Just home from RFK stadium where I worked a double-header of the US vs Honduras WCQ followed by a DC United match. My eardrums are still at RFK. US played crap and lost to a very determined, never-say-die Honduras (2-3). But, I now know what players are talking about when they talk of the feeling of walking out of the tunnel into the cauldron atmosphere of big games. Maybe they get used to it, but the first time you experience such a thing...well, you don't have a pulse if every hair on your arms and neck aren't standing on end and your heart beating fast. And I didn't have the added excitement of actually being a player!

The Honduran fans were amazing. Hundreds had spent the night around RFK and were in good form when we arrived at 6am. The streets were a sea of blue and white. They easily took up 2/3 of the stadium, so it was more of a home match for them than it was for the US! (On today's experience, I think this is as close as I ever want to get to a match in Latin America!!). Great atmosphere as the supporters came into the stadium. Colors, banners, streamers and songs every where. Every person wearing the colors of their country (Blue/white for Honduras, Red for the US).

As kick off approached, we noticed alot of empty seats so took a walk outside the stadium to see if there were still alot of folks coming in(tickets were supposedly sold out). The relative silence was also a nice break as conversation was rather difficult inside. ;-) We walked back in (through a tunnel opposite the players' tunnel) as the players were about to emerge. The wall of noise and sea of color was a shock to every sense. Something I will never forget, and can only imagine how much more heightened that feeling is for a player.

As for the Latin American experience.....in addition to the usual noisemakers, plenty of streamers and confetti being thrown, those of us standing on the sidelines got bathed in water after the US scored first. ERmmmm....we're at home, we're supposed to be cheering our own side! We moved away from the wall and closer to the pitch. A short time later, the US was awarded a penalty and bottles of water, cans of soda and other projectiles rained down from the upper decks. We scattered back to the tunnel and walls for safety. Just saw on the news that some fans seated in the lower level left the game after getting hit. Security for this match was a joke! Nobody was searched.

Didn't mean for this to be so long, but just had to tell someone about this incredible experience. Other than those I work with at the matches, none of my other friends understand my 'soccer obsession' ;-) Hafta watch my tape of the game later to see just how badly we played.

-- Anonymous, September 01, 2001

Answers

A Poplectic!!!

Just saw a wrap up of the match on the sports report. Guess who scored 2 of Honduras' goals today.....one Milton Nunez!!!!

I think I shoulda gone to a pub to watch the Ireland and England matches. ;-)

-- Anonymous, September 01, 2001

I saw that result Ciara and have to admit to being a little surprised - mind you Honduras have looked a tidy enough side these past couple of months whenever I`ve seen them. Glad you enjoyed the atmosphere - I used to love working big sports events in Sydney for the smae reason as it`s not like working at all is it?

BTW qualification still wide open isn`t it?

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

The Honduran team were pretty impressive. Very attacking, lots of passing(to their own teammates!). Even better my work was done about 15min before kick off, with the next set of duties not coming until the end of the DC United game. My kind of 'work' :-)

Yeah, it does look like this group won't be decided until the very end in November. Costa Rica won yesterday so are now group leaders. Honduras has moved into 3rd place 2pts(?) behind the US. I think Mexico is very close behind in 4th. Weds should be interesting as the US go to Costa Rica(where we've never won) and Honduras play Mexico. Fortunately the last 2 qualifiers should be easy wins. Home to Jamaica in Oct, then away to Trinidad (already eliminated). Top 3 finishers in the group go to the World Cup.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001