The Final Chapter

before I start ... I know great writing is done in order ... but it's just not possible without you own laptop and ability to get on the internet whenever you want ... so let's wrap it up first!

dateline -- amsterdam -- 9:57 am

My trip is coming to an end ... I will finish the blog when I get back to the States ... that last entry is going to be like a novel! There is so much left to tell and my time on the internet has been limited the last few days (in 2010, at the next world cup in South Africa, I'll have to bring a laptop) You will definitely want to check back in a few days for the finished product (you know you want to know the result of the cliffhanger at the end of chapter one!)

I'm on my wy to the airport in about an hour for my flight back to the emerald isle. I'll be back on american soil around 1 am saturday (in nyc). I think I have timed it correctly that I will be able to catch a good portion of the holland-ivory coast match today during my layover in dublin. I am fully geared up for my flight home with my dutch jersey and some sweet holland wristbands and headband (haha ... the irish don't know what's coming). I am interested to see what the airport is going to be like. I have heard stories from people who were flying around germany that the airports are like everyone else around here during a match (everyone's eyes glued to a television).

Hopefully everything I bought fits into my bags!

Thanks to everyone who followed my adventure here on the blog. Keep an eye out for the footage that I shot on Sportsnite exclusively on Comcast Sportsnet. You will get the 1st hand experience of the story that I have told here! I have a ton of stuff (8 tapes full) and now I have to decide exactly what to do with it!

If anyone wants to know stuff will be on ... send me an email at alittlefield@comcastsportsnet.com and I will make sure you are informed.

And don't forget to keep checking this space for the final chapters of my trip. It should be complete before the end of next week (also the time that I have to go back to the "real world" i.e. -- work). I have a ton of notes to go through. But, I promise you will get more than a few laughs out of the final day or two of the trip!




AKL

ps -- postcards are in the mail!

Fear and Loathing an dar Weltmeisterschaft 2006

date -- amsterdam -- 8:00 pm

It's nice to be back in Holland ... very cold though and I have am starting the get the symptoms of a little cold. Had to get some medicine, it's working a little bit, I guess. The otehr "medicine" that I am taking is a wole lot better!

This will be a long blog ... so I will do it in parts ... keep checking back for the updates ...

I. A Good's Night Rest

Tuesday night was the first extended period of sleep that I had gotten since the 1st day or two of the trip. I slept in until 11:30 am. I slept more that night that I had the past 3 days. When I wokeup I was greeted by my new roommates ... 3 Aussies (Rachel, Melissa, and Adam) following the Socceroos! They had been to the 1st game in Kaiserslautern on Saturday (a 3-1 australia win over japan) and got into the Munich abput the same time I did after the U.S. game that same day. We talked futbol and told our stories about everything we had already done and I was out the door to check on the status of Tim Murphy. I checked my email, but no new messages from that dude!

DANG!

While wandering around Munich I happenned to run into the Aussie roommates, randomly on the street, and ate lunch with them in a streetside outdoor cafe. I headed for the stadium for the Tunisia-Saudi Arabia match. I wanted to get there early to get a prime spot to hang my flag (space is limited, but anyone can hang whatever they want ... now I wish I had brought my maryland flag to hang as well).

When I arrived at the Allianz Arena on the outskirts of the city, it was just as I had expected. This was the reason that I had any interest in this match. This brand new arena is state of the art. The outside is paneled with big slabs that can glow red (for bayren munich games), blue (for 1860 munich games), and white (for the world cup). it was still daylight out though, so I didn't get to see the lights in action.

They took my video camera at the gate, so there is now footage of this game. I just feel lucky that I was able to get it into the 1st two games I went to. Those were the important ones. The game in Munich was exciting until the end. skill level wasn't all that high, but that was made up by the fact that I was about 10 feet away from one of the corner flags in a 1st row seat that was supposed to be "obstructed view". but there weren't any "obstructions" to be seen!

FANTASTIC!

Hands down, the best seat I have ever had to any sporting event in my life ... and I only paid 30 american dollars for it. I hung the flag a few feet away towards the goal, hoping I would have a better chence of getting some airtime for it there instead of right in front of me in the corner. It had to make air at least once. I made even made air during some of the corner kicks in that area.

The match ended 2-2 with Tunisia equalizing in 2nd half stoppage after falling hehind around the 84th minute. After the game, I quickly hustled back to the tram and headed back downtown. Germany was kicking off shortly against Poland, and I wanted to get the full experience in the downtown spares. I headed to Marienplatz where a surprise was right around the corner ...

II. MURPHADONA

On the train ride back from Allianz Arena, I learned that the FanFest at OlympicPark had been closed due to overcrowding. Word was that over 500,000 people showed up to watch the Germany-Poland match that night ... crazy.

After getting back to the Munch City Centre, I found a cafe, grabbed a few liters, and found a spot to watch the match. It was an insane atmosphere. Tons of German flags and banners all around Marienplatz (the main square in Munich). After watching the majority of the 1st half in the square, I decided to head down to the area where the Hofbrauhaus was. On the way there, I found one of the numerous screens set up and stopped to watch. As I was scanning the crowd, I noticed a familiar face ... the one and only Tim Murphy! After all of the trouble of missing each other and thinking that finding him was a lost cause, we happenned to find each other standing less than 10 feet away from each other on a random street in Munich. From there, it was on! We had a great night. Most of it was spent at the Hofbrauhaus. We found a pocket of Americans and tried our best to start some USA chants, but we were always drowned out by the ever growing numbers of Germans, Aussies, and Brazilians. We even witnessed some English Hooliganism (the Brits and the Aussies DO NOT get along very well). We roamed all over the place proudly displaying my American Flag. It was a very (VERY) late night, but definitely worth it. At the end of the night, I passed the flag on to Murph. I figured it would be cool if he kept it for the remainder of his trip.

