Game 19 Brazil Grille, Hartford July 8, 2006 Our last stop on the World Cup Tour 2006 was, for me, the most anticipated. I had previewed the Brazil Grill restaurant the week prior by popping my head in during the group play Japan game. Even though it was a Thursday afternoon and the game meant absolutely nothing … [Read more...]
Tour Stop 11: God Save the Beckham
Game 18 The Half Door, Hartford June 27, 2006 As with most Americans, I'm a bit of a mutt; A Germano-Scotch-English one. I suppose I'm mostly English, but I look a bit more Scottish I'm told. At any rate, I find a part of me cheering on the Brits at this point in the World Cup. We pasty white guys need to stick … [Read more...]
Tour Stop 10: USA is a “Ghana”
Game 17 Vaughn's Pub, Hartford June 22, 2006 What a day I had in store on Thursday, 6/22! I had taken the day off the day the World Cup schedule was released, knowing the Ghana game would be huge. Oh, and also perhaps because I had gum surgery scheduled for 8 AM. Can't forget about the gum surgery. I awoke and … [Read more...]
Tour Stop 9: Ed Has a Heart After All
Game 16 Goal International Sports Bar, Hartford June 22, 2006 At this point, I'm only writing this blog entry for the sake of consistency. Because our first attempt at a "Brazilian day" was a bit of a failure. Albeit a fun and delicious failure. We opted to watch the game versus Australia on Sunday at Goal … [Read more...]
Tour Stop 8: Italian Whine
Game 15 Francesca's Ristorante, Hartford June 18, 2006 Despite my apparent zeal for the World Cup, I've never really been a soccer super fan. Sure, I played up through 9th grade like every suburban kid in America. And yeah, I paid attention maybe a little bit more than others to things like the World Cup, but … [Read more...]
Tour Stop 7: Iran, Iran So Far Away
Games 13 & 14 My house June 17 , 2006 Iran vs. Portugal Our Saturday began with America's sworn enemy Iran taking on Portugal at 9 AM. Since Ed and I had already cheered on Portugal last weekend, Damian took it upon himself to root for the underdogs yet again. Not that he likes Iran or its leaders or … [Read more...]
Tour Stop 6: Ay Carumba!
Game 11, Mexico vs. Angola Ay Chihuahua Mexican Restaurant and Cantina June 16 , 2006 Since it was Friday and since it was a nice hot day here in central Connecticut, Ed and I figured that we simply had to take in the Mexico vs. Angola game at a true Mexican cantina. Now, Hartford has a massive Hispanic … [Read more...]
Tour Stop 5: USA! USA! USA! Um… Czech That…
Games 8, 9, 10 Rookies in Cromwell and my living room June 12 & 14, 2006 Rookies has since closed. USA vs. Czech Republic For some reason, I get very patriotic when it comes to soccer, cycling, and hockey. I guess because we are actually the underdogs for once in those sports and the random successes in my … [Read more...]
Tour Stop 4: Damian’s in Dutch Now!
Games 6 & 7 My living room and The Cambrense Cafe in Hartford June 11, 2006 Day three of the World Cup had another 3 matches on tap, two of which I planned to take in. After yesterday's indoctrination, Damian was ready to roll again today. The Netherlands were matched up against Serbia and Montenegro. Two on … [Read more...]
Tour Stop 3: Bend it Like Damian
Games 3, 4, 5 Me and Damian in my living room June 10, 2006 Day two of my World Cup Tour didn't leave my couch. My options were limited and besides, it's time Damian learns a few things about sports and fandom. He's got some English blood in him from somewhere, so at 9AM we watched a rather lackluster … [Read more...]