"Ko-re-a! Ko-re-a!"

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

In Times Sq., Bewilderment of Defeat

By CLYDE HABERMAN

...There was a hokey moment before the start of play when an ABC crew 
appeared and asked everyone for some spontaneous cheering - on cue, 
of course. The fans went along. "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!" they chanted for 
the cameras, a scene about as impromptu as kabuki.

At least no one painted his face red, white and blue. It was a 
workday, and even on a dress-down Friday, face paint doesn't cut it. 
John Scafordi, an advertising executive, wore a star-spangled jersey, 
though. "We had a rough year," he said, meaning the country, "and we 
need something to root for."

For those unfamiliar with soccer at the World Cup level, it involves 
men running around in shorts for 90 minutes and accomplishing very 
little. Few goals are scored. But there are exciting moments.

Some of the best occur when a player is hit by an opponent and 
crumples to the ground as if shot. There he lies, poor devil, 
writhing in agony (and hoping for sympathy from the referees in the 
form of a penalty call). His teammates' job is to hold their heads in 
horror: oh cruel fate, striking down this splendid specimen in his 
prime. Sometimes, the routine works. When it doesn't, the player on 
the ground usually manages to make one of the faster comebacks since 
Lazarus.
 
THERE were none of those theatrics yesterday. A lot was riding on 
this match. Everyone in the restaurant knew it.

If the United States won, or merely played the Poles to a draw, it 
would automatically advance to the next World Cup round. But a loss 
would be dicey.

Even in defeat, the Americans could move ahead as long as South Korea 
beat Portugal in a match taking place at the same time in Inchon, 
South Korea. But the United States faced probable elimination if the 
Koreans also lost, or if they tied Portugal - unless they managed to 
lose by a margin significantly greater than the difference between 
the Americans and the Poles in their match.

Got all that?

No? Don't fret. Many in the restaurant also struggled to figure it out.

But after only a few minutes of play, they knew enough: America was 
in trouble. The underestimated Poles had scored two quick goals. An 
hour later, they scored yet again, putting the game out of reach. "Oh 
no," Mr. Pinto groaned, laying his head on the bar where he was 
standing.

Then a small miracle occurred. Another screen showed South Korea 
scoring a goal to lead Portugal, 1-0. Suddenly, it made no difference 
if the Americans went on to lose (which they did, 3-1). As long as 
the Koreans kept their lead, the United States team would live for 
another day.

A new chant rocked the restaurant: "Ko-re-a! Ko-re-a!" This one was 
spontaneous.

The Koreans indeed held on. Happy fans drifted into Times Square. Few 
seemed to mind that America's team did not take destiny into its own 
hands. It simply lucked out....

<http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/15/nyregion/15NYC.html>
-- 
Yoshie

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