After parting ways with Murph, I went back to the hostel and discovered the roof top lounge. The plan was to go back and go to bed ... the plan never happenned. I was up until the wee hours of the morning (saw the sun come up) sharing stories of my week and listening to stories from people from all over the world. Problem was, I had to catch a 9:30 am train back to Amterdam. I had shared some of the ganga that I still was toting around and everyone was quite happy with the mood that it put it us in.

III. The Final Hours

Needless to say, packing up my things and checking out was not a fun process. Lots of water and lots of aleve helped a little bit. But I made my train and sadly, was on my way out of Germany.

The train to Amsterdam was hell on earth. I had begun to contract the early stages of a cold and it hit me with full force on the train. Running nose, sneezing, chapped lips, headache (and not from my late night), you name it, I felt it on that train ride. First thing I did when I got back to Centraal Station in Amsterdam was find a store and get some medicine. It was all written in Dutch, but it did the job.

I checked into my hostel in the famous Red Light District at around 5:00 pm and immediately headed to Leidsplein to pick up some "supplies" and catch that night's matches. England was playing Trinidad & Tobago when I got there and it was quite a sight to see all the Brits packed into the bars. Their volume grew as England notched two late goals for their 2nd win of the tournament. The night cap was a 1-nil Sweden win over Paraguay in Berlin, which I enjoyed while I dined on a huge t-bone steak at the Skye Sports Cafe.

Afterwards, I gorged on two space cakes and wandered around the Red Light District (admiring the window dressing) and NO, I didn't buy anything I saw. I hit the sack around 1 am ... it was my last night in Europe.

The next morning, I was up in time for check out at 11 am. I wished my roommates (who were from Austin, TX) good bye, and surpirsed them with all the weed that I wouldn't be able to smoke before my departure. I made sure to roll one last massive spliff for the walk to Centraal Station for my final train ride back to Schipol Airport. On the train, I met Heidi, a 28 year-old living in Amsterdam. She's originally from South Africa, and when I learned this, I told her all about how in 4 years, that was were I would be ... at the next World Cup. It was kind of an odd symmetry that on my way out of the trip, I was already learning about South Africa, which is still over 4 years away.

The flight home was uneventful and now here I am, safe and sound, back in the good old U-S-of-A.

Ever since I got back, people have been asking me how the trip was and what was it like. I tell them all there is no word to describe what I witnessed on those 10 spectacular days. In all honesty ... I'd have to make up a word, because there isn't a word I know that does it any justice. What I experienced only fuels my appetite for what it will be like in South Africa. I can't believe I have to wait 4 more years to experience it again.

See you in 2010!

WATCH FOR ME TODAY ON TV

dateline -- munich -- 11:17 am

watch for me at today´s tunisia-saudi arabia match (noon on the east coast). I have front row seats in section 110 (behind one of the goals). I am taking my American flag and I´m going to try to hang it up ... I doubt there will be many other American flags hanging in the front row, so if you see it ... that´s me! I will be a red shirt ...

Also, I got word that Murph lost his luggage on the way to Prague and that is why he was a no-show.

WHAT A BUMMER!!

We´re still going to try to meet up at somepoint today ... hopefully it all works out.

time for a beer ...

F-U-J-J

dateline -- Munich -- 12:30 am

Even half way wround the world, it´s easy to trash Duke. Ealier, I got word from a friend of mine, Gary Carter, a producer at Comcast Sportsnet, that JJ Redick was busted for DUI. FANTASTIC ... what a doofus. He even tried to turn around to try to avoid the ticket. Goon!

Anyhow ... back to the more important stuff. Today was another long one. After the last blog, I wandered all over Munich, killing time before the expected arrival of one Tim Murphy. Munich is a great city. Lot´s of old architecture, and interestingly enough, most of it has been rebuilt. Over 70 percent of the buildings in thew city were destroyed during allied bombing raids in WWII. The country has rebuilt most the the historic buildings to their exact standards from the past and they all look like they have been there all along.

So, 3 pm rolls around and guess what? NO MURPH!

BOO!

I would be disapointed, but it isn´t the easiest thing to set up a meeting in a place where you have never been and you know nothing about. So I trust that something arose that kept that silly Irishmen from showing up. Even still, I grabbed one of the famous liters at the Hofbrauhaus and enjozed the Korea-Togo match, which was very exciting before ending in a 2-1 win for the Asians.

Afterwards, I headed to the Munich FanFest, which is at OlympicPark. It´s a very cool setup with the big screen on a floating barge in the lake of the park. The park itself is a very neat place to be at. So much history. The swimming hall where Mark Spity won his seven gold medals and the Stadium, which is the former home of 20-time Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munich, are all right there in the area. The stadium was where the 1974 World Cup final was contested ... a 2-1 West German win over Holland.

So, tonight was the debut of Brazil, and maybe more importantly, the debut of their ultra-passionate fans. The Samba Nation was out in full force in Munich today and well into the night. Olympic Park was full of Samba drums everywhere you turned, and just as Marge Simpson once said, once it gets in your soul, it is hard not to start swaying your hips and moving your feet. The Brazilians aren´t the only ones in Munich though, far from it. It seems like every country of the World Cup is represented here ... even saw a few American flags!!!

Today I went absolutely souvenier crazy. Bought a ton of stuff, most of which I really have no use for other than the sentimental value of it. Oh Well.

One last thing. You know in the movie Meet the Fockers where Dustin Hoffman working out by doing the Brazilian dance fighting. Well, I have now seen it first hand.

THAT´S ALL THE BRAZILIANS SEEM TO DO!

Everywhere you look there are two guys in yellow pretending to roundhouse kick each other in the face. I can´t decide if it´s too weird or too cool.

Disaster in Gelsenkirchen

dateline -- Munich -- 8:30 am

Embarassing!!! That was the overriding theme after the United States was throttled by the Czech Republic yesterday ... but before we get to that ... let´s recap how we got to this point ...

