the end to a world cup chapter

french-dominated bar

where else in the world will you find a french dominated bar stand right across the street an italian one? both brimming with passionate fans dressed up in their war paint and country's colors. ready for the final battle to what has proved to be an exciting month-long showcase of talent and pride. such has been the world cup experience here in new york, so-called melting pot of the world.

italian bar across the street

while the rest of the US maintain that real football is the one played by padded men and a flattened ball, the city's rich and diverse population know a little better. and those whose roots are grounded in the 32 participating countries, they definitely can relate to the joy of each scored goal and the agony of each defeat. and even moreso, the power that football has in being more than just a sport. the power it has to connect people, unite countries and dictate a culture.

that power was visible in the big apple i guess. for a month, you can talk to any stranger dressed up in a country's jersey and you know you'd be able to connect on something. from the mexican delivery boy, to the cab driver from ghana, to the brazilian waiting in line for a drink in central park—it was almost magic. as though the unwritten new yorker rule of minding your own fecking business was suddenly suspended.

italians celebrate in the streets

the world cup had proved to be a great experience. discovering new bars in the neighborhood and garnering an almost regular status. watching the england games in pubs with brockie the brit and his mates and all the bloody booze and shouting and cursing. seeing holland bow out in the round of 16 in a bar full of dejected dutchies. enjoying the US-ghana match in the main office conference room and feeling quite proud on how even corporate america had stopped the wheels for 2 hours. sneaking to the secret television corner in the office only to find out every time that i wasn't the only one with that idea. heading to the nearby bar for extended lunches leaving the creative department almost bare. consoling cecilia as she witnessed her argentina get beaten by the host krauts in penalty kicks. and the list of rich experiences goes on and on. and on. and perhaps one last one, seeing the neighborhood streets filled up with cars packed with italians, making as much noise with their horns and waving their green, white and reds.

i'm not sure till when those italian flags will be out at the neighbors'. not sure till when as well, we'll be talking about zidane, rooney and those bloody portugese in the office. not sure too how long the jokes of giving people a red card at meetings and shouting gooooooooooooooooalll for excellent ideas will last. what i do know though is that the past month has definitely been a great enriching experience. and though others may dismiss football as just a sport, at least now i know better to think otherwise.

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look out for the 2010 world cup final: germany vs holland. team oranje beats the krauts, 3-2 on 2 goals scored by robben and 1 by van persie. poldi and schweinny score for germany. can't wait for that dream final. maybe i'll be in south africa and no longer some williamsburgh pub by then.