces. We arrived just before 10:30 to a healthy line of face painted Americans and ear shattering vuvuzelas. And also tacos. Lots of tacos being served right outside of the Arlington. Good work, universe. Doors opened at 11:00 to lots of chanting, shouting and general mayhem–I’m putting the crowd at about 1,292 USA fans and 8 Ghanaians who were awesome. They had the best chants, the best noise makers (drums), the best dances…they were basically the best. Sometimes some of the crowd would try to copy them because Americans are great at co-opting black culture. Good work, America.
The picture at the theater was actually better than I thought it would be–it wasn’t HD but that’s not the end of the world and there are few better Fan Moments than when you are hugging/high fiving complete strangers. The ability to bond over a comment moment and fall for something bigger than yourself adds to our sporting romance: the shared memories and experiences of Dodger fans on the night of the 4+1 (I was laying in bed disgusted until J came running up the stairs pounding on my door after the 2nd HR), Kobe’s 81 point game, Gordon Hayward’s near dagger, some of these moments you want to spend alone but some are best shared in the company of your fellow fans.
The game, as you know, was basically crap for the USA. Outside of Donovan’s kiss off the post (which led to probably the loudest eruption I have ever heard) we didn’t have any moments of true brilliance. Plenty of wasted chances and almost-but-not-quite opportunities but we couldn’t close the deal. That’s pretty much the story with the US Soccer program I feel like. There are so few opportunities to actually score in soccer you have to be either incredibly gifted or lucky and we tend to rely on luck, an opposing goalie flubbing an easy stop, a PK chance, a miraculous stoppage-time score…these are all great moments but should not be confused with moments of greatness. We’re good enough to get a boot on a sliding cross but not good enough to put it past the goalkeeper. And you know what? That’s ok. I don’t root for America during one of their tired ass Dream Team basketball exhibitions. I don’t root for the USA in the World Baseball Classic necessarily and I don’t care for anybody on our Olympic team for the most part either. But give me a great underdog story like the Hockey team or these Soccer gentlemen and it suddenly means a lot more. Losing isn’t fun but it makes these teams charming and keeps us coming back for more.
After the game we watched 10 minutes of the Parade and then ate more tacos. Can you ever have enough tacos? I vote no. See you in 2014, Soccer.
Did they have any Budweiser Select 55?