After the Holland match in Leipzig on Sunday, I headed back to the hostel where I met a 59 year-old Dutchman called Hank, who has been living in New Zealand for the past 20 years. He was at the last world cup in Germany back in 1974!!! He, myself, and one of my Serbian roomates, Miroslav, sat and chatted futbol for about an hour. Afterwards, I watched Mexico destroy Iran, and Portgal struggle to a disapointing 1-nil win over Angola. I was in bed and asleep by midnight.

Up bright and early (5:40 am) for my train to Gelsenkirchen. Leipzig was simply amazing and I will never forget my time there and the people that I met. I an definitely a memeber of the Oranje for life!

First thing I noticed when I arrived in Gelsenkirchen was that the Americans were seriously outnumbered. Tons of Czechs, everywhere in the city. After a long wait to find a locker to store my backpack (big ups to Chris from California for letting me share his -- without him, I would have been S-O-L) I headed over to the bars the check the scene. This was the best part of the day. The pregame atmosphere where the Americans had gathered was something that everyone from the States would be proud of. The footage I got here is priceless. I can´t wait to see it! We sang and danced in the streets for over three hours. My personal favorite chant was a spontaneous one that we came up with ...

´NOBODY LIKES US ... WE DON´T CARE´
´NOBODY LIKES US ... WE DON´T CARE´
´NOBODY LIKES US ... NOBODY LIKES US´
´NOBODY LIKES US ... WE DON´T CARE´

PERFECT ... we must have sung it about 20 times! During this time I also ran into Washington Post writer Camille Powell (who normally covers Georgetown Basketball) and got her to say some words on camera.

Then it was on to the Stadion! But first, the TRAM RIDE FROM HELL. We were packed in like sardines for what seemed like an enternity, and with everyone all sweaty and drunk from hours of pregamming in the sun, you can imagine the stench. On the Tram, I met a couple from Virginia Beach who are here in Germany on their honeymoon ... too cool!

Once into the stadium, I headed to my seat and continued to partake the singing and dancing. The Americans were loud ... the Czechs were louder. It was just a matter of sheer numbers. I would guess at least 70 percent of the stadium was pro-Czech. Signing the National Anthem was something I will never ever forget. Every American in the crowd sang at the top of his or her lungs. It was very special.

But it sure didn´t help that the Czechs scored in the 5th freakin minute. I was going to go in to a full match report, but why bother ... we simply stunk! Our ´young stars´, donovan and beasley, played like it was rec ball. It was if they had never played international futbol before in their lives. Bruce Arena has a lot of thinking to do before the Italy match, or we could be in big trouble. The US has now lost 7 straight World Cup matches on European soil. We just don´t play well in Eurpoe, period. Who knows the reason, but they need to solve it ... RIGHT NOW. In my personal opinion, yesterday could be the beginning of a big step backwards for American Soccer. It´s one thing to lose with class (not sportsmanship-wise, but flare and pizazz-wise) but it a whole different thing to be run circles round. Enough of that ... I´m starting to get pissed off again.

BTW ... my voice was gone by halftime.

Afterward that debacle, I headed to the FanFest to catch the Italy-Ghana match and sample some of the local brew, Vetlins (the company also holds the naming rights to the Stadium ... Vetlins Arena). If there was one positive of the loss, it was that everyone else felt sorry for us Americans and were buying us bier and just being very nice in general. And let me tell you something else ... German girls ... really like American boys. I found my World Cup Crush (word up to the boys in the Zoo back in Bethesda). Claudia, from Dusseldorf. I will leave it at that.

Oh, yeah .. my freaking watch broke yesterday also ... typical.

Gelsenkirchen was amazing, and I am glad I made the trip to see my national team. It was great to meet all sorts of people from all of the Uniedt States, who were all there for the same reason. One kid I talked to said it best. It´s all about the shirt. It unites us all behind one cause and it brings us together no matter what our differences are. When you are rooting on your country, everyone there with you is your friend and you are their´s. After the game, we all go our seperate ways, but that time we spent together is ours for ever and I am positive, none of us will ever forget it.

My train to Munich left at 12:30 am and it happened to go through Dusseldorf (hehe). I arrived in Munich about an hour ago, and here I am at the hostel.

One last thing. Insomnia is really starting to set in. I have been here now just over 5 days and I have only slept a grand total of 30 hours (and only 12 hours since I hit German soil 3 days ago)

I have gone over the half way point, but there is still a lot left to do. Today, fellow CSN employee, Tim Murphy hits Germany! He was in Prague (the Czech capital) for the game yesterday ... that must have been interesting. We´re meeting at the famous Hofbrauhaus at 3 pm.

This should be fun.

Nothing like it ...

dateline -- Leipzig -- 6:45 pm

I know I just checked in a few hours ago, but I have to get this one up before I depart tomorrow, which will be a day without the Internet. After I got off the computer earlier, I had a chat with a Dutchman, who told me about the Oranje Supporters Gathering that was already going on ... and that at the end of it, the entire oranje army marches to stadium together. I WAS NOT MISSING THIS.

When I got there, I was blown away. Just one big party ... probably about 30,000 people crammed into a small square -- all of them drinking, singing, dancing, and just plain old having a good fucking time. I figured if there was a place in Germany to smoke the joints I had brought from Amsterdam, this was it ... and the Dutch were all about it. One guy even asked me if I had bought the veed at Dampkring ... how crazy is that? So after about 2 hours of boozin', we began our march to Zentral Stadion. It was about a mile and again, all we did was sing and dance the whole way there. Once inside the stadium, I made my way to my seat, right smack dab in the middle of the oranje! Once again, for two hours before the match even began, all we did was sing and dance ... and drink!

The actual match was one to remember. Arjen Robben struck in the 18th minute for the only goal, and the Dutch held on for the 1-nil win! Three points in the bag and tied at the top of the "group of death" with Argentina.

