For Soccer Fans at This Pub, It’s Thirst and Goals
Crammed inside the red brick walls of Lucky Baldwin’s Pub in Pasadena, a crowd of 100 or so gathered Wednesday afternoon to watch football -- of the “Bend It Like Beckham” variety.
They had come to see England’s Arsenal and Spain’s FC Barcelona fight it out in the UEFA Champions League final, what many consider the Super Bowl of club soccer. The winner is considered the year’s best European club.
Most of those craning their necks toward the two televisions in the pub’s lower level were men. But they were a true mix of European and American, retirees, businessmen and students, whose hearts and minds were intent on one stadium in Paris.
While the rest of Old Town Pasadena was having a quiet midweek afternoon, anticipation filled the pub, punctuated by shouts, groans and clapping.
“Today’s the clash of the Titans. The best of the best,” said Sean McDonald, 45, who tends bar at Moose McGillicuddy’s. The Belfast, Northern Ireland, native placed his bets on Barcelona throughout the championship.
“This is one of the biggest games of the year,” said Roger Spacey, 58, of Simi Valley, who was cheering on Arsenal. Spacey and his friend Eric Fearon, 68, are pub regulars -- and Brits.
But whether they were for the yellow-clad Arsenal or red-and-blue-striped Barcelona, McDonald, Spacey and others just wanted a good game -- and an atmosphere they couldn’t get sitting on a couch. Cold glasses of London Pride beer and plates of fish and chips didn’t hurt, either.
“All these people could be home. But they’re choosing to be here,” said Eric Lindberg, 27, a consultant who took half the day off to watch the Union of European Football Assns. match. Lindberg, who wore a Barcelona shirt, has followed the team ever since his college roommate, a Barcelonan, introduced him to the sport 10 years ago.
David Yeomans, 18, and Matthew Walsh, 17, two Arsenal fans, had their mothers write notes excusing them from classes. The high school seniors said both teams played soccer “to its utmost,” elevating it to an art.
Arsenal scored the first goal. Barcelona supporters’ eyes were glued to the screen as they prayed for a response from the famous Brazilian Ronaldinho and his teammates.
“Andiamo, man, andiamo!” yelled Michael Bargold, 50, urging the Spanish team “Let’s go!” in Italian, as players drove the ball toward Arsenal’s goal. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Originally from Florence, the spirited cameraman temporarily shifted his loyalties to Barcelona -- but was still sporting a baseball cap that read “Italia.”
“No! No! No!” replied Spacey and Fearon, who sat behind him, promptly echoed by another Arsenal fan a few feet away.
After a nerve-racking 76 minutes for Lindberg, Bargold and other Barcelona fans, the Spanish team finally scored, tying the match 1-1. Lindberg thrust his arms in the air. He was joined by a chorus of men shouting “Oh!” and clapping enthusiastically.
But even as the tide shifted toward Barcelona, the atmosphere in the pub remained friendly, with mutual jabs over the theatrics of the players.
When Arsenal captain Thierry Henry tripped and fell, he rolled over and over, as if playing to referees. “Get up!” Lindberg yelled, in disgust.
Minutes later, an equally annoyed Arsenal fan uttered the same words when Barcelona’s Rafael Marquez fell and didn’t get up. “Si, se puede, Marquez!” another viewer shouted, echoing the “Yes, we can” cry of recent immigrant protests. When Barcelona scored a second and game-winning goal a few minutes after its first, the soccer enthusiasts parted on cordial terms. They knew they’d be reunited next month, crammed inside with necks craned once more to catch the national team matches of the World Cup in Germany.
Arsenal devotee Adam Rollefson, 24, also managed to find some consolation in the loss. “Arsenal gets their posh new stadium next year,” he said. “So we have that to look forward to.”
