I have so many cool things to share, but I will save it for later because I cannot help but talk about the US match against Algeria. Nobody can ever tell me soccer is not important in the United States of America.
We headed toward the fan fest for the US game, draped in flags, scarves, jackets and jerseys only to be told that all four big screens were showing the England Slovenia game. They had reserved a small tent to the side with several TVs showing the US game. Not good enough! We headed back toward shortmarket which is a courtyard in the middle of Cape Town, in the bar and restaurant district. Outside a corner bar called ‘The Purple Turtle’ a US fan with his face painted was blowing his vuvuzela and yelling “U.S. Bar in here”. We stepped in and it was packed with US fans, also with their faces painted and draped in flags, scarves, jackets and jerseys. Beers and shots were being passed around, they were all dancing and drinking pre-game, confident the right result will come their way.
I don’t have to tell you much about the game, but at half time I felt as if I was back in college at yet another frat party. More shots, more beers more dancing, this time on tables even. This may not sound appealing, but I promise you it was fun. It was about to become even more so. A disallowed goal, again unjustly, didn’t seem to break anyone’s spirits. News had broken about the England score so everyone at that bar knew that the US needed a goal.
Then as tension around the purple turtle started to mount, Landon Donovan, arguably nowhere 4 years ago in Germany, popped up with yet another crucial goal and alas the euphoria we were all looking for ensued. The patrons of this particular bar went absolutely mental. More beers and shots, this time flying around the air. The final whistle blew and so did the vuvuzelas. Hugs all round, with people I didn’t even know; Photos with people I didn’t know; drinking with people I didn’t know; dancing with people I didn’t know to all sorts of American music including tracks from Journey; and never have I ever danced to Miley Cyrus’ (Spelling?) Party in the USA, but anything is possible I suppose on special occasions. There are so many Americans here in South Africa; I haven’t been able to get any USA gear anywhere and believe me I have searched. Obviously not every American in South Africa was able to make it to Pretoria but I bet you there were tons of bars all around this country; no, all around the world filled with “Yanks” and I bet you that same pandemonium was experienced.
I could see on all those faces extreme passion, joy, excitement and optimism. Folks trust me soccer is paramount now to so many Americans. I highly encourage you to bring a friend who hasn’t quite experienced it to the next US World Cup game wherever you watch it; bring them to a Crew game too. Help them fall in love with this game because all it takes is one moment, one second to experience a release of joy and there is no way they can tell you they don’t love it to.
Celebrations after the final whistle
Me with random US Fans after the game