Now my focus shifts to the beloved Red, White, and Blue. I have decided to get to Gelsenkirchen as early as possible to soak up as much atmosphere as I can, because I have quickly learned, that is what this tournament is all about. I know our party tomorrow will not compare with what I have experienced here in Leipzig with the Oranje, but it will be a blast. It will be great to finally be able to communicate with people and to be an American again (my Dutch accent is getting really strong).

Now for the biggest deal of them all ... I GOT THE VIDEO CAMERA INTO THE MATCH. Just wait until you see this footage, and of course, the footage of the pregame party. You will not believe your eyes. There is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- in American sports that compares to what I have experienced today. I have been to the Final Four, which is the closest thing I would compare it to, in terms of the different people coming together in a party atmosphere centered around sports. Well, the Final Four is a daycare center compared to this, my friends!

Watch out world ... the Americans are coming ... tomorrow we shock the world .... again!

PS - I gotta give a shout to my man Ariel Agami for holding it down and posting my blogs while I have been in Leipzig. For some reason, I don´t have the ability to do it from the computers here at the hostel, so big ups to my man from NYC.

Matchday Morning

dateline -- Leipzig -- 8:40 am

When I last left you, I couldn´t believe the amount of Orange in this city ... Well, it has about doubled since then. The Dutch have simply taken over this small, formerly East German city. THEY ARE EVERYONE, and everywhere they are, there is singing and dancing and horn blowing and, of course, tons of beer drinking.

How about little Trinidad & Tobago holding the mighty Swedes to a scoreless draw? The atmosphere during that match in Augustusplatz was really cool. EVERYONE was going bonkers for T&T. The underdog brings people together.

After that match ended, I wondered around with some of the Dutchmen that I met on the train. Yesterday, I had run into them in the square. We found the closest biergarten and partook in the great german culture of drinking huge biers and spilling them all over each other in the process. Afterwards, we headed back to Augustusplatz to watch the Argentina-Ivory Coast match. On my way there I stopped and bought a USA t-shirt. I need to represent ... everyone else is. And let me tell you this: I'd bet any amount of money that you could count the number of Americans in this city right now on one hand ... and I am one of them ... crazy.

Argentina made quite a statement with their win ... they looked very tough. How about all of those shots of MARADONA? That dude is nuts! It looked like he was going to have a heart attack everytime they showed him.

After a few more liters of pils, I headed back to the hostel and passed out around 2 am. Needless to say, there was screaming, dancing, and horn blowing into the wee hours of the morning -- pretty much all night.

This morning I was up at 6:30 am. I headed over the stadium to see what it was like before everyone got there. i got some great footage -- and might have figured out a way to get the camera into the game ... We shall see about that though.

The best part of the morning was what happened next. As I wandered around the city center I happened upon the team bus of the Netherlands, and caught a glimpse of Head Coach Marco Van Basten on his way into the team hotel ... Pretty damn cool.

Kickoff is in just about 6 hours ... I will have a full report at some point soon.

BTW, my comcast blog is up and running ... check it out at

www.comcastsportsnet.com

And please don´t mind the hideous picture of me on the site. How stoned do I look in that picture? Did they do that on purpose???

hahahahahahahaha

The Oranje Invasion

dateline -- Leipzig -- 6 p.m.

I´m on the ground in Germany and it is simply incredible what it is like, but let´s first take a look at how we got to this point ... sorry for the delay in posting, but the Internet has been hard to get to.

Yesterday was my final day in Amsterdam and it was one that I will not soon forget. After reading The Sun cover-to-cover and watching the BBC for the pregame feel from the opening match in Munich, I walked down to an area called Waterloopein. It is this huge outdoor market where you can find lots of little trinkets and mementos. I myself purchased some Nag Champa incense. I tell you what, I must have walked at least 10 miles -- probably more -- while I was in Amsterdam. I didn´t get on the tram once! I also bought an alarm clock for my early morning rising.

At around 4:30, I headed for the Satelitte Sports Cafe and grabbed a prime seat in front of one of the huge screens they had set up, ordered a tall heineken and settled in. The atmosphere at the place is something that is hard to put into words. As the opening kickoff happenned, the entire place exploded in a huge roar that lasted for a good three minutes. And this wasn´t the German or the Costa Rican supporters, it was everyone who had been waiting for so long for this moment ... the World Cup had begun!!!!!

Six pints and SIX FREAKIN GOALS later, I was feeling good and Germany had opened with a victory. Pretty much the whole bar was rooting for the Costa Ricans, but what do expect, it´s Holland ... the Germans are their arch-rivals. During the game I met Louis, from the Ivory Coast. He was on his way to Hamburg to see his team take on Argentina. You really get a sense what this tournament means when you talk to anyone from a country like the Ivory Coast. This is a nation that has been at Civil War for many years, yet for this special month, the waring factions have agreed to call a truce ... simply amazing.

Many people are saying that if the team advances far into the tournament, the truce could become perminant as the country is brought together by their futbol team´s success on the pitch. Again ... simply amazing.

After the game, I prety much staggered back to the hostel and clicked on the television to watch the Poland-Ecuador match, but it was to no avail. My eyes where shut and I was out by 10. I have yet to mention the weather ... but I will simply say that is has been perfect. I don´t want to jinx it, so that is all I will say.

This morning I awoke at 5:40 a.m. and headed straight to Amsterdam Centraal for my 7:17 train to Leipzig. I was feeling a bit hungover, but two aleves and some echinacea took good care of that! Now, I thought that it would be a loney stroll through through the streets at that time of morning, but I was dead wrong. Basically, everyone was still out from the night before and on their way home as I was on my way out. I also got my first taste of hooliganism and I saw three or four british thugs battling it out with the Amsterdam Police. Needless to say, the thugs lost out and one even got a face full of club, which appeared to remove a few of his teeth. Ouch!

