Don't know if these were the guys on TV with the bandanas on their faces. But all these guys deserve props. True fans. http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/245578
With all the supposed hate between the US and Cuba, it's interesting that our US fans could wave flags in the midst of the Cuba supporters with impunity. Could that happen in Guatemala or Mexico?
Depends on your definition of "supporters". If you mean the hinchada, then no. But I doubt Cuba has one....if you just mean fans, than it wouldn't be a problem
A couple of things (for now): 1. Cubans are AMAZING at distinguishing btw foreign policy/govts and citizens, unlike any other place I've ever been. You know that smugness you get elsewhere (hell, even here on BS!!) from non-Americans? Nothing of the sort in Cuba. They recognize you as a person from a country whose government has a ... problematic ... relationship w/ theirs. And they hope/expect that you see them as people from a nation w/ a f'ed up govt. 2. I was a bit anti-social and was watching the game in my bedroom while my girlfriend entertained an expert on Subcomandante Marcos and the Chiapas Revolution in Mexico. When the Cuba Cinco were shown after the goal, I paused the image and ran over to bring them over to see this. That. Was. BRILLIANT. On so many levels. According to Grant Wahl, they were going for the bandido look. We interpreted it as a take on the Zapatistas rebel movement. Even if they weren't intentionally paying homage to Subcomandante Marcos' defiance of Mexico's federal gov't, it sure as heck fit in w/ their defiance of the US feds!!! As an aside, Subcomandante Marcos is the modern version of Che Guevara, and his image has become universal, to the point where the Cuba Cinco were more likely to use the bandido theme b/c it is now so ubiquitous thanks to the Zapatistas.
Boy, that sounds a lot better than thinking they were paying homage to Mick Jones of the Clash in the video for Rock The Casbah. Opps.
Amazing effort by all. Cuba tourism from the US is more extensive than most people think, but I fear that some jingoistic anti-Castro State Department political appointee is going to make these guys into an example.
Outstanding - I am as jealous as hell - I should have been there, but work intervened. You know who you are, while I have no clue who you may be. However, you deserve to be praised from the highest of heights for this outstanding effort!
If I could I'd find a way to nominate the Cuba Cinco for special entrance into the US Soccer Hall of Fame.
Bud Light presents: Real American Heroes "Real American Heroes" Today we salute you, Mr. Illegal Traveler to a Foreign Land. "Mr. Illegal Traveler to a Foreign Land." Without your support, the United States would have had zero support in a communist country. "Outnumbered by 50,000..." Carefully, you disquised yourself as frito banditos from the Red, White & Blue. "Was that Billy the Kid?" You were there.... cheering as loud as you could... even with the fear of deportation, and possible imprisonment. "Don't you drop the soap now." So crack open an ice cold Bud Light Mr. Illegal Traveler to a Foreign Land. And know that we speak for US fans everywhere when we say... You... you're the best of us. And the team couldn't have done it without you. "Mr. Illegal Travelers to a Foreign Land." Budweiser Breweries. St. Louis, Missouri.
Goff and others have incorrectly said that Americans won't get their passport stamped in Cuba, thereby making it impossible for the feds to find them. That's not true. US travelers won't get stamped when arriving in Cuba, but when they return via Mexico, Jamaica, Panama or wherever, their passport can be stamped. Then the US Customs Agent might notice two stamps in Jamaica over a short period, and the automatic question is... where else did you go? It happened to me, although I went legally to Cuba. Just a quick but very important point regarding clandestine travel to Cuba.