[Moldy Dreads]

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (June 28, 2009) — The U.S. Men’s National Team led the five-time world champion for 64 minutes in their first ever final in major FIFA tournament, but eventually fell as Brazil scored three unanswered goals for a 3-2 victory at Ellis Park in Johannesburg at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. Even with the disappointing loss, the second-place finish stands as the best-ever performance for the U.S. in a FIFA competition.

The game was exciting no doubt. I've never seen Americans so passionate about football (Football is the word given to a number of similar sports all of which involve kicking a ball with the foot in an attempt to score a goal. The most popular of these sports worldwide is association football, more commonly known as just "football" or "soccer".)

I played my usual Sunday morning game with friends, scored a fabulous goal, and was off to the bar. I got there after blazing the usual after-game session (This time some White Diamond Og Kush, Headband and some unknown bud my friend had.) We got to the Irish Pub and to our surprise there were like 50 Americans already hyped up with their flags, painted faces, all were singing the anthem all loud and belligerent with their hands over their hearts and all. It was quite cool, because I've hoped this day would come forever. Football is the best sport in the world and the USA was finally catching on!

I had my lucky 1993 Jersey on so I decided to sit with the Brazilians who were way outnumbered to my surprise, there were only 10 or so with yellow jersys on. My friends and I pulled up some barstools, ordered up pitchers of Racer 5 and it was on! The game started out pretty fast paced. USA was playing with their hearts as they had done the entire tournament and Brasil was a bit hesitant, respecting the adversary. Then on a crossed ball, Clint Dempsey completely missed the shot, but lucked out as it nipped his heel and got deflected tricking Brazil's goalie, Julio Cesar, and trickled into the corner.






USA fans at this point were ecstatic, they cheered, screamed - USA,USA,USA,USA,USA,USA,USA... ..so loud, the entire block was now piling up in front of the bar windows looking in, all tat you could see where people walking up asking "what's the score?" and "I can't believe it!" At this point the bar was full and beer was flowing like Octoberfest.

Then ten minutes or so later after multiple tries by Brazil, Landon Donovan got a clean pass, dribbled the defender, and shot a beautiful kick right into the net, GOAAAAAAAAAAL USA




The Americans went nuts. They screamed and yelled and played their little horns, drank more and flipped us off a bunch, it was quite funny. They were taking everything way too seriously.Throughout the game, they would yell, BOOOO, and scream if anything was called against the USA, even if it was a legit call by the ref. LOL. They began screaming DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE... (Basketball chant LMAO)

The funny part was, that they would yell at us and scream at us, instead of the TV, like it was our fault hahahaha. They were taking it really, really personally. They were flipping us off so much, I was kinda bummed, it looked ridiculous.Anyway, the second half ended and I was a bit worried, I must admit, the American goalie was saving everything and getting really lucky (luck is very important for goalies) as our balls couldn't make their way in to the net despite many attacks.

"In football, things can happen in just a few minutes, so never yell victory before the game is over." I told my American friend. "These people are about to suffer in a way they have never suffered before." I laughed, but deep inside was kinda worried that I was going to be the one suffering if Brazil didn't start making shots..
Being the superstitious soccer fan I am, I went to the car, smoked a few more loads and changed Jerseys (key turning point! LMAO) and headed back to the bar with a new lucky outfit AHHAHahahhhha. So we get back to the bar and it's even more crowded. Only standing space in this Pub was available and the USA section now was now easily close to 70 or 80 fans. A few more Brazilians showed up, but we had seen this type of scenario a million times. Just as the game was starting back up and people were getting back to their spots, Brazil makes a fast play, ball is passed to Luis Fabiano, and boom, right between the goalies legs, less than a minute played and it's now 2X1 USA.






Kaka headed a beautiful ball right afterwards that went in and the goalie pushed it out, BUT THE REF DIDN"T SEE IT, NOR CALL IT. WTF, so Brazil was robbed a goal that could have robbed them of a tie. It seemed like this just made Brasil push harder and once again the ball was headed valiantly between defenders by Luis Fabiano and GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL Brazil.




The Brazilian section cheered again, but still with the understanding that it wasn't over and anything could happen. The American fans at this point started getting worried, but still believed. Then the nail on the coffin came, crossed ball into USA's box, and Lucio, the defender was there to kick it in . GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL LLLLL

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Now it was the Brazilians time to really cheer. We jumped up, started jumping up and down. Now all you saw was a bunch of people jumping and yelling BRASIL,BRASIL,BRASIL,BRASIL, BRASIL.
The American fans were completely shattered, I mean, bumming hard. The chicks, young and cougars, were pissed, like mean and grumpy style. Three or four of the guys started yelling insults at us, like "You fucking suck" and "Do you live here? Go Home!", one came over and went into a 2 and a half minute rant that gained him a bunch of BOOOOOOOS from us LOL. They all started flipping us off like it was personal AHHAHAH. So anyway, we decided to provoke them a bit and started with our own versions of "Defense, Defense, Defense" then would all start laughing at once right afterwards ahahhaha, payback time. Then "Ole',Ole',Ole'" to every touch of the ball by the Brazilians. Man did that get them irate.
The game ended and we celebrated nonstop. We turned all together and clapped to them instead of cursing and they still flipped us all off!

The American fans (except 2 guys who came over to shake our hands) need to learn how to root in peace, fun and in comraderie, not in hate, they looked like a bunch of wannabe Hooligans. What can I say tho, I guess in most the world, soccer fans are so passionate they let their ugly side get in the way of a good show.

USA kicked ass this tournament. They showed up some of the best and gave Brasil a run for their money. They almost had it, but it was a small tournament (only a few teams participate) and still need to qualify for the World Cup. I love the fact that I saw emotions in Americans I have never seen before in soccer, and if there's one thing I admire and respect is passion for Football! USA kicked ass! I loved seeing them Play.
Brasil needs to improve ALOT before next year's WOrld Cup or we won't take it, World Cup is an entire different animal, and being favorite is by no means good, everyone wants to beat you. It's hard getting to the top, but it's much harder staying there!
Go USA, WOrld Cup 2010, USA is my second team after all!