I was at the train station very early and it was a lucky thing to, because the train left about 20 minutes early. Tons of are Argentines are on this train, which was going to Hannover -- where I would transfer. The Argies were heading to Hamburg for their match tonight. There was a mass exodous of Sky Blue and White as we stopped in Osnabrück -- the transfer station for Hamburg. The train to leipzig was a trip and this is where the story of the "oranje invasion" begins ...

The car that i decided to board was definitely the right one. It was decorated with orange streamers and almost 3/4 of the people on the car were decked out in orange. they sang and danced and played their horns for almost the entirety of the 3-hour trip. Breathtaking! I sat and chatted with a few of them and as we plowed through their case of grolsch -- one of holland´s finest lagers -- I informed them I was going to the game. Turns out, most of them aren´t. they are just heading into town fot the atmosphere. Obviously, there was a bit of jealousy and one guy even offered me some cash for ticket, but that baby ain´t for sale!

Once in Leipzig, it all hit me. I WAS AT THE WORLD CUP! Words really cannot describe the atmosphere in this city or what a tiny city it is. Really old school. The first thing I did was go to get my tickets. the lady who handed them to me said she hadn´t seen a smile that big in a while --- obviously I was overly excited.

Now for the best news -- somehow I was assinged front row tickets for my game in Munich. And I am talking front row, front row, not the front row of the upper deck, the front row of the entire arena!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I checked into the Hostel which is right in the center of the city, but my room wasn´t ready, so I dropped my huge bag and and headed to Augustusplatz, the main city square. This is where they set up the huge screen for everyone to watch the games. I watched England hold on for a 1-nil win over Paraguay and then headed back to move my things into my room, and meet some of my Serbian roomates -- already a little trash talking going on, and here I am sitting at the hostel´s computer.

Tonight I am going to find a place to watch the Argentina-Ivory Coast match and then tomorrow it´s time for the real fun to begin!!!

I don't know Dutch

dateline -- amsterdam (10:26 am)

Let's start with what they call and "aside".

After thinking that I had realized that the real reason that Aer Lingus was so dirt cheap was because their flights are never on time and you just get what you pay for, I heard the news that al Zarqawi was killed. The headline on the front page of The Sun read, "Beast al Zaqawi blasted to death in hideout." those brits sure don't hold back, huh? My guess know is that is also the reason for the increased security in the airports I noticed. Just a hunch, though. So, I'll give Aer Lingus a pass ... for now.

Back to the real story ...

This city is too funny. it just brings out the funiest stuff in people ... at least funny to me. yesteray evening I stopped in to Dampkring. Gram of Kali Mist. Probably the end of my ganga buying until I leave for Germany (can't do it like the old days, and two grams in two days of this stuff is just plenty) walked back up to leidsplein. wanted to grab a chair outside on the square and roll up the green. as I walk through to the door of the Bulldog, on my way to buy some juice, the 1st thing I hear is "USA!" This guy has the only empty chair outside at his table, so I join him.

Jim, from California, this is his 4th world cup and 5th time to amsterdam! After Jim took a puff on his pipe, and I enjoyed some of the best veed that amsterdam has to offer (damkring is class A), we talk about soccer and how people overseas feel about the united states and what the reaction will be at our games (he's going to all three). then he lets me know that he has already fucked two hookers (one in the afternoon and one a night) and been thrown in jail for being too drunk. AND HE HAS ONLY BEEN HERE FOR TWO DAYS. Way to go Jim! He also tells me that they are setting up two big screens in the square to watch the 1st night of the tournament. So that is definitely where I will be tonight.

After that I wondered around for a bit, got chased by a bum who wouldn't leave me alone until I gave him some money, ate some some of the famous patat frite (french fries), and called it a night. It was only 8 pm, but I had been up for 28 hours straight.

ONE DONE ... EIGHT TO GO!

This morning I awoke at 6 am, fully rested after 10 full hours of sleep, ready to explore. I walked down to Central Station and got my rail pass validated. I also checked to find out which platform my 7:13 am (yargh!) train leaves tomorrow. I then walked over to Barney's for some breakfast. To my full surprise, it was empty . This place is always jammed and I was fully ready for at least a 10 minute wait to get a seat. Got an omelettee, did a joint of rookies mixed with kali mist and chowed down. It was delicious. After breakfast, on my out out. I met a kid from LA (didn't catch his name) who is doing a documentary of his own ... he and his pals are going to smoke an ounce of weed today ... and document it. At least that's what he said. I will give him credit though, he did have a whole eighth of herb rolled up on one huge spliff (I got a great picture), so he may be telling the truth. I may go back later and check in on their progress. I think I am going to get a t shirt from this place (either them or dampkring).

This being the first day of the world's great sporting event, the papers where jacked full of nothing but coverage. If it weren't for the death of one of the more well' nown terrorists in the entire world, the front page would have been nothing but world cup coverage (from a violently blatent british viewpoint) But the brits do quality journalism, sleezy, but very high quality.

Some things that stood out ... three full pages of the wayne rooney being cleared to play, a full page on the opening game tonight, a 20-page pullout of everything you could think of relating to the tournament, and some news that over 150 FIFA blacklisted english hooligans were on their way to germany, after sneaking through customs (hooligans are big business in europe).

News affecting the Amercian's ... Apparently, Reading (newly promoted to the English Premier League) are after young U.S center back Oguchi Onyewu. American midfielder Bobby Convey, ... formerly of DC United ... and American Goalkeeper Marcus Hannennman both play at Reading. But now there is news that another Premiership club, Fulham (where American forward Brian McBride plays) wants Onyewu as well. Looks like a battle brewing for Guch, an Olney, Md native. Also word that the Italians are staying in some crappy german hotel (most teams are staying at 5-star kind of places or even secluding themselves at the most exclusive resorts throughout the country). If you are not familiar with the story ... basically the Italian Futbol Federation is in the midst of what could be their biggest scandal ever. And that is saying a lot. Always lots of shady dealings in Serie A (the Italian 1st Division). Delving even deeper into this story though, we could find some negative effects on the Americans chances of advancing out of the group. In 1982, with their soccer federation in shambles after a scandal rocked the country, the Italian team bonded together and went out and won the World Cup. Yikes!

