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| Happier Times for Scott and Cole |
Liverpool-lovin' Scott owes the Bossman a beer -- preferably craft:
This one is hard to write. But, for posterity, my memoirs
and pursuant to several clauses in my farlieonfootie contract, I am obligated
to recount at least some of the events that transpired on Monday night at
Sunlife stadium. My son Cole and I, along with Ajax supporter John and his son,
planted our tailgating flag in a barren, easily-found patch of parking,
ignoring the consternated gesticulations of the parking staff who preferred we
wedge our car between several behemoths already there. Correspondent Ed arrived
late sporting a vintage Spurs jersey and a cooler of craft beer, perhaps
equally vintage. The Bossman blamed the weather and the NSA for an arrival
that was so tardy as to rule him out of our rain-spattered tailgate.
Correspondent Mark, however, emerged from a sleek, black SUV, supported by a
substantial family entourage (thank you for the cookies, Theresa) and waxing
positively poetic having just returned from a English multi-stadium tour
evidenced by four ill-made Man United t-shirts, an out-of-focus Chelsea poster
(since discarded) and one photo of Steven Gerrard's shirt/locker that started a
bidding war on eBay.
Despite the inclement weather and lack of a soccer ball to kick
about (big shout-out to the nice gentlemen who loaned us one), our group found
shelter under our surprisingly large pop-up tent for an earnest discussion of
which of Chelsea, Manchester United or Liverpool Mark and his progeny should
support. Cole and I were emphatic with our Liverpool case while John,
ever the contrarian, half-heartedly supported the Evil MU Empire. Alas,
while the subject was not definitively decided, I fear the result of the
ensuing game may have influenced the final decision.
This was my first live Liverpool game. So it goes without
saying that it was also my son's first game as well, and his excitement was not
to be contained. Having refreshed his memory of all the words to
"You'll Never Walk Alone", and sporting a Gerrard shirt and hat, my
10 year old was nothing short of effervescent as the lineup was announced
during our bathroom pit stop (I did mention the craft beers). Much
relieved, we found our seats just behind the goal where Liverpool was warming
up. Unfortunately the first of several disappointments then descended on
my little Liverpudlian fan as the warmup abruptly ended to make way for a
somewhat entertaining but thoroughly deafening firework display that blanketed
the pitch with a smoky haze which never seemed to fully exit the stadium.
