View Full Version : My annual "Yes, I'm a bigsoccer dork" moment
You don't know me. I've been a bigsoccer member for a few years now. I post every so often. But mostly I surf bigsoccer because I like to hear the rumors and the banter between fans.
I watch pretty much every MLS game that comes on my television. I definitely watch every USMNT game. And I watch a lot of the ELP and Bundeslega action on FSW. I even go out to a game a few times a year. But I don't tend to follow the teams around, or go to the "Meet the team" events.
Still, every so often I have a complete "fan" moment. This years moment came tonight (4/19/03) at the Rockbottom Brewery in Braintree, MA. I was out for a drink and a bite to eat with a few (non-soccer-watching) friends and half of the bar is taken up by members of the Columbus Crew and the Revs (well, at least Joe-Max). They were also out having a few drinks and a bite to eat. It was strange to look across the bar and see JMM and Brian McBride chatting away. Even more wierd to sit in a bar and know half of the faces there, but not actually know the people. The voyeur in me kicked in for a while.
Anyway, it was exciting. I didn't even go bother them. I'm sure you've all probably had similar experiences.... I just thought I'd share. Not exactly the sort of moment that you get with MLB, NFL or NBA. Can you imagine going out one night and seeing the Cleveland Indians hanging out with Nomar at your local bar & grill?
chilistrider
20 Apr 2003, 05:19 PM
A few months ago I was in my local neighborhood Safeway about 11 p.m. Apart from Mr. & Mrs. Chilistrider there was only one other customer milling about the store. For some reason there were two checkout lines open, and he took the other one, so his back was to us. I noticed he had on a really cool, very authentic-looking Colorado Rapids track suit. As he walked away with his groceries I realized it was Steve Herdsman. I turned to chilistriderspouse & said, "Oh my gosh! Did you see who that was?!" Whodathunkit. Steve Herdsman gets his late-night shopping done where I do.
I think this story demonstrates a lot of soccer-dorkitude too, esp. because Herdsman isn't one of the team's illuminati. I wonder where Pablo & Spenny shop?
Originally posted by chilistrider
I think this story demonstrates a lot of soccer-dorkitude too, esp. because Herdsman isn't one of the team's illuminati.
I'm right there with you. Be proud of your soccer-dorkitude!
I did a shot with Jay Heaps and Leo Cullen one night. They were just hanging out and partying at a bar and I recognized Jay. I think they thought it was pretty cool to be recognized and they bought me a drink.
Matteo
23 Apr 2003, 05:00 PM
i work with a guy who had a conversation with a guy whose friend's cousin's girlfriend's sister's boyfriend ran into a guy in a mall whose son's friend's second-cousin once removed rode on a crosstown bus with a former MLS player.
it's a small world.
Stogey23
23 Apr 2003, 05:07 PM
I put Cle Kooiman in a headlock until he screamed uncle once.
JRstriker12
23 Apr 2003, 05:16 PM
I live in North Va. Me and a few of my rec team members went to the Reston Town Center after practice a couple weeks back to grab some food and a few drinks a Ruby Tuesday. When we were seated I looked two tables in front of us and there's Ernie Stewart.
I did a double take. It's was kind of weird because he sees me looking. I wasn't trying to stare but I wanted to make sure he was who I thought he was.
I didn't bug him or anything because it looked like he was eating with his wife and kid.
A definte fan moment.
Originally posted by Matteo
i work with a guy who had a conversation with a guy whose friend's cousin's girlfriend's sister's boyfriend ran into a guy in a mall whose son's friend's second-cousin once removed rode on a crosstown bus with a former MLS player.
it's a small world.
That's just mean-spirited.
Originally posted by JRstriker12
I live in North Va. Me and a few of my rec team members went to the Reston Town Center after practice a couple weeks back to grab some food and a few drinks a Ruby Tuesday. When we were seated I looked two tables in front of us and there's Ernie Stewart.
I did a double take. It's was kind of weird because he sees me looking. I wasn't trying to stare but I wanted to make sure he was who I thought he was.
I didn't bug him or anything because it looked like he was eating with his wife and kid.
A definte fan moment.
You see, these are the stories that I love.
norfcath
23 Apr 2003, 06:50 PM
Originally posted by dl
I'm right there with you. Be proud of your soccer-dorkitude!
I did a shot with Jay Heaps and Leo Cullen one night. They were just hanging out and partying at a bar and I recognized Jay. I think they thought it was pretty cool to be recognized and they bought me a drink.