This might be the last post for at least 24 hours (probably more). Next one will be the 1st from German soil!

On the ground ...

dateline -- amsterdam ... (2:47 pm local time)

first of all ...

ARRRRGGGHHHHHHHH!

what a fucking day ...

I have to admit ... the trip got off to a rough start ... but thanks to a joint full of the rookies specialty the world is once again a better place ...

it started beautifully! it was sunny and warm when I left my place wednesday morning at 7 am. that wasn't the case in new york city (where I not only got soaked, but I also took a little tour of the new york subway system). once I found my sister, it was all good. nice pizza lunch near her new digs and then it was back off into the tunnels on my way to jfk. breezed through the aer lingus ticketing couter and heading straight to the sam adams bar where I grabbed some summer ales (3:15 pm), and thanks to the idiot bartender, I only had to pay for one. Then it gets a little hairy. The plane was late ... there was a Kuwait Air Cargo plane in our gate until about 5:30 pm. Um, our flght was supposed to leave at 6! Needless to say, we were about an hour late getting in the air. and I even got yelled at by the flight steward because you arenot supposed to video tape the crew at all. he wasn't pissed , he just wanted me to get the message, I really had idea idea, and everything was fine from there.

once in the air it was BUMPY for about the 1st two hours. this is about the time that I started worrying about missing my connection in Dublin (I think you can see where this is going). They did show the family guy on the plane, which is a positive! and I heard the funniest cabin announcement ever. the dude gets on and says something to the effect of, "Ladies and Gentlemen, could you please refrain from drinking your own alcohol on the flight, please only drink beverages purchased from the bar car." HAHAHAHAHAHA ... silly irish! the guy next me realized what I was laughing at and proceeded to take a swig of his pint of jameson (this guy was about 60, mind you!) there was also close to a full moon during the night portionof the flight, which was sweet, but I didn't have any kind of angle for picture, which was a bummer.

amazingly, we get to dublin on time (5:40 am local time), but I am held up in passport hell. at about 6:10, this aerlingus guy comes running around the corner looking for adam littlefield, and I am rushed through the passport line and to my gate. My flight was supposed to leave at 6:10, but this guy told me the flight was still there. and it was! but the freakin door was closed and they wouldn't let me on!!!! (this is not a joke) silly irish

by the way, i forgot to mention that it was about 8 celcius when we landing in ireland, that's about 45 degrees, and I was in shorts and a t-shirt, and it was one of those deals where they brought the steps out to the plane and you had to physically go outside to get to the airport (sweet!)

the next flight to amsterdam was at 9:20, so I had three hours to kill in dublin airport. if I had known that I was going to have that kind of time, I would planned an excursion into the city for a pint or two, but without and planning, there was no way I was leaving that airport, I wasn't missing another flight.

and of course .. the new flight was delayed as well!

So I finally got to amsterdam at about 12:05 pm local time, a full FOUR HOURS after I was supposed to. but now I am here, and after a little trouble finding the hostel, I'm settling in and things are starting to come back to me.

I cant believe the construction that is going on in this city. it is everywhere, and it's weird because it's like they are upgrading the city, but all at the same time. like, they are putting in real roads,instead of the cobblestone that is everywhere. anyone who has been here will know what I am talking. I would imagine that this is a major major type of project that is going to take years and years to complete. it's still awesome though.

as far as the world cup goes, the atmosphere is everyhwhere in this city, every shop, every bar, is decked out in orange, I am amazed. the satelitte sports cafe which is right around corner from where I am staying, is showingthe last three world cup finals on a continuous loop tonigt, I think I know what I am doing tonight! It seems like a lot of people are wearing their colors (lots of england jersey's), so I had to bust out my USA kit. I definitely stick out now, but it also helps because any american that sees me says something to me. probably a good way to meet people. plenty more to do today ...

fill you in tomorrow ...

Team USA, Haircut, Packing

So I wanted my last post before leving to be about Team USA and their prospects in Germnay, but there are other issues that also need to be discussed.

#1 I did it ... I shaved my head ... take a look ...

BEFORE

AFTER

It's just so much easier to go over there without having to worry about it. It's low maintnence and of course, it will grow back in a matter of months (don't fret ladies!)

#2 Packing turned out to be a slightly larger issue than I had figured. I really thought I was packing light ... well, turns out, my backpack doesn't agree. I had to re-arrange a few times, but I managed to stuff it all in there. Now, the only problem will be trying to figure out where to put all of my souveniers. OH WELL!

OK ... onto the original subject ... The Red, White, and Blue ... I have high hopes for this U.S. Team. I know that everyone is worried about their group, but in all honesty, I'm not. we have proved our worth on the international stage and this is an opportunity to show that we belong. Advancing out of this group will be a great success for American Soccer, for sure, but we must set our sights higher than that. we should no longer be happy with a round of 16 appearance. If Brazil awaits in the next round, so be it. To win a World Cup, you have to beat the best at some point, might as well knock them out early.

I hate to cut it short, but I have to finish up my last day at work.

SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC!!!

OK ... now it's too much ...

I JUST CAN STAND THE EXCITMENT ... in 48 hours I will be in Dublin awaiting my flight to Amsterdam ... can you believe that shit???

After I leave the office tonight, I'm gonna pack and then try to sleep. When I wake up tomorrow, I need to drop the dog off, pick up some european plug converters, shave my head, and then get through one more shift at work (of course I draw the late shift tomorrow!)

They are taking my picture tomorrow at work for the front page of our web site where the PG-rated version of this blog will reside. I'll link it once it is up. But this is the blog for all the juicy details, so be careful of who you send it to. Mothers, that is a warning to you all! Back to the picture, I can't wait to bust out the outfit that I have picked out for the USA game. It is going to be some funny ass shit to see that on the front page of the Comcast Sportsnet website ... I smile just thinking about it.

