WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FINAL : Spotlight : IN SEARCH OF A NO-SHOW

Attention was lagging in the press box early in the second half. One journalist was loudly commenting on how his flight was “leaving from LAX in 20 1/2 hours.”

Leave it to a handful of Brazilian fans to liven up the proceedings.

A late-arriving family of five showed up in the second half and kicked the fans out of their seats.

Four of the Brazilians sat down in front of the press box and immediately attracted the attention of the ever-vigilant security guards. They refused to move and Thomas Lange, public relations director for the U.S. Soccer Federation jumped out of his seat to get help.

One of the fans saw the opening and took a new seat--Lange’s.

Lange came back and was not amused. “Get out of here,” he said, looking flustered. “This is ridiculous.”

The Brazilians moved on.