Ironweed
07-27-2004, 07:42 PM
Went to my first even pro soccer game last night.
Lots of odd people in red jerseys (Liverpool fans) and green with white striped ones (Celtic fans). They kept singing these stupid songs, the most memorable being "When the Reds Go Marching In," to the tune of "When the Saints Go Marching In," for Liverpool. But, it looked like they were having fun doing it, so who am I to say.
My wife and I happened to be seated in a section of loud, drunk Polish men. I was uncertain what they were doing there, but I didn't have the courage to ask...Most of them seemed to be Liverpool fans, not sure why. Last I checked Liverpool isn't really near Poland. Of course, what the two teams were doing in East Hartford, CT is also kind of a mystery, at least to me, but there they were.
On the whole, 'twas mildly entertaining even though Celtic got obliterated 5-1 and never really even looked in it. Lots of Liiiiivvvverrrrrrpooooolllllll chants filled the air. Takes about 15 seconds from start to finish for each "Liiiiivvvverrrrrrpooooolllllll" if you're doing it right.
The Celtic fans were pretty quiet for all of the second half, and I can't really blame them. Their team was awful.
The stadium, paid for with my tax dollars so that the Univ. of CT could join the Big East for football at the same time the best teams are leaving the league was pretty nice. In typical CT fashion, though, they didn't spring for seats, even though they spent some ungodly amount building the place. I'll bet those benches will be mighty cold come October/November.
Saw no fights, "hooliganism," etc. Most of the Brits or Scots or Irish (I'm not exactly certain if they're supposed to be a Scot Celtic or an Irish one) seemed more appalled at the $7 per beer than anything else. Did see one woman with (I think) an Irish accent escorted off the premises by police. She kept calling them the C-word, which sounds oddly cute in an Irish accent.
That wraps up my night last night, except to note that I only almost got killed three times leaving the stadium. About typical for these things in the Northeast. Attendance was read over the loudspeaker at 24,000+, which looked about right. Must be more soccer fans around than I thought.
I think I'll do more of these. Why not? Can't imagine anyone will actually read them, but I seem to get some sort of odd thrill about burbling this nonsense onto a message board. I guess being an internet exhibitionist beats being the real thing, or at least makes it less likely you'll get arrested.
Lots of odd people in red jerseys (Liverpool fans) and green with white striped ones (Celtic fans). They kept singing these stupid songs, the most memorable being "When the Reds Go Marching In," to the tune of "When the Saints Go Marching In," for Liverpool. But, it looked like they were having fun doing it, so who am I to say.
My wife and I happened to be seated in a section of loud, drunk Polish men. I was uncertain what they were doing there, but I didn't have the courage to ask...Most of them seemed to be Liverpool fans, not sure why. Last I checked Liverpool isn't really near Poland. Of course, what the two teams were doing in East Hartford, CT is also kind of a mystery, at least to me, but there they were.
On the whole, 'twas mildly entertaining even though Celtic got obliterated 5-1 and never really even looked in it. Lots of Liiiiivvvverrrrrrpooooolllllll chants filled the air. Takes about 15 seconds from start to finish for each "Liiiiivvvverrrrrrpooooolllllll" if you're doing it right.
The Celtic fans were pretty quiet for all of the second half, and I can't really blame them. Their team was awful.
The stadium, paid for with my tax dollars so that the Univ. of CT could join the Big East for football at the same time the best teams are leaving the league was pretty nice. In typical CT fashion, though, they didn't spring for seats, even though they spent some ungodly amount building the place. I'll bet those benches will be mighty cold come October/November.
Saw no fights, "hooliganism," etc. Most of the Brits or Scots or Irish (I'm not exactly certain if they're supposed to be a Scot Celtic or an Irish one) seemed more appalled at the $7 per beer than anything else. Did see one woman with (I think) an Irish accent escorted off the premises by police. She kept calling them the C-word, which sounds oddly cute in an Irish accent.
That wraps up my night last night, except to note that I only almost got killed three times leaving the stadium. About typical for these things in the Northeast. Attendance was read over the loudspeaker at 24,000+, which looked about right. Must be more soccer fans around than I thought.
I think I'll do more of these. Why not? Can't imagine anyone will actually read them, but I seem to get some sort of odd thrill about burbling this nonsense onto a message board. I guess being an internet exhibitionist beats being the real thing, or at least makes it less likely you'll get arrested.