In addition, they higher-ups have decided to take advantage of my precense in Germany and have appointed me the unofficial CSN International Coorespondant at the World Cup (I made up that title but it sounds pretty official, huh?). Hopefully, some of the video that I shoot while I am there will be on the air the next day on CSN. How bad ass?

I think I have finished my good-byes. Still want to talk to a few more people though, hopefully I can get in touch with them tomorrow. It's weird that everyone wants to know if I am worried about my safety over there. I mean, yeah, I am going to be vigilant about what's going on (at least until I get a few doblebocks in me), but if you are so worried that it's all you think about, why even leave your house during the day? The world is a changed place, but I aint letting that affect my fun.

One more thing ... CAN WE GET SOME FREAKIN SUN OVER IN GERMANY??? 50 degrees is not going to just not going to cut it. Besides the fact that seeing everything in celcius makes it seem even colder. What is the conversion anyway? If anyone out there knows, leave me a message, please!

Alright, one more entry until I leave ...

The Road to Germany

No ... I'm not talking about the qualifying process that the 32 nations had to go through to reach the World Cup Finals. It's MY Road to Germay, and it goes a little something like this ...

It all began in late 2004. After some discussion, my college roommate, Josh, and myself decided we would try our luck at getting tickets to the World Cup. I won't bore you with the details of the the FIFA Ticket allocation process, but it was basically set up in five different phases.

The 1st phase began on February 1, 2005, and it was a basic lottery. We applied for tickets to 6 matches. We later found out we were unsuccessful in our 1st bid.

Fast forward to the 3rd sales phase, which began on December 12, 2005. We once again put our names in the lottery for the same 6 matches. Once again we were unsuccessful. It was not looking good.

It was around this time that the decision was made that we were heading to Germany with or without tickets, and I began booking beds in hostels.

Now booking hostels was quite a quandry. I was still holding out hope that we would somehow scores tickets, but time was slowing ticking away, and places were booking up. I decided that Munich was the only "must-go" and I would book rooms in a few other cities and decide later where to go, depending on if we ever got any tickets. So I went to work booking beds. I secured beds in Munich on March 7, 2006 in a popular downtown hostel. Over the course of the next few days, I also reserved beds in Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, and Leipzig. In addition, I also booked some beds in Amsterdam (just in case!) . The light at the end of the tunnel was getting closer.

Next step was a railpass, but which one to get? This is when the decision was made to start and end the vacation in Amsterdam. It's one of the craziest cities in the world, and two or three days in the land of ganga never hurt anyone. Besides, I had been there twice before so I knew that lay of the land, and it would be a great place to start the adventure.

In was about this time that tragedy struck. Josh would not be joining me on our adventure. The suits at the Associated Press wouldn't grant him the time off and the decision was in my hands to push on solo, or bag the entire trip. The decision took about a half second.

OF COURSE I'M FUCKING GOING ... IT'S THE GODDAMN WORLD CUP!!!!

No offense to my boy, but this actual made things easier. I was on my own to book flights, hotels, and trains at my own will, and the procress was expedited.

After about six months of watching airfares and comparing arrival and departure cities, I purchased my flight on April 14, 2006. Aer Lingus, New York JFK to Amsterdam Schipol with a layover in Dublin (it turned out to be much cheaping to take Amtrak to NYC and catch a flight there rather than get on a flight in the DC Metro area). Almost there!

A few days later I purchased my Germany-Benelux 5-day rail pass and sat down to finalize my itinerary. Now, having beds booked all across Germany was both a blessing and curse. It was great to have the freedom, but I had to decided where to go and where not to go. But, fate and perserverance made that decision a lot easier in early May.

The 5th, and final, sales phase for World Cup tickets began on May 1, 2006, and it was basically a free-for-all. Any tickets that were left were released on a first come, first serve basis. Basically it took countless hours of sitting at a computer, hoping that the games that you wanted would become available. This is when fate tipped it's cap at me. On May 5, I was able to score a ticket to the USA-Czech Republic game on June 12 in Gelsenkirchen. It wasn't a city that I had a bed in, but who gives a shit, I could deal with that later, I WAS GOING TO SEE THE YANKS PLAY IN THE WORLD CUP!!!! The next day, I was able to get a ticket to the Tunisia-Saudi Arabia match on June 14. This was a match that I was focusing on since day one. It was in Munich at the brand new Allianz Arena, and I wanted to go to a match there. DONE! Then, the break through. Late that night, after trying for hours, I secured a ticket to see The Dutch play their opening match against Serbia & Montenegro and June 11, in Leipzig. My prays had been answered, I was going to not only be in Germany, but I was going to three games!

I cancelled my beds in Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg, and decided that I wouldn's stay the night in Gelsenkirchen the day of the US match. So, here's how it stood ...

June 7 - train to New York, flight leaves at 6 pm
June 8 - arrive early morning in Amsterdam
June 9 - full day in Amsterdam (1st day of the World Cup)
June 10 - early morning train to Leipzig (pick up tickets)
June 11 - full day in Leipzig (Holland-Serbia & Montenergo at 3pm)
June 12 - early morning train to Gelsenkirchen (USA-Czech Republic at 6pm)
June 13 - early (and 'm talking like 12:30 am early) train to Munich for a full day there
June 14 - full day in Munich (Tunisia-Saudi Arabia at 6pm)
June 15 - mid-morning train to Amsterdam
June 16 - afternoon flight to New York

and it all begins in just over 72 hours!

The Oranje -- A Clockwork Orange

Holland is considered by most soccer pundits to be the best team to have never won the World Cup. They have come close twice before.

In 1974, the Dutch, playing a new and innovative brand of soccer, called "Total Futbol" reached the Finals and ran into the powerful West German side led by the legendary Franz Beckenbauer. The final was one of futbol's classic matches. On July 7, at the old Olympiastadion in Munich, the home side defeated the favored Netherlands, 2-1. German legend Gerd Mueller scored the game-winner in the 43rd minute. Interestingly enough, this was the last time that the tournament was held in Germany.

