Unlike Robert Green, I will endeavor to firmly stop all shots my way. (More on that later.)
Last Saturday, 5 June, I tuned up for the FIFA World Cup by watching the USA-Australia friendly from the Amsterdam Tavern in St. Louis. It was my first time at that place, and find it's a great place to have a beer or two and watch soccer on TV. That was considering I was there in time for the 7.30 am kickoff, after a night of drinks and socializing at Lola in downtown St. Louis the night before. It was the weekly Stress Free Fridays stop, and it was enjoyable as always.
Sunday morning, after attending services at Calvary Presbyterian Church and the start of Calvary's annual picnic, I got home and then went to Mehlville High School for two boys' soccer games. It was the last match day in the SLYSA season, and I was in the middle for an under 16 match. Just after the match ended, one of the players (who I had cautioned for dissent in the second half) used an expletive in criticizing my refereeing. I showed him the red card for the foul language. His coach apologized to me and gave me his card, which I turned in with the report on the incident the next day to the league office. True, it was the last match of the season, but I felt it still needed to be recorded and let the league handle it from there.
Monday afternoon, the installer came to the house to install AT&T U-verse for our TVs, internet and landline phone. My TV was hooked up and so were two of my parents' TVs, including a large-screen HD set. We now have a larger number of channels than we used to have with Charter, plus I now have a wireless connection for my internet. The downside is not being able to record on my DVDs copywrited programming.
Wednesday night, I went to the In Spot lounge in west St. Louis for the bi-weekly Single2Mingle get togethers. It's a chance for singles to meet up while playing a variety of board and card games. It was my second trip to this event (I was there two weeks before), and although the organizer said it was a bit dull (these events are hit-or-miss), I had a nice time there.
Friday night saw me in St. Louis' Soulard neighborhood for the first get together of the StraightUp Hook Ups Meetup group. It was just myself and two ladies, including the organizer, but it was a nice time at The Porch, a wine store. We and a few other customers sampled seven wines and enjoyed some grilled meet and vegetables. The three of us had a fine time together and can't wait for the next meeting of our group soon.
Friday morning, I began my vigil by the TV set and the computer to follow the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. I'm avidly following all the action, including that of the USA. I was at the Soccer Park this afternoon with about 300 other soccer fans for a watch party for the England-USA match in Rustenburg. What a match! The English jumped to a 1-nil lead four minutes in, but the Stars and Stripes equalized in the 40th minute on Clint Dempsey's shot and Robert Green's unsuccessful save on said shot. That was a howler for sure! The match ended 1-1; the USA won a point, while England lost two points. Looks like the Americans have a nice start on their World Cup tournament.
At the watch party were Frank Borghi and Harry Keough, the goalkeeper and a defenser, respectively, for the USA the last time they met England: the 1-nil USA upset 60 years ago, at the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. I knew Harry rather well and I had met Frank some years ago at a soccer banquet. It was marvelous meeting with two St. Louis and USA soccer greats.
I'll be watching World Cup action in the morning, then officating Latino men's games in the afternoon. Later.
