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First Person: Watching The USA Crash Out From Within South Africa
Zac Lee Rigg reports from South Africa.
Jun 27, 2010 2:22:00 PM
By Zac Lee Rigg
PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa -- Coats up over our heads, some recent acquaintances and I ran through the pouring rain across the Boardwalk, following the signs that pointed to the viewing center. At least I think we followed the signs; my glasses had long since fogged over to the point that I couldn't make out more than three feet in front of me.
"Three minutes till kickoff," one the breathless members of our group said, frantically. After enjoying the Uruguay - South Korea matchup without too much concern over the final result, the group of Americans surrounding me was now feeling the tension. Ghana had, of course, knocked out the United States from the 2006 World Cup.
Once we made it into the viewing center, a few minutes late, that nervous tension unraveled into anticipation. Glasses cleaned, I could make out a surprisingly clear picture projected onto a huge screen in a room that sat a couple hundred people easily.
We joined the pocket of Americans, replete with the snazzy new home jerseys and plenty of "USA! USA! USA!" chants.
Given a whim, however, the rest of the audience drowned out those cheers with a repetitive one of their own: "Gha-Na!"
Besides more cheering, goals brought cheerleaders to the stage. Decked out in Bafana Bafana colors, the girls had their yellow tops half unzipped to reveal green bras. The did a routine at every goal and an extended dance at halftime. Needless to say, we all hoped the game ended especially high-scoring.
At some point, James, from Long Beach, shoved a frothy beer into my hand and Jaime, decked out in a Peruvian jersey, handed me a vuvuzela. He could only make it whimper and I, thanks to my years playing tuba in band, could hold a pretty steady blast.
Let's get this straight. The vuvuzela is pretty annoying, especially when blared right at you. But holy hell it's cathartic to blow, far more satisfying that I imagined.
So I tooted my horn till I was horse, and then I wrung my hands nervously around its neck as the game moved into extra time.
Given how early Ghana scored in extra time, we sort of expected the loss by the time the final whistle blew, so we high-tailed out of there despite the promise of a Las Vegas-style cabaret to follow.
As we drunkenly stumbled out of the Boardwalk toward the road, we passed a pretty hopping bar. Inside we picked out fans sporting jerseys and flags of South Korea, Uruguay, the United States, and of course Ghana. All packed in one place, drinking and laughing together, celebrating the World Cup together.
It had stopped raining by then and I was mostly dry.
The 2010 World Cup is finally here, so keep up to date with all the news at Goal.com's World Cup homepage and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
"Three minutes till kickoff," one the breathless members of our group said, frantically. After enjoying the Uruguay - South Korea matchup without too much concern over the final result, the group of Americans surrounding me was now feeling the tension. Ghana had, of course, knocked out the United States from the 2006 World Cup.
Once we made it into the viewing center, a few minutes late, that nervous tension unraveled into anticipation. Glasses cleaned, I could make out a surprisingly clear picture projected onto a huge screen in a room that sat a couple hundred people easily.
We joined the pocket of Americans, replete with the snazzy new home jerseys and plenty of "USA! USA! USA!" chants.
Given a whim, however, the rest of the audience drowned out those cheers with a repetitive one of their own: "Gha-Na!"
Besides more cheering, goals brought cheerleaders to the stage. Decked out in Bafana Bafana colors, the girls had their yellow tops half unzipped to reveal green bras. The did a routine at every goal and an extended dance at halftime. Needless to say, we all hoped the game ended especially high-scoring.
At some point, James, from Long Beach, shoved a frothy beer into my hand and Jaime, decked out in a Peruvian jersey, handed me a vuvuzela. He could only make it whimper and I, thanks to my years playing tuba in band, could hold a pretty steady blast.
Let's get this straight. The vuvuzela is pretty annoying, especially when blared right at you. But holy hell it's cathartic to blow, far more satisfying that I imagined.
So I tooted my horn till I was horse, and then I wrung my hands nervously around its neck as the game moved into extra time.
Given how early Ghana scored in extra time, we sort of expected the loss by the time the final whistle blew, so we high-tailed out of there despite the promise of a Las Vegas-style cabaret to follow.
As we drunkenly stumbled out of the Boardwalk toward the road, we passed a pretty hopping bar. Inside we picked out fans sporting jerseys and flags of South Korea, Uruguay, the United States, and of course Ghana. All packed in one place, drinking and laughing together, celebrating the World Cup together.
It had stopped raining by then and I was mostly dry.
The 2010 World Cup is finally here, so keep up to date with all the news at Goal.com's World Cup homepage and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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