Despite playing in that unforgettable Final, Holland superstar Johan Cruyff never kissed the Cup, and is therefore considered the best player never to have done so, a title he will probably hold forever, considering the force that he was when he roamed the pitch.

In 1978, the Dutch once again marched to all the way to the Finals, only to run into the host country for the 2nd straight tournament. This time it was the Argentines and on June 25, in front of over 74,000 screaming mad countrymen at El Stadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, the host nation lifted their first World Cup trophy. The game went into extra time, where the Argentines two late goals for a decisive 3-1 victory.

In 1988, Holland celebrated its finest hour in International Futbol with a Winners Medal in the European Championships. This was the last time an international tournament was held in Germany.

Is it a good omen that in the two previous high-level competitions held in Germany, the Dutch have had great success? I sure as hell hope so!

This year's edition is led by legendary striker Marco Van Basten. Some consider him the most lethal goalscorer of his time. The Dutch are undefeated in 16 matches since Van Basten took the reins in 2004. He was largerly responsible for that 1988 European title after leading the tournament with 5 goals.

Unfortunately for Van Basten and his side, they were drawn into what some have labeled the "Group of Death". In what could be the game of the group stage, a rematch is set for June 21st in Frankfurt of that classic 1978 Final between Argentina and Holland. Also in the group, the dangerous Serbs, and the team many consider the best in Africa, the Ivory Coast. In no way is this an ideal draw for the Dutch, but they are battle tested and ready for the challenge (I hope).

One final note. I read recently that the Dutch fans are quote, "among the sport's most unruly and are just a reviled". So I ask anyone who knows me ... is this just too perfect that these are the people that I will make myself a part of on the 11th in Leipzig. It couldn't be any more perfect! Can't wait to see the pictures from that day, huh?

4 days and counting ...

A "Little" background

Soccer has been a part of my life since I was about 7 years old. Sure, I wanted to be like all the rest of the athletic Damascus youngsters and play pee wee football for the Cougars, but for some reason I was drawn to the beautiful game (and I am sure that a HUGE part of it was my mother's belief that soccer was a "non-contact" sport ... yeah ... right) After toiling in the Montgomery County rec leagues for a few seasons (anchoring the championship my finally season ... along with a certain long-haired next door neighbor) , I finally had a breakthrough in the spring of 1990 when I was selected to the Seneca Strikers ... this was the beginning. The same season that I was lucky enough to join the Strikers, so did a tiny little dude named Kevin London. His dad, Doug, was appointed assistant coach. A few seasons later, Coach London was our Head Coach, and I was finally at my rightful place between the pipes.

Perhaps it was an obsession from a young age with hockey goalies (Pete Peters anyone?) but whatever it was, I always wanted to be the one in the net. People could tell me I was too short all the wanted, it didn't matter. I was a goalkeeper, and it is my hope that many would agree that I proved my worth as a shot stopper.

In no time at all, the Strikers moved clubs (to Bethesda) and became a team to be reckoned with in the area. It is true that we never won a state championship and we only took the NCSL Division One title one time, but we were a force, and every team in the area would have agreed. We had players who would star at the state and regional levels and even one make it to the United States U-15 National Team. More importantly, the core of our team would go on to make up the Bullis Varsity Soccer team for the bulk of four seasons. Coach London was the key to all of this ... he had coached at Bullis for many years before we met him, and he gave a select few of us the opportunity to attend an elite private school, a place where most of us would have never ...NEVER ... dreamed of going. This is where my playing career ends. In my final regular season game, a lacrosse player moonlighting as a soccer player decided it would be a good idea to slide tackle me as I stuffed his ass on a breakaway. I've heard that he was on crutches for a few days after the game, and I remember him definitely needing help off the field. Unfortunately, I was the one taken away in the ambulance. It took me over a year (and two surgery's) to realize it ... but my career as a soccer player was over. My left knee was shredded and once the realization finally hit me, I wanted nothing to do with the game that I had grown to love. It was just too painful (physically and mentally). I had devoted myself to the game, it was my life. There was nothing else I wanted to do. And it was gone.

Fast forward a few years, and it has drawn me back in. The obsession is back, and now ... it's time for the ultimate trip of a lifetime. I am sure there will be people in Germay who have no idea what a yellow card means and could care less if Tunisia scores a late equalizer against Saudi Arabia to knot the match at 2. The World Cup is a global celebration, and all are welcome. But for those lucky enough to understand and love the game with a passion that is unmatched for any "American" sport, the World Cup is beyond description. That is why it only happens every four years. That is why the qualifying process takes almost three years to complete. That is why over a billion people will be calling out sick during the month of June.

5 days and counting ...

Sleep (or lack there of)

You know that feeling you get the night before a big meeting, or a big game, or just a day when you have something exciting going on, and you toss and turn in bed because your mind is racing. Well that has been me for about the past week ... and I don't even leave for 6 freakin' days! I can't get my mind to stop wandering. I try to count sheep, but all I see are those big liter size German biers that I can't wait to get my hands on. I keep trying to tell myself that it's good because somehow the lack of sleep will help me adjust to the time change once I get to Europe or some shit like that, but it's starting to get real annoying ... and I am really really tired now. Anyone got an ambien that they would like to donate to the cause?

You can really start to feel the excitment starting to build in the futbol community. The friendly's are in full swing (Holland plays Mexico today!). And the teams are slowly starting to arrive in Germany (The United States leaves this evening and will arrive at 06:05 in Hamburg). The Brazlians just laid an 8-0 whooping on some crappy Swiss club team, and Argentina looked fantastic against fellow qualifyers Angola. The Opening Match (Germany and Costa Rica) kicks off in Munich in less than a week, and I already have a place picked out in Amsterdam where I will be watching.

It's going to be a helluva a trip!