They bought you a drink??? If you run into any pro baseball, football or basketball players and hold your breath until they buy you a drink, you will be dead faster than you can say "Cheap ........"
Rapids/Arsenal Fan
24 Apr 2003, 11:56 AM
In '98 I was travelling around Europe before the WC and was catching a train from Rome to somewhere else. I was in the train station and on my way to get a ticket and I walked by this group of guys in white track warm-up suits. One of the guys looked like Garcia-Aspe. And then I looked at a couple of other guys and recognized Palacios and Jorge Campos! It was the Mexican National Team! I wanted to talk trash, but I did the polite thing and got my picture taken with Campos. It was a surreal moment, though.
Aguilas Del America
24 Apr 2003, 12:21 PM
This happened a year ago,
me and my boys were in vegas
we were a little drunk
and it was like 1:00 am.
so we decided to take a cab to the hotel
and who do i see?!
Kevin El Gato Hartman!!!
he was also waiting for a cab
i told him if he wanted to share?
and he said sure
we talked about The Galaxy and the new stadium
he told me to give him my home address he said he would send me tickets for the opening game
but the bastard never send me shet!
Dave Brull
24 Apr 2003, 12:28 PM
Definition of restraint:
I was working at a resort called Tan-Tar-A in the Lake of the Ozarks region of Missouri. I was working with a number of Scots from Caledonia(n?) Uiversity in Glasgow who over on this side for a Hospitality Internship (as was I).
Well, one of the Scots runs into Mo Johnston who is sitting at a table with a woman (his wife? I don't know) A Glaswegian running into Mo Johnston in Missouri. Yet, Dave never lot on he was more than a Scottish guy and didn't bug Mo because he thought it was unprofessional, other than a little Scottish small talk. If the roles were reversed and I ran into, say JOB in Amsterdam, no way I could maintain that level of professionality.
chibchab
24 Apr 2003, 12:59 PM
I met Donadoni sitting by himself at Newark International Airport. I spoke to him in broken Italian. He looked like he wished I'd left him alone.
At Miami Int'l I met el Pibe, I carried his autograph i my wallet for years.
But by far my favorite most important moment was when I ate in the booth next to Hamisi Amani-Dove in a Fudruckers! NOT!
Rafael Hernandez
24 Apr 2003, 01:17 PM
Originally posted by Rapids/Arsenal Fan
And then I looked at a couple of other guys and recognized Palacios and Jorge Campos! It was the Mexican National Team!
Who is Palacios ?
Revolt
24 Apr 2003, 04:29 PM
Originally posted by Mike Segroves
Brad Friedel likes the Saga I wrote about him.
??
mosler
24 Apr 2003, 04:36 PM
Originally posted by Revolt
??
Oh christ. Duck and cover......or you can find it yourself. Just search the boards for "brad seagull"
gabe
01 May 2003, 10:53 AM
i think i saw Mathis being the janitor at my high school
vflkirwan
01 May 2003, 06:49 PM
Speaking of Mathis....
My friends and I ran into him at bar on my friends 21st bday. He was there with Tim Howard.
I saw the back of a tall blackish looking man and I'm like... that looks like Tim Howard to another friend there who doesn't know much about soccer and his response was...who? As I'm standing looking from a far behind someone in a playboy hat turns around and goes "Excuse me."
My respose: "holy ************, you're clint mathis."
He found out it was my friend's bday and bought us all a round of drinks... and then one extra later on for the bday boy.
and then a week later he tears his ACL....
Originally posted by vflkirwan
and then a week later he tears his ACL....
No more drinks with Clint, okay?
Crewbasher
03 May 2003, 10:43 PM
I have a good story, but perhaps a little odd.
My family decided to come down to NYC right around Christmastime, so they could pick me up and do a little shopping in the city. So we're walking around Rockefeller Center, and there's a spot where you can get your photo taken. So my family looks at some of the pictures that had been taken recently (the reprints that they show to give you an idea of size and price), and one of them caught our eye. Apparently, Jay Heaps was there a few days before with his girlfriend (or wife?), and they had their picture taken. So, we see Jay, and our whole family is like, "Wow! It's Jay!" Meanwhile, all the New Yorkers around us are looking at us strangely.
But here's the best part...
My sisters decide that they want to get the picture of Heaps. So they go over to the lady at the table and ask, "How much for the picture?"
"That size?"
"No, we want that actual picture."
The look on the lady's face was priceless. Sadly, we did not manage to get the picture, but it was still a pretty amusing experience.