THE SCOTTISH WAY

Three hours had passed since the final whistle on Scotland’s heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Brazil and two well-lubricated members of the Tartan Army had somehow infiltrated the media restaurant, where they were badgering a young French bartender--who couldn’t speak English, let alone understand Scottish--into calling them a taxi.

When an American writer tried to intervene, the tall Tartan Soldier, the one with the blue and white flag of Scotland painted on his face, slurred, “You know, this guy talks funny.”

“ ‘e’s a Yank,” replied his friend, squinting as he tried in vain to focus on the Yank’s media credential. The situation appeared to be headed from sloppy to ugly until the writer brought up the match’s own goal.

“Tough way to go down, eh?”

Lad with the flag on his face brightened.

“Yeah, but that’s the Scotland way, innit?” he said.

Soon, he was hugging the Yank while his friend was trying to buy the Yank a drink amid small talk about the game and much sad head-nodding.

This, too, is the Scotland way.

As Scottish writer and broadcaster Harry Ritchie recently wrote in Time magazine, “There are very good reasons for the Tartan Army’s reliance on strong drink. Nobody could support Scotland sober.”